Solo Northern Open at Ogston Sailing Club sponsored by Winder Boats

Ogston Solo Open © Daisy Ross

Ogston Solo Open © Daisy Ross

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.

The forecast was for 10 knots with gusts up to 20 knots and from the west. The race officer went through the SI's, stating flag "I" would be used for early starters (round the ends to restart). The plan was for 2 races back to back, lunch, and then the final race.

To the racing; the line was set with a heavy port bias so the pin end looked favourable. Armstrong (Burwain) found himself alone at the pin and immediately tacked on to port, as did the rest of the fleet further up the starting line. So at the windward mark Armstrong led from Denison (RYA) and Honnor (Ogston). Armstrong held the lead for most of the race until Denison managed to find a nice wind shift on the beat which allowed him to pass Armstrong. Honnor also took advantage of the lift to sneak past into 2nd as Armstrong fell into a windless patch at the leeward mark. Behind all of this there were many place changes and the odd capsize in the strong gusts which were doing well to catch everyone unaware! At the end it was Denison, Honnor then Armstrong.

The second race soon followed and again a port bias line. This time Armstrong misjudged his timing and found himself OCS at the gun and had to restart, later retiring following a capsize. From here on the author has to rely anecdotes from the competitors as he was now out of the race and ashore trying to dry off! Local sailor Russell Short (Ogston) led at the first mark and was never passed, Honnor finishing 2nd followed by Denison. This race also saw a few casualties, either capsizing or retiring due to broken gear (2 shrouds in two different boats and a main halyard failure) Those pesky gusts were definitely taking their toll!

Ogston Solo Open - photo © Daisy Ross

After a fabulous lunch provided by the excellent galley team, the scene was set for a winner takes all final race. With 4 sailors in with a chance of winning the event; Denison, Honnor, Armstrong and Short. As in the previous races the pin end was favoured. Again Armstrong was there to take advantage, thereby leading at the first mark, followed by Honnor and Woodward (South Staffs). A nip-and-tuck battle ensued with Armstrong and Woodward pulling away. By this stage Denison had capsized and found himself in the middle of the fleet, deciding he could do no more to influence the result, he so retired. Also Short had capsized as well running him out of the reckoning. Armstrong tried hard to get in front of Woodward but to no avail. So race three finished in the following order; Woodward, then Armstrong with Honnor in third. With all the results in it was Denison who picked up the victory in the 1st Northern Solo Open of 2025 with Honnor in second and Armstrong in third (thus discovering that he had to write the report).

Ogston Solo Open (l-r) Martin Honnor 2nd, Stephen Denison 1st, Innes Armstrong 3rd - photo © Justine Davenport

Denison thanked everyone that made the event possible and a success, and reminded everyone of the next event to be held at Burwain Sailing Club on the 27th of April - just two weeks away.

Overall Results: