Solo open meeting at Fishers Green Sailing Club

Fishers Green Solo Open © Colin Hill

Fishers Green Solo Open © Colin Hill

Fourteen home boats were joined by seven visitors to endure the light shifty winds that were forecast, and for once the forecast was spot on. Likewise the race team of Nick Yannakoyorgos and Colin Hill would have their work cut out, using a temporary mark to avoid any wind shadow. After a short postponement, 21 boats took to the water with Barrie Ashwell making an appearance to renew rivalries with the Solo fleet.

In race one, visitor Steve Ede 5804 led from start to finish and left the rest of the fleet to battle it out. After a poor start, Steve Conroy managed to carve his way through the fleet to take a second place and Tim Lewis 5561 took third.

For race 2 a course change saw another temporary mark to improve the second of two beats. Steve Ede again led the fleet round from start to finish and took the open meeting with two bullets. The FGSC solos had their mid fleet battle allowing two more visitors to take the remaining podium spots.

Race 3 used the same course and Paul Rayson decided to get out in front and leave the mob to battle it out. With the common theme of the day being if you run with the pack, big losses and gains were not very far away with big shifts and wind holes appearing out of nowhere. Paul took the race win with Steve Ede taking second and Mark Maskell in third.

Great racing by all in very tricky conditions - some say testing, some say something completely different but unprintable. The entire fleet were not at all spread out showing how competitive our home Solo fleet are.

We were very well looked after in the catering department by Mrs Lappage, so many thanks to all of those involved, which as ever, made the FGSC Solo Open a superb event.

After another light wind FGSC open, we promise we will have a proper breeze next year (maybe)......

Overall Results: