Solo Midlands Travellers at Barnt Green Sailing Club
by Chris Stringfellow 4 Apr 2006 07:20 BST
1 April 2006
Jim Hunt wins the Barnt Green Solo open © Richard Wallace
A gusty south-westerly wind force four gusting to five welcomed 23 boats to the meeting. Race one saw a general recall but with a clean restart Jim Hunt (South Staffordshire SC) was first at the first mark followed by Norman Byrd (Draycote Water SC). Hunt maintained an increasing lead over Byrd but Richard Pye (Draycote Water SC) worked through fleet from midway to take third from Jon Clarke (Rugby & Daventry SC).
In increasingly gusty conditions, 16 boats started race two and again Hunt took an early lead but Brown took the lead by the end of lap three with Colin Newton (Staunton Harrold SC) maintaining a solid third throughout with Stuart Hydon (Shustoke SC) & Neil Wilkinson (Shustoke SC) rising to fourth & fifth respectively. Hunt & Brown engaged in battle of covering on the last but one leg although a gust caught Brown tacking off after the final mark of the shortened course for Hunt to slip through to first at the anchor dragging boat finish.
Race three saw 11 boats at the start. Without Hunt in the race Brown took an early lead but Hydon took over in lap three with Byrd astern followed by Clarke, Wilkinson & Brown.
Overall Results:
1st 4214 Jim Hunt (South Staffordshire SC)
2nd 4538 Norman Byrd (Draycote Water SC)
3rd 4551 Stuart Hydon (Shustoke SC)
4th 4672 Chris Brown (RYA)
5th 4578 Neil Wilkinson (Shustoke SC)