Solo Eastern Area Championship at Brightlingsea Sailing Club

by Jarvis Simpson 9 Sep 2021 15:23 BST 4 September 2021

The Solo Easterns took place at Brightlingsea Sailing Club on the 4th of September and welcomed 23 Solos, 12 of which were visitors, from as far afield as Rutland.

PRO James Stacey briefed the competitors on the Promenade and informed them that the course area was up to 30 minutes sail away. This was deemed necessary to try and keep the tidal influence to a minimum.

Race 1 was started in bright sunshine with a 3-4 and a nice solid Brightlingsea chop. Those at the pin end who continued hard left after the start found themselves behind at the windward mark, with those who stayed right filling the top positions. Piers Lambert rounded first and didn’t look back, sailing to a convincing win, second was Jamie Morgan from Rutland and third was Steve Ede from Ardleigh.

Race 2 was started after a 40-minute delay to allow the other classes racing to clear the course. The wind had risen slightly, as had the chop, and the propensity for the wind to shift. At the start a large shift allowed those at the pin end to tack and clear the starboard tackers. There followed an intense, windy, choppy, and shifty beat. Round first was Jamie Morgan, followed by Steve Ede, John Ball, and Jarvis Simpson in close order. Jamie extended his lead throughout and took a deserved win, and after much place changing, Ede was second, Ball third with Simpson fourth

Race 3 started without too much delay, and it was Simpson from the pin end who rounded first, followed by Morgan. The chasing pack were also very close, and the following beat was a nervy affair with Simpson and Morgan racing hard but ever aware that being on the wrong side of a shift could plunge them down the order. At the start of the final beat Simpson held the lead, but on rounding was greeted by another class, having its own private battle. After clearing them, Morgan had slipped into the lead with Simpson in second and Tim Lewis 3rd, and that’s how it ended.

A convincing 2-1-1 score giving Jamie Morgan the Eastern Area Title, with Steve Ede second, and Jarvis Simpson third.

Thanks to the PRO and his race team for setting 3 magnificent courses which fully delivered the Brightlingsea experience for the 23 competitors.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1st	5923	Jamie Morgan	Rutland SC	‑2	1	1	2
2nd	5804	Steve Ede	Ardleigh SC	3	2	‑5	5
3rd	5406	Jarvis Simpson	Brightlingsea SC	‑7	4	2	6
4th	5922	Piers Lambert	Brightlingsea SC	1	7	‑11	8
5th	5703	John Ball	Brightlingsea SC	5	3	‑10	8
6th	5597	Jonney Wells	Essex SC	4	‑9	4	8
7th	5704	Tim Lewis	Silver Wing SC	‑8	8	3	11
8th	5554	Richard Hudson	Bough Beech SC	‑13	5	6	11
9th	5796	Andy Bines	Brightlingsea SC	9	6	(DNF)	15
10th	5863	Robin Laurie	Harlow Blackwater SC	6	10	‑13	16
11th	5259	Roger Wilson	Rollesby Broad SC	12	‑16	8	20
12th	5745	Robin Page	Brightlingsea SC	11	‑12	9	20
13th	4801	Godfrey Clark	Fishers Green SC	10	13	‑18	23
14th	5750	Stephen Nesbitt	Brightlingsea SC	17	‑18	7	24
15th	5819	Phil Sturmer	Brightlingsea SC	‑19	11	14	25
16th	5535	David Youngs	Brightlingsea SC	‑18	15	12	27
17th	5665	Paul Aldridge	Brightlingsea SC	‑16	14	15	29
18th	3904	Robin Tothill	Leigh on Sea	15	‑22	17	32
19th	5599	Derick Gentry	Brightlingsea SC	14	20	(DNS)	34
20th	3715	Alan Roberts	Leigh on Sea	‑22	21	16	37
21st	5724	Tery Palmer	Upper SC	20	17	(DNF)	37
22nd	5888	Geoff Gritton	Brightlingsea SC	21	19	(DNS)	40
23rd	5314	Tony Tye	Ardleigh SC	23	(DNF)	DNS	47