Please select your home edition
Edition
Belvedere

Solo Open at Kingsmead Sailing Club

by Ian Ayres 10 Oct 2007 07:58 BST 6 October 2007

Tricky manoeuvres between islands

Light winds and trees still in full leaf made conditions tricky, especially navigating around the islands at Kingsmead’s Solo open held on 6th October. When the wind was as forecast at North East, beats were straight up the lake, but as it swung more Easterly the winds shadows grew and picking significant shifts much more telling.

Simon Corper and Mike Ball led early on in race one; Ian Ayres and Godfrey Clark gained significantly on them on the first pass between the islands by taking a more conservative approach to the major wind shadow. These four sailed very closely for nearly a lap when Clark fell away after nearly missing a mark. Ball over took Corper having now learnt the optimum route between the islands, but was pegged back on the penultimate beat. Corper then found some stray weed on the last leg to allow Ball through for the win; Ayres was third and Clark fourth.

The second race saw a slight change of course and this time Corper initially led Ayres until the latter’s local knowledge allowed him through on the second beat. Sailing an unfamiliar boat gave Ayres a few tacking problems in the lightest airs and this let Corper back through using his superior upwind speed to take the lead through to the finish, Ball was third with Frank Catt making a late charge to pass Clark for 4th place.

The third race was initially lead by Clark, but Corper was showing plenty of pace in his new boat and gradually pulled clear for a comfortable win. Ayres was again third with Catt fourth and Ball fifth. Brian Pickess consistently lead the second pack around the lake for sixth place overall.

Overall Results:

1st 4816 Simon Corper (Reading)
2nd 4714 Mike Ball (Papercourt)
3rd 4735 Ian Ayres (Kingsmead)
4th 4120 Godfrey Clark (Fishers Green)
5th 4075 Frank Catt (Downs)
6th 4322 Brian Pickess (Kingsmead)

Related Articles

Solo and Laser open at Middle Nene
After a more than a 15 year break, these classes are together again After a more than a 15 year-long break, Middle Nene SC has re-introduced the joint Open Meeting for the Solo and Laser (ILCA) classes, and 19 competitors from MNSC and Cransley SC made the most of the near-perfect conditions on 31st May 2025. Posted on 3 Jun
Solo Western Series at Chew
A westerly has the ability to dunk the unsuspecting At last! Gone are the fickle and variable north easterly winds to be replaced by a punchy and vigorous westerly and anyone that knows a Chew westerly will be grinding their teeth with thoughts about it's ability to dunk the unsuspecting. Posted on 2 Jun
Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech
Good tactical racing in the Weald of Kent The National Solo Class Association (NSCA) Southern Area Circuit travelled to Bough Beech Sailing Club for their annual open on 24 May. Bough Beech reservoir is situated in the Weald of Kent enjoying 400-acres of water. Posted on 27 May
Singlehanded Regatta at Hayling Island
Finns, Europes and Solos don't let the forecast put them off a glorious weekend Day one Charlie Bradshaw held the fleets on shore for an hour on Saturday morning, a fair amount of hope but an early strong easterly can have a detrimental effect on a sea breeze here so there was certainly a little trepidation in the fleet. Posted on 26 May
HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers at Largs
Ben Ledi trophy rewards consistency by not allowing any discard As the Scottish Solo fleet travelled to Largs on the west coast for the third of the HD Sails travellers series we knew that the event would be bathed in sunshine, but would there be enough wind? Posted on 22 May
Solos at South Staffs
Jonathan Woodward takes the trophy, and the role of fleet captain 14 boat joined us to race in the annual South Staffs Solo Open Meeting 2025, sponsored by Allen Sailing and CB Boat Trailer and Cover Store. Posted on 19 May
Midlands Region Solos at Barnt Green
'Penny a Mile' prize awarded for the most distance covered in a single lap A total of 32 entrants comprising of 16 visitors and 16 home boats were greeted by Barnt Green Solo Class Captain and PRO at the briefing who explained that the wind direction was constantly fluctuating so be vigilant for course changes. Posted on 15 May
Solo class Southern Area Series at Frensham
Another record fleet of 28 boats On 11th May, Frensham Pond Sailing Club staged their 2025 Solo Open Meeting as part of the Superspars Solo Open Series. A total of 28 boats took part in what was another record for the Solo ?eet at Frensham. Posted on 15 May
Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy preview
Named after one of the founder members of the N.S.C.A One of the founder members of the N.S.C.A, Nigel sailed his National Solo at Emsworth SC and then Chichester YC for over thirty years. Nigel passed away in July 2010 and the pre-championship event at Weymouth was re-named in his honour. Posted on 14 May
Salcombe Yacht Club Solo Open
A bumper turnout of twenty-seven sailors A bumper turnout of twenty-seven sailors turned out for the Salcombe Yacht Club Solo Open meeting over the weekend of the 10th and 11th June. Posted on 13 May