Hyde Sails Solo Eastern Area Championships at Blackwater Sailing Club

Hyde Sails Solo Eastern Area Championships © Chris Nichols

Sponsored by Hyde Sails

Four of the Five races scheduled were run over the two days in sunny but windy conditions with average 25 knots and gusting 30knots at various times making for exhilarating reaching and, at times, perilous runs. Excellent race management meant all races were turned round promptly with good fair lines and courses maximising the use of the Estuary.

Saturdays race 1 the fleet were away first time and the leading group of Steve Ede, Dave Griffiths and Vince Horey. At the windward mark the breeze picked up to 30knots in a huge gust that hit the middle of the fleet at the gybe mark leading to a few capsizes and lots of wearing round to survive.

The leaders stretched out their lead and had a close race with Vince taking line honours, followed by Steve and then Dave.

Race 2, the breeze had moderated to 20 knots at the start and this time in the hunt was Jarvis Simpson who went hard right up the beat to round in the top 3 with Dave Griffiths leading followed by Vince and then Steve.

On the second beat it was still close and Simon Charles had closed up to the leading group. A tack with the kicker on by Steve meant he went for a swim while the rest of us flew down another white knuckle run followed by either gybes or wear round depending on if you were in a gust or not.

Vince managed to fall in on the last gybe and this allowed Dave Griffiths to win race 2, Vince got upright in quick time much to Jarvis' surprise and piped Jarvis to the line and snatched what looked like a certain 2nd from him leaving Jarvis in 3rd.

Race 3 got underway quickly and this time Vince led from start to finish chased all the way by Steve, Dave, and Rob Laurie and finished in this order.

Sundays racing looked like the fleet would get some respite from the wind, but as forecast at time of launching the wind was a steady 27knots and out in the sailing area it was touching 30 knots with white horses all over the course area.

Some of those going to the Nationals the following week decided to call it a day and headed home leaving a depleted fleet for the first race. Tony King showed great speed on Sunday after straightening his mast out overnight (after a spectacular wipe out in the Saturday) and was chasing Vince and Dave.

At the top of the second beat the wind increased again as a big black cloud came down the course making the run pure survival conditions with a few hardening up to sit it out until it moved away. Vince again won, with Dave second and Tony 3rd.

The race team decided enough was enough and abandoned the last race.

Overall Results: