Solo Eastern Area Championship 2026 at Brightlingsea Sailing Club

Tom Gillard wins Solo Eastern Area Championship at Brightlingsea © Maria E Franco

The forecast all week before the event was predicting racing on Sunday would be marginal and with conditions more like mid-February. That did not deter the 27 Solo sailors who came from far and wide to have some very close racing in what turned out to be champagne conditions on Saturday.

The PRO gave notice in the briefing that due to the forecast there may be four races sailed Saturday if by the time three races had finished the Sunday forecast was still for strong winds. The fleet launched into an offshore NE F3-4 and 22 degrees. This direction and with the warm conditions causing the sea breeze to come and go meant that on the course there were big gains (40 to 50 degrees) to be made if you could get into the right shift at the right time.

Race 1 start 1, general recall, with all the fleet trying to start at the pin end. Start 2 all away under U flag, apart from James Goodfellow unfortunately OCS. Right looked good and the fleet split half going deep left, the other half hard right looking to pick up the shift into the windward mark. With 400m to go to the mark with wind shifted favouring the left, which set the scene for the rest of the races on the Saturday.

Race 2: the breeze had picked up a little now a solid F4, this time it was Vince Horey who got into the shift groove first and led from start to finish, being chased hard by Tom Gillard second and Chris Bunn third.

Race 3: The race start clock seemed to develop a malfunction, but after 3 attempts the fleet finally got away, the tide had turned and added to the "what way to go" question up the first beat. Tom Gillard won, a phenomenal sail after rounding the windward mark in 21st place and showing very impressive downwind speed. Martin Honor finished 2nd with Chris Brown having another good race finishing 3rd.

Up went the signal for Race 4 and with sailors running out of supplies to keep the energy and concentration levels up it was going to be tough going. Five decided they could not do a fourth and with two OCS a depleted fleet completed race 4. Tom Gillard won, Chris Bunn had another good result in second and Chris Mayhew finished third.

Day 2 - Sunday: 8 degrees while rigging up and a NE F5-6, a few opted not to go and some who did go wished they had not, retiring before starting. The shifts were not so big and with flatter water although windy it was manageable. Two races were turned round in quick succession, and the fleet were glad to get back to get warmed up.

Another well managed event by the Brightlingsea Sailing Club, both on and off the water and generously supported by the NSCA. Some video of the event can be found on the Solo Eastern Area Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/385108518573626/permalink/2581808095570313

Overall Results: