Solo class Southern Area Championships and Tyler Trophy at Hayling Island Sailing Club

Eighteen visiting Solo sailors joined ten local sailors for a two-day open meeting in the waters of Hayling Bay.

Race 1 got under way cleanly in a pleasant 10 knot south westerly. After the first lap Oliver Davenport was leading the way, with Olly Wells, Jonathan Swain, Alex Butler, Mark Lee and Mark Fuller in the chasing pack. A left-hand shift on the second beat shuffled the pack, with Alex taking the lead at the windward mark and Marks Lee and Fuller close behind, an order maintained downwind to the finish.

The variable breeze was not making life easy for race officer David Nicholls and his team, as several course adjustments were required before the second start. The fleet seemed rather tame on the line, as race 2 got under way successfully under P flag once again. At the windward mark, if memory serves the author correctly, Alex Butler lead round from a chasing group of Oliver Davenport, Mark Fuller, David Winder and Jonathan Swain.

As the sea breeze filled in more, Davenport stretched his legs to show great upwind speed to claim second at the windward mark, close behind Alex Butler. After a tight battle, Alex managed to hold off Olly downwind to take the race win. Behind them, David Winder took third from Jonathan Swain.

The turning tide spelt trouble for the start of the third start, as the first attempt to get under way resulted in a general recall. Olly Davenport enjoyed the 15 knots of breeze to claim the race win, from Alex Butler, Stephen Dickinson and Jonathan Swain.

Warm sunshine and a still wind greeted the sailors on Sunday morning. That didn't stop some from fuelling up on a "championship" breakfast in the club restaurant, clearly anticipating a solid sea breeze to appear. A light south easterly breeze did eventually fill in, allowing for racing to get under way. The tide was pushing the fleet over the line, resulting in two general recalls and the dusting off of the U flag.

Olly Davenport took control in the first race of the day to take the win, with Jonathan Swain, Stephen Dickinson crossing the line in second and third in silence. The presence of their sail numbers on the 'Whiteboard of Shame' handed second place to Alex Butler and third place to Simon Law.

Race 5, after the inevitable general recall, resulted in another win for Olly Davenport, a second for Alex Butler and a third for Stephen Dickinson.

A course change for the final race meant the fleet would sail a sausage course due to the dying breeze. Keeping the boat going in light winds through the chop was critical, and Nigel Davies took an unassailable lead by the end of the first beat. Throughout the rest of the race close battles were raging behind him. President Guy Mayger, only joining battle on Sunday, took second on the final beat to an upwind finish, followed by Olly Davenport in third, Geoff Holden in fourth and Alex Butler in fifth.

Overall, first and second were separated by a tie-break, with Olly Davenport taking victory and Alex Butler second. Mark Lee took third and Nigel Davies and Mark Fuller completed the top five.

Thanks must go to race officer, David Nicholls, and his team for running an excellent weekend of racing. Generous voucher prizes provided by Magic Marine and Triggernaut Sunglasses were handed out to prize winners.

With super close racing throughout the fleet, things bode well for a highly competitive National Championships at Brightlingsea YC later in August.

Overall Results: