Solos Open at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club
by Robert Edwards 20 Jul 2003 22:03 BST
20th July 2003
Paul Isherwood blasting at the Chew Valley Lake Solo Open © Primrose Salt
Twenty one Solos gathered for the annual Solo Open Meeting at Chew Valley Lake S.C. to be greeted by a freshening Southerly wind, gusting at times to force seven.
Race Officer Peter McLaren set an Olympic style course for the first race which saw Simon Jones from NSCA, Ralph Weller from Teign Corinthian Y.C. and Chew Soloist, Tom Davis fighting it out in a closely contested battle. Simon Jones eventually created space ahead of Ralph Weller and Tom Davis to take line honours.
Race Two started after lunch with winds increasing. The course was changed to remove the runs in the hope of reducing the work load of the safety boats. There were many capsizes, some gear failure and much tacking around at the gybe marks which kept the safety boats busy and the spectators ashore entertained. Fraser Budd from Chew pressed Ralph Weller hard around the course but Ralph held on to his hard fought lead to take first position. Simon Jones finished behind in third place. Only seven boats managed to finish this race.
Race three saw a very much depleted fleet. Tom Davis lead from the start and was closely followed by Errol Edwards from Chew. Fraser Budd again made his way through the fleet to take second place with R. Gibon from Bowmoor S.C. finishing in third. Six boats finished this race in deteriorating weather.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Club | Sail No | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Ralph Weller | Teign Corinthian | 4371 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 3 |
| 2 | Tom Davis | Chew Valley Lake | 4390 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Simon Jones | NSCA | 4300 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | Fraser Budd | Chew Valley Lake | 3739 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | R Gibbon | Bowmoor | 4451 | 12 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 6 | Paul Isherwood | Chew Valley Lake | 4167 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 7 | Errol Edwards | Chew Valley Lake | 4372 | 11 | 22 | 5 | 16 |
| 8 | Neville Champion | Bristol Corinthian | 3464 | 15 | 6 | 22 | 21 |
| 9 | Gordon Barclay | Chichester | 4465 | 4 | 22 | 22 | 26 |
| 10 | Phil Milanes | South Cerney | 4469 | 5 | 22 | 22 | 27 |
| 11 | Bob Taylor | British Steel | 4355 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 28 |
| 12 | Andy Miles | Bowmoor | 4443 | 7 | 22 | 22 | 29 |
| 13 | Mike Wilkie | RYAThames Valley | 4190 | 9 | 22 | 22 | 31 |
| 14 | Mathew Chapman | Chew Valley Lake | 4069 | 10 | 22 | 22 | 32 |
| 15 | Tony Pinnegar | Chew Valley Lake | 4332 | 13 | 22 | 22 | 35 |
| 16 | John Davey | Teign Corinthian | 3965 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 38 |
| 17 | Charlie Tolcher | Teign Corinthian | 4350 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 39 |
| 18 | R. K. Pike | Teign Corinthian | 3542 | 18 | 22 | 22 | 40 |
| 19 | David Casley | Chew Valley Lake | 3836 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 41 |
| 20 | Stan Wiliams | British Steel | 4397 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 44 |
| 21 | Timothy Fisher | Stewartby | 4466 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 44 |