Solo Northern Circuit Open at Ogston Sailing Club

Solo Northern Circuit at Ogston © John Mensforth

Seventeen visitors from ten clubs in the North and Midland areas joined eight Ogston sailors for the Ogston Solo Open held on Saturday 12th June.

The forecast was for a light north-westerly breeze and plenty of sunshine and record temperatures, at the 4th event on the Northern circuit, and Ogston did not disappoint. PRO Philip Wilson, and daughter Amy, welcomed the competitors at a 10:30am distanced briefing in the dinghy park where the temperature was already in the high teens. With the wind in one of the most fickle directions for Ogston, Philip decided to run a morning race in the north part of the reservoir with a good long beat followed by a number of reaches and a run to the bottom mark before turning north for lap 2.

Solo Northern Circuit at Ogston - photo © John Mensforth

The lower part of the beat was a little one-sided which made for some interesting decisions, whether to stay left in the shadow of the trees or up the middle, the latter normally the better option. The second half of the beat proved to be the part of the course where the race was going to be won or lost and places changed regularly on every lap. On the first lap, Ian Hopwood rounded first closely followed by Chris Brown, Steve Denison and local Martin Honnor and it was these 4 boats that fought for the top positions throughout with each of the 4 having a go at the lead. The first race was finally won by Ian, Martin second closely followed by Chris.

With the temperature still rising, the fleet came in for a lunch break to take on some liquid and apply some more sun protection.

Solo Northern Circuit at Ogston - photo © John Mensforth

For the two afternoon races, PRO Philip decided the races would be back-to-back and would be on the southwest part of the reservoir and with the wind direction backing slightly meant the course would have to be set with 2 beats across the water, making for an interesting first beat. Surprisingly, the start got away without any OCSs, and after the short beat to the first mark, saw Andy Ritchie get round first, a position he would only extend throughout the race.

The next group rounding included the usual culprits followed by what looked like the rest of the entire fleet wanting to come round together, not a surprise though with such a short first beat. Race 2 was easily won by Andy Ritchie, Martin taking a second 2nd and Chris getting a second 3rd, which meant with Ian having a 1,4 and Andy on a 5,1, going in to Race 3 it was all to play for with any one of 4 having a chance to take the event.

Solo Northern Circuit at Ogston - photo © John Mensforth

With the breeze dropping and changing direction, PRO Philip again had the difficult task of setting a good first beat, which after some deliberation looked like he had been successful. The line was set with a port pin bias and soon there was a gathering like bees round a honey pot at the port end. At the gun Chris was OCS and Martin made a disastrous start leaving both Ian and Andy the chance to get clear of the fleet and have their battle, or so it was thought. Halfway up the beat the wind dropped and places chanced multiple times, sometimes with those that had gone right smelling of roses to the gamblers who went left sneaking in.

It was Ian who came good and got round first again and never looked back. As the next group rounded, Lady Fickle Wind played her Ace and served up a 360 degrees swing in the wind, leaving the rest of the fleet on a beat, run and reach all at the same. As the direction settled back to the original WNW that had been seen at the beginning of the day a group broke away, including newcomer to the Solo, Adam Froggatt, together with Alan Bishop and Andy Ritchie, these 3 would have a close fought battle the entire race. A little further back Martin and Winder Solo builder Steve Denison (other builders are available!) were having their own little tussle and this is how the positions looked to be finishing until the last mark.

Solo Northern Circuit at Ogston - photo © John Mensforth

Ian was round and well on his way to a deserved victory while the pack of three, Steve D and Martin parked up just before the mark, just as Lady Fickle played her 'ace up the sleeve' and brought Andy Bayliss and Nigel Davies into the mix on a lovely little gust, putting all 7 boats within touching distance and creating a new mini race starting at the leeward mark. It would be Andy Ritchie claiming the 2nd closely followed by Alan Bishop and Andy Bayliss for 3rd and 4th resulting in the overall top 3 for the event of Ian Hopwood from Nantwich SC, Andy Ritchie from Hykeham SC and Martin Honnor from Ogston SC.

The day was nicely finished off with Pizza and muffins washed down with a cool beverage of choice...

The next events on the Northern Circuit will be Hollingworth on the 27th June followed by a Midland/Northern joint event on 31st July at Carsington SC.

Overall Results: