Solution open meeting at Blithfield Sailing Club
by Peter Fisk 14 Jul 2014 16:16 BST
6 July 2014
Solution open meeting at Blithfield © Don Stokes
Five Solutions turned up at Blithfield SC on 6 July to contest the next event in the series. The weather looked set fair for a good days racing, the sun was shinning and a good breeze was blowing across the reservoir. The Solutions followed the Phantoms over the start line separated by two minutes.
The race was fairly closely contested up to the windward mark with Martin Tubb and Arthur Thaine taking an early lead followed by Sam Davy. Arthur capsized and Martin touched the next mark which let Sam through while Kathryn Hayfield and Peter Fisk were having their own race at the back and did not bother the other three. It finally ended up with Sam taking line honours followed by Martin and Arthur.
After a leisurely lunch it was back out for race 2 by which time the wind gods started blowing a good bit harder making for some serious hiking up the beat and some interesting downwind legs. Again Sam Martin and Arthur were off to a good start closely followed by Kathryn and Peter. Kathryn got a great lift up the first beat and sneaked into second place by the windward mark.
Kathryn lost a couple of places on the down wind legs while Arthur decided that a swim was the order of the day, but sadly getting back on board was more about the Nutcracker than Swan Lake and he subsequently retired on manhood grounds. This left Sam and Martin up front followed by Peter and Kathryn.
Race 3 saw a drop in the wind after tea but Arthur was not fit to race again citing pain and age as a good reason to stay onshore. The four all got a good start with positions swapping up the shifty beats. Sam took a lead with everyone else trying to catch him; Peter eventually got close but not near enough to pass with Martin and Kathryn bringing up the other two places.
Final results saw an easy win for Sam Davy in the lead up to the Harken Solution Nationals with Martin Tubb in 2nd consolidating his lead of the travellers series and Peter Fisk taking 3rd place and the privilege of writing the race report.
Overall Results:
1st - 415 Sam Davy (Hykeham)
2nd - 446 Martin Tubb (Leigh & Lowton)
3rd - 436 Peter Fisk (Llandudno)
4th - 435 Kathryn Hayfield (Delph)
5th - 448 Arthur Thaine (Hickling Broad)