Solo Open at West Riding Sailing Club
by WRSC Press 9 May 2017 09:13 BST
6 May 2017
A fleet of 19 Solos gathered at West Riding Sailing Club for the second event of the northern series. Whilst other parts of the country were bathed in sunshine, heavy cloud hung over Wintersett Reservoir, but a decent breeze blew all day to allow the great tight racing you come to expect in the Solo fleet. At the end of the day only 6 points separated the top 6 placings, and frequently on the water you could throw a pocket handkerchief over the leading 6 or 7 boats, such was the closeness of the racing.
The first race got away promptly, with Innes Armstrong rom Burwain SC taking an early lead, followed by Alistair Banks from West Riding SC and Philip Barnes from Budworth SC in third. Gear failure saw Armstrong return to the shore leaving Banks and Barnes to battle with the pursuing pack. Lee Tennant from Burwain SC fought through from 10th place to take third place whilst Nick Brook from Hollingworth Lake SC pulled through from 8th place to take 2nd with Barnes consolidating on his good start to take the bullet.
After lunch, the fleet returned to the water in a building Force3/4 allowing the fleet to really work their toe straps, hit the kicker, and for the lighter members of the fleet reach for the cunningham. Steve Dennison from Hollingworth Lake SC made the early running, leading from Tennant and Jonathan Gledhill from West Riding SC. Dennison and Tennant scrapped throughout the race with Tennant taking the bullet. Banks pulled through from 6th to take 2nd ahead of Dennison in third.
Going into the third and final race any one of five boats had a realistic chance of taking the event, with Nick Brook taking an early lead ahead of Barnes and Gledhill. As had been the case all day the racing was close, but good natured. Barnes took the lead on the second lap in the most commanding performance of the day as he remained in front to take the race and the overall event. Armstrong showing resilience after his first race disappointment pulled through from 7th to take 2nd place, with Nick Brook slipping to third, allowing him to take third overall behind Tennant who proved to be the most consistent sailor of the day with three top four finishes.
Further down the fleet the racing was equally close with tie breakers required to separate three boats on 18 points and two boats on 28 points.
At the prize giving Phil Barnes thanked West Riding SC for the hospitality and race management and looked forward to the fleet assembling at Carsington SC.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 5211 | Philip Barnes | Budworth SC | 1 | ‑7 | 1 | 2 |
| 2nd | 5654 | Lee Tennant | Burwain SC | 3 | 1 | ‑4 | 4 |
| 3rd | 5600 | Nick Brook | Hollingworth Lake SC | 2 | ‑5 | 3 | 5 |
| 4th | 5518 | Innes Armstrong | Burwain SC | (DNF) | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 5th | 5658 | Steve Denison | | 4 | 3 | ‑5 | 7 |
| 6th | 5661 | Alistair Banks | WRSC | ‑6 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 7th | 5741 | Stephen Graham | Burwain SC | 5 | 6 | ‑7 | 11 |
| 8th | 5607 | Cliff English | South Shields SC | ‑10 | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| 9th | 5529 | Nick Hornsby | Hollingworth Lake SC | 7 | ‑12 | 11 | 18 |
| 10th | 4751 | John Gledhill | WRSC | 8 | ‑10 | 10 | 18 |
| 11th | 4576 | Jonathan Gledhill | WRSC | ‑9 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
| 12th | 5109 | Alan Catto | Leigh & Lowton SC | 11 | 11 | ‑12 | 22 |
| 13th | 4662 | Merv Griffiths | WRSC | 12 | ‑13 | 13 | 25 |
| 14th | 4545 | David Pontin | WRSC | 13 | ‑16 | 15 | 28 |
| 15th | 4044 | Ted Farrance | WRSC | ‑15 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| 16th | 4716 | Mike Wallace | WRSC | 14 | 15 | (DNC) | 29 |
| 17th | 5395 | Peter Limebear | WRSC | 17 | ‑18 | 16 | 33 |
| 18th | 4447 | Paul Brunner | WRSC | 18 | 17 | (DNC) | 35 |
| 19th | 4497 | Roger Perry | WRSC | 16 | (DNC) | DNC | 36 |