Solo class Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech Sailing Club

Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech © BBSC

The National Solo Class Association (NSCA) Southern Area Circuit travelled to Bough Beech Sailing Club for their annual open on 24 May. Bough Beech reservoir is situated in the Weald of Kent enjoying 400-acres of water in what is arguably one of the premier inland sailing locations in Southern England.

The NSCA Southern Circuit is generously sponsored by CB Coverstore, Super Spars, Magic Marine and Triggernaut.

Seventeen boats entered, with eight visitors joining the nine home boats, for an excellent days racing in a steady 12/15 mph SW breeze. Visitors travelled from Draycote Water SC, Blackwater SC, Papercourt SC, Hayling Island SC, Langstone SC, Chipstead SC and Tonbridge Town SC.

Race Officer, Ian Patrick, set a quadrilateral port rounding course using the maximum available distance diagonally across the reservoir. This provided good tactical racing particularly upwind and on the long run back down the reservoir. Four races of approximately 50-minutes were planned for the day with three to count.

Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech - photo © BBSC

Race 1 (3 laps): started in SW 12mph breeze, gusting 15mph, with a small bias towards the pin end. Chris Brown won the pin and tacked 25-metres out to cross the rest of the fleet. At the windward mark Chris had held his lead, followed by Mark Maskell, David Mason and Tom Goodey. Chris continued to build upon his lead and finished with a comfortable lead from Mark, David and Tom.

Race 2 (4 laps): got clear away with Mark Maskell rounding the windward mark first closely followed by Chris Brown and Tom Goodey. Fraser Hayden played the shifts on the run and slipped into third place by the leeward mark. There was little distance between the first three boats as they reached across the reservoir towards the bottom turning mark and heading back up the beat. Chris headed left followed by Tom and Fraser, whilst Mark played the shifts up the middle of the course. By the windward mark Chris had pulled out a commanding lead. Mark held second closely followed by Tom and Fraser. At the finish Chris was first followed by Fraser, who snatched second on the line, from Tom with Mark taking fourth.

Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech - photo © BBSC

Race 3 (4 laps): following an excellent lunch the fleet launched for Race 3. Race Office Ian Patrick retained the same course in a building SW breeze of 17mph. Chris Brown once again won the pin and headed left whist Mark Maskell and Richard Southern tacked away from the line on port finding a lift up the right-hand side of the reservoir. By the windward mark Mark was first to round, followed by Fraser Hayden and Richard. Chris rounded in fifth but within touching distance of the front bunch. By the second lap Chris had pulled into second position closely followed by David Mason, Fraser and Richard. Mark continued to build on his lead taking first place followed by Chris, Fraser and David.

Race 4 (3 laps): would determine the eventual event winner with Chris Brown's current score line being 1, 1, 2, whilst Mark Maskell had 2, 4, 1. Following a tight port biased start Chris was OCS and had to restart. Positions at the windward were Mark, followed by James Hart, Fraser Hayden, David Mason and Chris. David Mason pulled-up to second on the first run only to capsize during a gybe. By the second rounding Chris had pulled-up to second and closed the gap on Mark. Fraser was in third with James in fourth. Chris continued to close the gap on Mark, however at the end Mark secured his second win by half-a-boat-length from Chris with Fraser securing third and James fourth.

Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech - photo © BBSC

Mark Maskell and Chris Brown tied with a score of 4-points each. Mark, winning the final race took the overall event, with Chris second and Fraser third.

Thanks were given to Bough Beech SC for an excellently run event along with thanks to the race team, safety boat crews, galley and other shore based support teams.

More pictures: www.facebook.com/BoughBeechSailingClub
Club website: www.boughbeechsc.org.uk

Mark Maskell, overall winner - Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech - photo © NSCA

Overall Results: