Please select your home edition
Edition
Sea Sure 2025

Solo Thames Traveller Series at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club

by Nick Marley 8 Oct 2023 08:58 BST 7 October 2023

The Solo class took to the water on a beautiful sailing day, ready to compete in a one day series of races. The weather was unseasonably amazing for October, feeling like much earlier in the summer.

The course set for the day was a challenging triangle sausage, promising both strategic manoeuvres and fast-paced action. The weather conditions were near perfect, with the wind blowing steadily between 9 to 12 knots, providing an ideal setting for competitive sailing. With temperatures ranging from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius, sailors enjoyed the warmth of the sun as they prepared for a day of intense racing.

The day consisted of four races, with two races scheduled in the morning and two more in the afternoon. In the first race of the day, a few sailors encountered capsizes due to unexpected strong gusts of wind, adding an element of unpredictability to the competition.

By lunchtime, it was clear that Adam Meekings, Mike Dray, David Mason, and Tim Lewis had established themselves as the front-runners, creating a significant gap between themselves and the rest of the fleet. The afternoon races promised an exciting showdown between these four sailors, as they battled it out for the top spot on the podium.

As the temperature rose to a comfortable 23 degrees in the afternoon, so did the excitement on the water. After an intense series of races, Mike Dray emerged as the series champion, showcasing exceptional sailing skills and consistency. Adam Meekings secured the second position, while David Mason rounded off the podium in third place. Among the local sailors from IBRSC (Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club), Peter Halliday managed to hold onto his top spot, despite not participating in the last race, narrowly fending off a challenge from James Collett by RRS A8.1.

The day's racing had been a true test of skill and determination, leaving sailors and spectators alike with lasting memories of a beautiful day for sailing.

Overall Results:

PosHelmSail NoClubR1R2R3R4Pts
1stMike Dray6017Hawley Lake SC1‑4113
2ndAdam Meekings5676Maidenhead sailing club31‑437
3rdDavid Mason5582Silver Wing Sailing Club2‑3327
4thTim Lewis6010RYA‑42248
5thSteve Jones5730Littleton SC555‑615
6thIan Cherrill4650Frensham Pond‑766517
7thTim Medcalf5089Tamesis Club87‑12722
8thMike Barnes3847RYA Lagos YC6109‑1225
9thPeter Halliday4071Island Barn Reservoir SC1187(DNC)26
10thJames Collett5091Island Barn Reservoir SC10‑118826
11thBen Russell4670Island Barn Reservoir SC9(DNF)13931
12thBill Hutchings4551Tonbridge Town‑129111131
13thMike Jones5215Island Barn Reservoir SC‑1312101032
14thTim Gabriel5684Island Barn Reservoir SC‑1413141340

Related Articles

Burwain Solo Open
Another day at the picturesque lake Arriving for the Northern Area Solo Open Meeting, sponsored by Winder Boats, another day at the picturesque lake at Burwain. We were greeted by blue skies and a light south westerly breeze, that would provide a challenging day's sailing. Posted on 30 Apr
Salcombe YC Sailing Club Series Race 2
A shortened course necessary in the light East North Easterly and building Spring tides Saturday saw 12 boats arrive on the Fast Handicap fleet line, despite the building spring tide and the predicted lack of wind towards the latter stages of the afternoon. Posted on 28 Apr
Burghfield Solo Open
It was all looking a bit ominous during the week It was all looking a bit ominous during the week leading up to the Burghfield Sailing Club Solo Open Meeting on Saturday 26th April. A poor forecast of very light winds - if any - meant that the entry list was looking very depleted. Posted on 27 Apr
Salcombe YC Sailing Club Series Race 1
A good afternoon of beat and running for the fleets With a Force 3 to 4 East North Easterly breeze in the main harbour the thirteen Solos that arrived at the Salcombe Yacht Club start line looked forward to a good afternoon of beat and running racing. Posted on 22 Apr
Solos at Broadwater
Thames Valley & Eastern Series opener The 2025 Eastern and Thames Valley Solo Series kicked off on a sunny Saturday at the end of March with fifteen boats from ten clubs taking part. Posted on 21 Apr
The Solo Welsh Championship and a Bit of History
Tata Steel Sailing Club, Port Talbot, hosted the event, first run in 1996 Tata Steel Sailing Club, Port Talbot, hosted the event which was first contested back in 1996 and was won by the pubescent Harvey Hillary sailing 4004 Kevin's Widget (Gosling). Posted on 20 Apr
Ron Beasley obituary
A seven-year joinery apprenticeship lead to being a world champion dinghy builder Ronald William Beasley was born on the 31st January 1931 and grew up in Bradley, Bilston in the Black Country. He left school at age fourteen. He then completed a seven-year joinery apprenticeship at 'Wilcocks' in Wolverhampton. Posted on 16 Apr
Ogston Solo Open
22 entries of which 14 were visitors for first northern event of the season Sunday the 13th April saw the first Northern Solo Open Meeting of 2025 take place at Ogston Sailing Club in Derbyshire. There were 22 entries of which 14 were visitors. Posted on 16 Apr
Solo class Southern Area Series at Spinnaker
The mark-laying boats were busy throughout the day Spinnaker Sailing Club hosted the first open meeting of this year's Solo Southern Area Series this Saturday, 12 Apr. Seventeen sailors arrived to blue skies and a forecast F2/3 Easterly veering SE. Posted on 15 Apr
HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Bardowie
Plenty of time for a chat in the sun before racing As we usually do the Scottish Solo fleet headed to Bardowie for the first event of the 2025 HD Sails Scottish travellers series on April 12th. Posted on 15 Apr