Solo Open Meeting at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club

Solo Open at Island Barn : 6th placer CJ Cavallari decides to intimidate the camera boat between races © Jim Champ

Solo Open at Island Barn : Close Action with Godfrey Clark and Paul Playle hammering down a reach © Jim Champ

There was a somewhat fearsome forecast for the Island Barn Reservoir Solo Open meeting which deterred some of the club's more senior sailors, but nevertheless 15 boats took to the water, split between eight locals and seven visitors.

Race Officer John Smith set the old triangle/sausage Olympic courses to give a good length of run with the wind across the shorter axis of the reservoir, and varied the wing mark position between races to give a good selection of reaching angles, and some serious gusts gave plenty of opportunities for spray-scattering reaches, and the odd opportunity for an early bath too...

He gave his usual stern warning about black flags but with good start lines and plenty of wind the fleet got away at the first attempt with just one needing to return. At the windward mark Godfrey Clark led, with Mike Dray and Paul Playle in close pursuit. Down the first reach Gareth Griffiths found a good puff to leeward and showed good speed to come out of the pack close behind the leading three.

On the first sausage Griffith moved up to third then on the next beat he found a good lift to overtake Clark and Dray who were having a close fight. Once through Griffiths pulled away from Dray, who maintained a clear second from Playle and Mark Ampleford, with Clark dropping back to 5th.

Race two and Griffiths got off to a great start taking an early tack to cross the fleet. Mark Ampleford was hot on his heels and the race became a close duel between these two, who pulled away from Tim Lewis and Mike Dray with the wind easing a bit towards the end. There was rarely more than a few lengths between Griffiths and Ampleford but the positions remained unchanged. Lewis took third from Dray and Playle.

While the fleet enjoyed their lunchtime chilli in the clubhouse the wind was perking up again with sustained gusts of over 25 knots.

So race three and all to play for... The wind was now blowing much harder bringing new players to the lead at the first mark with Dave Griffiths and CJ Cavalari leading but Gareth Griffiths was on their heels. By the leeward mark Gareth Griffiths had pulled through Cavallari to come up to second, and reveling in the stronger conditions he soon found the front of the fleet and took an unassailed lead with Dray working through the fleet to finish second, Playle 3rd, and Cavallari, who was struggling for reaching speed, 4th.

Race four and Gareth Griffiths, with three straight wins, opted to spectate. Mike Dray took an early lead to dominate the race. Behind him there was a lot of place changing with second variously held by Tim Jackson and Tim Lewis before Dave Griffiths showed he's getting to grips with his brand new boat taking second at the finish from Mark Ampleford.

Solo Open at Island Barn : Plenty of variation in sail cuts, but still close quarters down the reach - photo © Jim Champ

So a very impressive performance for Gareth Griffiths, retaining the trophy he won last year with three bullets. Mike Dray was second, counting a first and two seconds with Mark Ampleford third and Paul Playle fourth. With the top six boats all doing the winter series at Island Barn competition is going to be quite fierce! Paul Hurn took the Over 60 prize and Chris Biscomb the old boat trophy.

Overall Results: