Solo class open meeting at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

This year's Solo Open Meeting, the tenth which the LSC have run, followed on from the previous day's Vintage Championships saw a small but relative competitive fleet of much newer boats combined with the remnants of yesterday's older boats. Slightly down on numbers from previous years due to imminent clashes with the Nation's Cup in France and other factors.

Seven visiting solos made up of the eleven entries were welcomed by the club in its usual way. An earlier start time than in earlier years meant the sailors were served with bacon butties, tea and coffee from the galley.

As the tide covered the mud flats of the Thames Estuary it could be seen that there was a fair breeze across the racecourse blowing away the previous sub-tropical idyll.

A briefing held by Steve Corbet, the PRO of the day explained the trapezoidal style course and the 3-minute count down for the three-race event and off they went onto the estuary.

A good westerly wind greeted the entries, and a biased committee boat start line. A short windward leg from the start saw Jonny Wells in 5597 round the windward mark just ahead of the closely following fleet. A tight dead run to the third mark saw many changing positions, but Wells held on, cleared the bunch and sailed clear of them and comfortably won. Vince Horey in 6134 managed 2nd with Robert Laurie in 5863 coming in 3rd.

The second race followed promptly as is the usual pattern of race meetings at Leigh and again a repositioned start line gave a slightly less biased line than before but saw the fleet cleanly off. A massive win shift and strength caught many out including Horey put many of the older boats in the chase. A good gust at the start of the first downwind leg benefited Horey and he flew away leaving the fleet behind. Behind, positions changed throughout the race, and it was Laurie who finished 2nd with Godfrey Clark 3rd. Wells could only manage a 6th.

As the tide turned at the start of the third and final race the now stiff breeze still had not settled in direction and at the congested start saw all boats jostling for the best position. Newer and older solos were all so close leading into the windward mark. In the following rounds positions changed but a dual between Horey and Laurie continued to the finish line with Horey just poking his nose ahead of Laurie on the line. Clark finished 3rd Brian Morum in 4443 4th and Wells 5th.

Horey counting two first places won the Mighty Oak Brewery Trophy for the fourth time.

The remaining fleet returned to the shore where a well-earned BBQ awaited them. The prize-giving was introduced by Colin Walker, the LSC Solo Class Captain who handed over to the LSC Commodore Steve Barber to present the prizes.

First LSC boat went to Alan Roberts (3315), 6th place, 11 points.

Vince Horey thanked the club for putting on the event and to all those involved in the running such a well organised and decent event.

Overall Results: