Solution Open at Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club

Lee-on-the-Solent Solution Open © Karen Ward

Somehow the SailGP fleet at Portsmouth got the media attention on the weekend of 19th and 20th July but they missed the main event at Lee on Solent where the Solution, Phantom and Blaze classes came together for some proper close racing.

There was a yellow warning of thunderstorms and steadily increasing winds as the fleets started day one. Fifteen Solutions all got away from the start cleanly with the lighter conditions suiting some better than others. Ian Morgan was first to round the windward mark and held that position throughout the race while remaining positions swapped around but eventually Col Smedley pulled clear in second place with Nick Martin third.

As the wind became more firmly established for races two and three, so did the rankings. Ian Morgan demonstrated his consistency and clocked up another two firsts while the battle for second place was heating up, Jon Stewart and Richard Gibbon each taking a second place and a third place.

The forecast for day two was for strong squally conditions so the committee held a fourth race on day one, a good decision for event planning but did little to break the established pattern in the Solution fleet with Ian Morgan first, Jon Stewart second and Richard Gibbon third.

Only two races were now needed on day two but with squally showers blowing across from the Isle of Wight cancellation was seriously considered. The official start time came and went while everyone sheltered in the clubhouse but eventually conditions moderated enough for a slightly apprehensive group of sailors and rescue boat crew to head out.

Lee-on-the-Solent Solution Open - photo © Karen Ward

Six boats launched but a gear breakage for Ian Morgan meant he didn't make it to the start line. That left Jon and Richard now battling for the event lead. Jon took the first race to give himself a two point lead in the overall standings. Squally conditions delayed the start of the last race, but it finally went ahead with a significant wind shift allowing Col to lay the first mark in one tack with Jon and Richard close beside. Line honours eventually went to Richard with Col a whisker ahead of Jon, leaving Jon and Richard both on level points. With completely even score cards, the position in last race was the final discriminator, making Richard the event winner, Jon second and Col third overall.

This was a fantastic event with some challenging sailing and all thanks to LOSSC for the excellent rescue/shore provision, facilities and organisation. Even laying on the spectacle of the SailGP F50s passing the shorefront each day!

Overall Results: