Solo open meeting at Ripon Sailing Club

Light winds for the Solo open meeting at Ripon © Gail Jackson

The forecast said 8 mph, the mirror finish across the lake said otherwise as the Solo Northern Travellers Series kicked off at the Ripon Sailing Club Open last Saturday. Six local helms were joined by five visitors from four other clubs, all of whom were pleased to only have a 40 minute delay or thereabouts before the wind arrived for a bit of a drifter, but it was a race none the less!

Race 1 was won by Stephen Denison (RYA) who managed to roll tack his way to great effect throughout the upwind legs and he weaved his way downwind catching whatever little gust there was better than anyone else. Second in race 1 was last years Ripon open winner Tim Sadler (YDSC/RSC) followed by Martin Brennan (Hollingworth) in third.

Everyone went in for lunch with various groans about the wind speed and its direction - that and the glorious sunshine which baked all of those sailing in drysuits!

RO Richard Pryke decided that Race 2 and 3 would be sailed back to back. He would have been competing but had volunteered as RO thinking his current Solo wouldn't be refitted in time. When he saw the wind in race one we suspect he wasn't that bothered. However, after lunch the wind picked up and races 2 and 3 were sailed in very pleasant weather, still light winds but at least enough for everyone to even sit out at times.

Martin Brennan won race 2, from Nick Hornsby (Hollingworth SC) and Stephen Denison.

A fluctuating wind gave a moment of (temporary) glory to local boy Steve Jackson who led the field away in race 3 having chosen the committee boat end to start from. He was closely followed by Andy Cheetham through the south lake, however, both were overtaken before the windward mark as the top sailors spotted the flimsy shifts and carried their speed along with expert roll tacks to restore a more familiar order!

And so it was that Stephen Denison grabbed the lead again and he was followed over the finish line by Martin Brennan and and Northern Area rep Philip Barnes finishing third.

So the new Ripon Open champion is Stephen Denison who by default is now also leading the Northern Travellers Series since the opening round at Shotwick SC was cancelled due to high winds two weeks earlier.

The winners received Wensleydale cheeses and a selection of local beers!

Overall Results: