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Solo Eastern Championship at Brightlingsea Sailing Club

by Will Loy 11 Jun 02:22 PDT 31 May - 1 June 2025
Vince Horey during the Solo Eastern Championship at Brightlingsea © Cheryl Jessop

Bright sunny skies and a light easterly wind greeted the Solo sailors at Brightlingsea for the Eastern Championship.

Race 1 Started First Time with Chris Rust Sailing off to Bradwell Power Station and coming into the windward mark on port smelling of roses. Steve Ede rounded second with Oliver Davenport in 3rd. Davenport passed Ede on the second beat and the slipped through Rust on the Run to win from Ede and Rust.

Race 2 started after numerous recalls and this time Davenport lead at the windward mark from Paul Church and Vincent Horey. Davenport extended to win a shortened race due to the Merlins finishing just after the Solos started. Horey pulled through Church on the reaches followed by Ede and they finished in this order behind Davenport.

Race 3 and the sea breeze had now kicked in. Davenport and Fergus Barnham used their leverage to lead at the first mark. Davenport kept a loose cover on him for most of the race to complete the perfect score for the day. Ede and Horey were having their own private race behind and finished in that order.

Overnight Davenport had a clear lead with Ede, Barnham and Horey all within a point of each other behind.

Sunday Dawned with a much stronger breeze from the SW and the Brightlingsea chop was already building.

Race 4 and again Davenport was first round the windward mark first and he just kept a loose cover on the boats behind. Peter Kyne, Horey and Barnham exchanged places all the way round behind but at the finish Barnham got into second followed by Kyne and Horey.

Race 5 the wind had gone slightly left and Horey managed to take advantage of this, and port tacked the fleet and headed off to the right-hand side of the course out of the tide. Davenport also spotted the shift and tacked off to this side. Coming into the windward mark Davenport used the tide to tack under Horey and squeeze round the mark to lead. Barnham and Rust followed behind. Davenport went on to win the Race from Barnham and Horey.

Race 6 the breeze was now properly in now. The mile beat was taking its toll on the legs of the sailors and few headed back to shore. It was however well worth the hike for the sleigh ride downwind. Barnham powered up the first beat to lead at the windward mark, followed by Horey and Kyne. Horey slipped into the lead on the downwind legs and went on to win the race. Kyne got the better of Barnham on the last beat to finish in that order.

All in all an enjoyable, tough weekend was had by all and Brightlingsea did an excellent job as always.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st6110Oliver DavenportNorthampton SC‑11111(DNC)4
2nd6011Fergus BarnhamNorthampton SC‑10‑422239
3rd6134Vincent HoreyKing George SC‑62‑443110
4th6045Steve EdeBrightlingsea SC233‑87(DNC)15
5th6024Chris RustBrightlingsea SC3‑7‑1054416
6th6058Peter KyneBrightlingsea SC‑7‑11735217
7th5922Piers LambertBrightlingsea SC5666‑11(DNC)23
8th5703Stewart WorthBrightlingsea SC‑1759‑116525
9th5829Paul ChurchBrightlingsea SC8‑1057‑10626
10th5796Andy BinesBrightlingsea SC‑1898‑109834
11th6016Jarvis SimpsonBrightlingsea SC981112(DNF)(DNC)40
12th5863Robert LaurieBrightlingsea SC‑1413‑14912741
13th5665Paul AldridgeBrightlingsea SC12‑15‑131381043
14th6007Mark GaskellBlackwater SC41212(DNC)(DNC)DNC50
15th4801Godfrey ClarkFishers Green15‑18‑171413951
16th4443Bryan MorumHickling Broad SC11201615(DNF)(DNC)62
17th4698Kerrie ForsterBrightlingsea SC131615(DNC)(DNC)DNC66
18th6015Simon JacklinDabchicks SC191418(DNC)(DNC)DNC73
19th5819Phil SturmerBrightlingsea SC161719(DNC)(DNC)DNC74
20th5717Barry WinterBrightlingsea SC201920(DNC)(DNC)DNC81
21st5417Steve ForresterRickmansworth SC2121(DNF)(DNC)DNCDNC86

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