Solo Open Meeting at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

23 boats contest the Mighty Oak Solo Trophy at Leigh-on-Sea © Graeme Sweeney / www.marineimages.co.uk

23 boats contest the Mighty Oak Solo Trophy at Leigh-on-Sea © Graeme Sweeney / www.marineimages.co.uk

Steve Ede wins the Mighty Oak Solo Trophy at Leigh-on-Sea © Graeme Sweeney / www.marineimages.co.uk

Sponsored by Mighty Oak Brewing Co.

For the second ever Solo Open meeting at Leigh on Sea a fleet of 23 boats turned up on Sunday 13th July. The local fleet of 13 boats (mainly older sub-4000 fun racers) were joined by 10 (newer) regular open meeting travellers looking for some practice on the sea before the start of the Solo national championships at Brightlingsea in two weeks' time.

The day started grey and damp with a light westerly breeze forecast to swing to the south as the sun warmed up later in the day. After a short postponement to allow the wind to settle and the course to be set the fleet lined up for the first start with two very keen helms over the line, one returned quickly but Steve Ede only came back after sailing part way up the beat for a very late start. Steve was only able to catch up the last boat in the fleet after two rounds.

At the front the early leader was Alan Bishop with Rob Laurie in second. While the fleet was on the first round the second mark drifted across the Ray channel, the leaders missed this and sailed towards the old position, this allowed Chris Mayhew and Jarvis Simpson to slip through into first and second places, along with a lot of other place changes. John Alani was the best of the sub-4000 fleet in eighth place.

Race two started cleanly with Steve Ede taking an early lead with Alan Bishop in second with Jarvis Simpson in third. As the wind had started to swing to the south this race was stopped after one round to allow the course to be reset.

With the marks moved to give a beat to the first mark the fleet set off with a clean start. The beat was even with the fleet spread equally on both sides of the course. Steve Ede was the first to the windward mark a lead he maintained to the finish. At the end of the first round Chris Mayhew was holding second place, but by the end of the second round he had slipped back to forth as Alan Bishop and Jarvis Simpson sailed past. Rob Tothill was the best of the sub-4000 fleet in this race with John Alani next back in twelfth.

Overall Steve Ede took the Mighty Oak Solo Trophy and a voucher from the sponsors. John Alani was the best of the sub-4000 fleet in eleventh overall.

All enjoyed a barbeque tea and cakes on the club balcony in the afternoon sunshine before the drive home.

Overall Results: