Harken Solo Inland Championship at Rutland Sailing Club - Overall

by Jo Catterall 10 Sep 2017 21:24 BST 9-10 September 2017

Awoken today to the shout of "come on breeze" by Hopwood, who was hoping for a much improved start to the racing, being of a slightly challenging weight for this dinghy, the light breezes don't suit. But as I looked out a few leaves gently fluttered down into the car park signalling the start of Autumn & perhaps it was not breezy enough.

I'm sure all the lightweights skipped out of bed when they realised that, for now anyway, the weather was being kind. Ever the optimist Hopwood duly informed me it would build as the day went by.

There weren't too many fuzzy heads this morning, only a small hardcore element led by Denison & Winder had remained in the bar after 10 o'clock. Everyone else it seemed was heading for some Ibruprofen, with no rocking required following the first day's events, to get some well earned rest! I'm informed by our resident barman that the night descended into some friendly banter and rugby songs (really!) but that all were well behaved.

Seeking inspiration for today's report I took the dog on the lovely walk to Normanton Church and beyond. Note to self; get a lottery ticket, the houses adjacent to the club are stunning and leave me wondering who lives in a house like this? Me if I win!

For those of you who have not been lucky enough to visit this part of the world I urge you to do so. Sailors can happily bring their families, safe in the knowledge that there is plenty to do for them while they are on the water. Dogs are not allowed at the club but are welcomed at the camp ground across the lane along with well behaved children. Canines are also welcome in the village pub (The Wheatsheaf) and the walks round the area are great. Lots to see and do, bikes can be hired locally and the track around the water is shared by cyclists, walkers, runners etc. Take cash with you as there are cafes & ice cream stops along the way. Anyone seeking a bed for the night, the club has rooms, numerous B&B's locally, even a Best Western Hotel around 10 minutes away.

Back to the racing, as I neared the damn end it was obvious, even to a non-sailor like me, that the wind had changed along with the course. The field were strung out and sailing looked fun as they rounded the buoy at the windward mark.

It looked like there were a few obstacles to contend with from where I stood. A posse of canoes appeared to go through the fleet and the Rutland Belle Leisure Cruiser was sailing.

Race 1

It took a little while to get started, but when the wind came it made for a hard day's sailing. It built steadily throughout the day, even in the first race. John Brooker, new to the fleet, found the first beat a bit too fruity to handle having had a great day yesterday. Still I believe he had enjoyed himself and hopefully we will see him next time.

Brownie had a good day, being first to the first mark and every race thereafter was 'his weather', a comment agreed with by Mr Fisher. Soon overtaken by Davis who won but Brownie held a good second with Davenport third.

Race 2

Honnor had a difficult day following yesterday's results. He said there was more wind, gusty, shifty and got to windward mark sixth and went backwards thereafter... Some of the guys were sailing really well and just depended on which shift you picked. Clearly the beer helped as Winder took the spoils, followed by Lovering and Lee.

Race 3

Interviewing sailors as they came off the water, the general consensus of the fleet was that it was hard work today. All should be ashamed as Septimus sailor John Webster told me he had had a fantastic day as the wind was up and finished well. Hamilton felt that breakfast was the highlight of his day! Others looked weary, Dennison had been talking to the fish and was not the only one I hear!

Oil Wells (not my typo - check the results list) went in just before the start and called it a day after capsizing again during a gybe. So youth came to the fore with Davenport winning, Winder still in the mix with a 2nd and Taxi sealing the overall win with a 3rd. Shouldn't go without mentioning Sims who had a consistent day to be 2nd overall.

So after a valiant battle the winners are:

• 1st Andy Davis (taxi), 2nd Mike Sims, 3rd Dave Winder.
• Lady: Sue Taylor
• Junior: Oliver Davenport
• Veteran: Martin Honnor
• Grand Master: Malcolm Buchanan
• Septimus: John Webster

A great big thank you to Harken for sponsoring the event and to Rutland for hosting. I'm already looking forward to returning next year.

Noble Marine sponsor the National Solo Class and protect our Solos 24/7.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	Pts
1st	5597	Andy Davis	Bartley	2	1	‑5	1	5	3	12
2nd	5722	Michael Sims	Carsington	1	‑18	1	4	4	4	14
3rd	5675	David Winder	Hollingworth Lake	‑21	6	4	7	1	2	20
4th	5719	Richard Lovering	WYC	6	‑19	14	6	2	5	33
5th	5712	Chris Brown	Draycote	‑18	12	6	2	6	10	36
6th	5302	Shane MacCarthy	Greystone	9	3	‑21	9	19	9	49
7th	5737	Oliver Davenport	Northampton	28	(DNC)	7	3	11	1	50
8th	5583	Martin Frary	Weston SC	‑27	16	18	5	7	6	52
9th	5398	Martin Honnor	Ogston	12	5	11	17	17	(DNC)	62
10th	5608	Steve Ede	Ardleigh	‑24	9	16	15	15	8	63
11th	5764	Oil Wells	Northampton	5	32	2	18	8	(DNC)	65
12th	5750	David Mitchell	Warsash Sc	‑30	14	3	8	28	13	66
13th	5383	Patrick Hamilton	Burwain SC	13	‑33	13	13	20	7	66
14th	5730	Vince Hurey	King George SC	19	10	12	10	(RET)	15	66
15th	5741	Stephen Graham	Burwain SC	4	27	17	‑29	9	14	71
16th	5130	Mark Lee	Weymouth SC	7	20	20	‑35	3	26	76
17th	5705	Lawrence Creaser	Hayling Island	14	15	26	‑34	12	11	78
18th	5658	Steve Dension	Hollingworth Lake	17	7	9	20	30	‑33	83
19th	5738	Ewan Birkin‑Wallis	Graham Water SC	10	‑24	22	11	18	22	83
20th	5654	Lee Tennant	Burwain SC	22	4	‑37	19	23	16	84
21st	5561	Tim Lewis	RYA	25	8	‑33	21	21	18	93
22nd	5406	Jarvis Simpson	Brightlingsea SC	31	13	25	‑32	14	12	95
23rd	5518	Innes Armstrong	Burwain SC	3	2	30	25	37	(DNC)	97
24th	5707	Nigel Davies	Draycote	20	‑34	15	24	22	17	98
25th	5211	Philip Barnes	Budworth	‑35	11	27	16	27	20	101
26th	5645	Ian Hopwood	Nantwich	29	‑51	31	12	10	21	103
27th	5613	Stuart Gibson	Clyde Cruising	8	22	28	27	26	(DNC)	111
28th	5655	John Webster	Carsington	34	‑37	19	23	24	19	119
29th	5134	Robert Laurie	RYA	‑51	40	24	22	25	23	134
30th	5683	Andy Hyland	Spinnaker SC	36	30	34	30	16	(RET)	146
31st	4660	Paul Grace	Chipstead	33	26	‑47	37	33	24	153
32nd	5670	Nigel Thomas	Hill Head	26	28	29	28	42	(DNC)	153
33rd	5768	Simon Maskell	Hunts SC	16	17	8	36	(RET)	DNC	154
34th	5724	Terry Palmer	Upper Thames	15	45	38	38	32	(DNC)	168
35th	5487	Roger Bennett	Silver Wing SC	47	29	36	26	38	(DNC)	176
36th	5168	Jonathan Otter	Papercourt	‑58	47	56	39	13	25	180
37th	5595	Richard Ball	Chipstead	41	‑48	41	42	34	31	189
38th	5570	Malcom Buchanan	Lymington Town	42	39	45	‑46	36	28	190
39th	5685	Thomas Hooton	Bulton Sc	11	25	40	41	(DNC)	DNC	194
40th	4772	Nick Fisher	Salcombe YC	43	‑60	43	47	35	30	198
41st	5203	Mike Cowan	Bassenthwaite	63	23	52	33	31	(DNC)	202
42nd	5745	Andrew Fox	Leigh & Lowton	49	53	10	14	(RET)	DNC	203
43rd	5282	Vernon Perkins	South Cerney SC	44	‑63	53	31	39	38	205
44th	5547	Peter Warne	Northampton	54	21	39	56	43	(RET)	213
45th	5581	Tim Wade	Spinnaker	48	‑58	32	45	54	34	213
46th	5237	Derek Jackmann	Chichester	40	52	50	‑58	49	35	226
47th	5455	Mark Maskell	Blackwater	23	31	23	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	231
48th	4454	Stas Hawicki	Papercourt	‑66	64	63	44	29	32	232
49th	5721	Graham Wilson	Northampton	55	36	42	54	51	(RET)	238
50th	5352	Mike Wilkie	Desborough	62	‑66	58	55	40	27	242
51st	4723	Steve Hubbard	Rutland	37	54	57	53	41	(DNC)	242
52nd	5001	Peter Matthews	WOBYC	32	38	48	48	(RET)	DNC	243
53rd	4882	Brian Fisher	Notts County	53	55	44	‑60	52	40	244
54th	5760	Dave Rudman	Chipstead	56	50	46	43	50	(DNC)	245
55th	5575	Shaun Welch	Calshot	67	‑68	66	40	45	29	247
56th	5641	Kevin Vials	Ripon SC	65	43	59	51	48	(DNC)	266
57th	5321	David Scott	Northampton	45	35	35	(RET)	DNC	DNC	269
58th	5628	Colin Mather	Ripon	‑73	56	64	57	56	36	269
59th	5152	Andrew Thompson		70	44	62	49	44	(RET)	269
60th	5560	Charles Stimpson	Spinnaker	59	‑70	67	65	46	37	274
61st	5265	Rob Trend	Chipstead	50	42	69	61	53	(DNC)	275
62nd	5230	Michael Healy	Chipstead	52	69	54	59	47	(DNC)	281
63rd	5373	Phil Sturmer	Royal Burnham YC	46	62	51	52	(RET)	DNC	288
64th	4551	Bill Hutchings	Tonbridge	‑72	65	71	62	55	39	292
65th	4581	John Brooker	Frensham	38	41	61	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	294
66th	5649	Steve Bishop	Girton	39	49	55	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	297
67th	4970	Sue Taylor	Silver Wing SC	57	46	49	(DNC)	RET	DNC	306
68th	5367	Tony Dallimore	Ripon SC	64	59	60	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	337
69th	5465	Dan Bishop	Chipstead	71	61	65	64	(DNC)	DNC	338
70th	5003	Paul Bottomley	South Staffs	60	57	(DNC)	DNC	RET	DNC	348
71st	5572	Michael Kostin	Chipstead	74	74	74	50	(RET)	DNC	349
72nd	5448	Bob Cartwright	Bythfield	69	67	70	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	360
73rd	5082	Martin O'Brien	Skerries Co Dublin	61	71	75	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	361
74th	5413	Andy Cheetham	Ripon	68	72	68	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	362
75th	5064	Mike Davenport	Redesmere SC	75	75	73	63	(RET)	DNC	363
76th	5500	Keith Turtle	Chipstead	76	73	72	66	(DNC)	DNC	364