Solo Eastern Area Championship at Brightlingsea Sailing Club

Solo Eastern Area Championship at Brightlingsea © Will Stacey

Solo Eastern Area Championship at Brightlingsea © Will Stacey

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

Solo Eastern Area Championship at Brightlingsea - photo © Will Stacey

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.

Jamie Morgan wins the Solo Eastern Area Championship at Brightlingsea - photo © Will Stacey

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: