Solo Class Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

Prize winners in the Solo Class Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea SC © LoSSC

Blue skies, sunshine and a warm fair breeze greeted the 15 local boats and 6 visiting soloists to the third NSCA Solo Class Vintage Championship this year supported by Rooster Sailing and CBCoverStore. Each entry received a water bottle thanks to Rooster Sailing.

After the usual bacon butties, coffee and tea and the briefing the fleet set off to the offshore committee boat under the guidance of Race Officer Steve Corbet and his team. A trapezoid course was set for all races and the first start line was laid pretty promptly.

In race 1 a crowded port biased line saw Vince Horey (3715) get caught out and returned but it was Chris Brown (4200) who led around the 1st windward mark closely followed by defending champion Dave Goudie (4040). The dead run to the third mark was very tactical and many places changed throughout the whole fleet. Brown hung on to the lead and led from then on to the finish of a two lap race. Goudie finished 2nd and local boy Jonny Wells (3903), himself a past vintage champion, 3rd.

The sea breeze continued to build for race 2 and a general recall was the order of the day. A second nearly clean start ensued, and this time Wells was over the line along with club mate Cass Monk (3983). Again, it was Brown who arrived ahead of the pack at the windward mark. The whole fleet planed away to the second mark as the wind rose further. The close racing continued throughout with many place changes. Horey got into gear as did Class President Doug Latta (3936) and after two laps finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, Nigel Davies (3302) came in a close 4th place.

A now steady 15 knot breeze from the east greeting the fleet for the third and final race of the championship and with the tide now beginning to ebb the course was slightly altered. Brown using all his experience in solos from over the years showed the way to the windward mark yet again. A well behaved fleet planed away over a typically estuary chop to the second mark. The dead runs were again very tactical and saw the first capsizes of the day. Over the three lap course the leaders were never far apart swapping tacks and gybes (and no doubt stories of yesteryear) along the way. With great credit Brown he stayed in front and led the tiring fleet home Wells snatched 2nd place. 3rd was Horey, 4th Davies and 5th Latta. The whole remaining 19 boats fleet finished within 4 minutes showing just how close and good the racing had been.

Hot dogs and burgers were consumed with relish followed by the prize-giving. Held in the open aired top floor all socially distancing in place, Colin Walker, LSC Class Captain introduced Steve Hill the club Commodore who presented the prizes.

Steve himself a solo sailor, introduced himself and thanked all the visitors for making the effort to come to Leigh, in these times of uncertainty.

Chris Brown received 3 cans of locally brewed beer for his efforts to get to the windward mark first each time!

Chris (CBCoverStore) gracefully had the honour of donating a new lighting board set to Dave Goudie for the most elegant boat in the fleet chosen by Doug Latta.

Rooster Sailing prizes for the championship were presented to the following. Latta himself won the prize for the most distanced travelled entry. Nick Hann (2120) won the oldest boat prize. Nick Range (3648) won the prize for best endeavour finishing every race.

The NSCA overall prizes were won by in 5th place Latta (8 pts), 4th Goudie (8pts), 3rd Horey (5pts), 2nd Wells (5pts).

By some way Brown (3pts) became the third Vintage Champion of 2021. Chris Brown thanked the whole LSC team for their work in making it such a great event and looked forward to the future championships.

Overall Results: