Solo Midlands Open at Northampton Sailing Club sponsored by Rooster

Rooster Solo Midlands Open at Northampton © Sue Warne

Rooster Solo Midlands Open at Northampton © Sue Warne

After overnight forecast of 3 knots with thunderstorms and lightening after lunch many decided to stay away, but as the clouds rolled in the racing got away on time at 11am with a brisk breeze.

17 boats started with Chris Brown 5643 & Tim Lewis 5561 from Island Barn making the windward mark first, Kev Hall Northampton 5524 3rd with last year's winner Stuart Hydon back in 6th. On the 2nd beat Iain Carpenter 4267 missed his tiller on the tack and capsized, matching his effort at Hollowell a few weeks earlier! Brown held the lead for 3 laps taking the win with Lewis 2nd, Hydon up to 3rd & Hall down to 4th.

Race 2 was sailed back-to-back and was turned round with no delay and a few tweaks to the trapezoid course and the breeze still good for the start and shifty first part of the beat. New local P&B boy Fergus Barnham, sailing Oli Wells boat for only the 2nd time, got to the first mark and soon pulled away with over a 3 minute lead.

Former Inland Champion Richard Goodenough in his new 5559 mk2 Winder was going well with Hydon stuck in the tight pack. On the reach 4646 Justin Hall went low taking places and continued on the run getting up to 2nd with Hydon slipping back to 10th at one point. With Barnham over a leg in front taking the win, Brown went up to 2nd with Goodenough pipped into 3rd and Laurence Creaser in the North 5651 (on his way up North to a wedding) 4th, Kev Hall 5th.

Race 3 was held after lunch and no sign of the storm. The wind was still holding strong enough to hike and plane at times. Coming in to the windward mark Hydon looked to be on the wrong side of the shift with 8 boats very close, Barnham was again up with the leaders. Hydon somehow rounded 1st, Barnham 2nd & Northampton Fleet Captain Neil Pitcher in his new 5548 3rd. Hydon, back on form on the run, went deep to take command looking back for clear air & pressure held the lead up the beats to take his first win with Barnham 2nd. Brown, Creaser & Pitcher all had a good tacking battle up the last beat with Brown just taking 3rd.

Race 4, again a very quick turn round. With the wind swinging, most of the fleet got caught out at the committee boat end with 30 seconds to go and, with the wind increasing, they tried to make the now favoured port end. Hydon was OCS at the gun in the middle and went back with Kev Hall, pushed onto the pin end, also went back leaving Graham Wilson in Brown's 'Old' boat (5564) & 4267, 5548 to take command up the port side of the course. Wilson held on to the lay line as others tacked over and rounded first, 4503 Ian Ingram (Earlswood) showed good speed as the wind finally dropped 2nd & Pitcher going well in 3rd, then a gap back to the rest who got caught up before the mark with a line of starboard boats amd turns going on. Race 2 winner Barnham, Creaser & Hydon, after being over the line, wee well down the fleet. With local light wind expert Wilson controlling the race, Hydon was up to 4th after the first lap with Brown close behind. Wilson took the final gun to make it 4 different race winners.

Brown the event with 1,2,3,4 in that order. Ingram held 2nd pushing Wilson all the way and Pitcher back in 5th.

With fresh homemade cream scones with strawberries & sandwiches for all competitors from Elaine & her galley staff, the bar was open for prize giving.

Fergus Barnham took the RBT Richard Butterfield Trophy for 1st Northampton Boat.

Chris Brown was overall Open Meeting winner, thanking race officers Will Gulliver & John Wayling for an excellent day's racing, swift turnarounds & pointing out the fact that they must be Phantom sailors as the committee boat was sitting so low in the water!

Thanks to Rooster Sailing and Northampton Sailing Club for a very well run day and very close competitive racing.

Overall Results: