Solo National Championships at Paignton Sailing Club

by Steve Ede 5 Aug 2002 22:02 BST

Paignton Sailing Club hosted the 2002 Solo National Championships over the week 28 July to 2 August. 76 boats entered an event that was to be dominated by light winds and very close racing. This produced one of the most open events of recent years, with five different race winners from the 10 races sailed.

Sunday’s racing was delayed until mid afternoon to allow the breeze to settle. Racing was eventually started in a force 2 south westerly. Steve Ede got off to a flying start with an early lead that he held to the finish. Behind there was lots of place changing, but at the finish Ede had an easy win from Chris Goldhawk, Tony Catchpole, Keith Videlo, Ian Houstan and Tom Davis. For the second race Videlo made the early running from Houstan and Harry Ashworth. On the second beat Kevin Gosling and Ede went hard right to close in on the leaders. At the finish Videlo had a comfortable win from Gosling, Houstan, Ashworth, Mike Barnes and Ede.

Monday dawned with a light and fickle wind, so the fleet were again held on shore until conditions improved. Eventually one race was sailed late afternoon in a force 2 breeze. Videlo again got the first beat right to take an early lead from Bob Taylor and Ede. On the second beat Vanda Young and Tom Davis went left, passing Ede in the process. Videlo took a clear win from Taylor, Young, Davis, Ede and Gordon Barclay, who had banged hard left on the last beat.

There was a familiar start to proceedings on Tuesday, with racing being delayed until almost 5 pm. The fleet was rewarded with the best conditions of the week – a force 3 – 4 north westerly. Catchpole, Barnes, Tom Davis and Derek Jackman went hard right on the first beat to make the early running. Unfortunately, on the second downwind legs these leaders took the fleet to the wrong mark, a mistake that was spotted by Houstan, Ede and Andy Davis. These three moved up from the twenties to lead the fleet whilst the top 15 were left to beat back to the correct mark. At the finish Houstan narrowly won from Ede, with Andy Davis, Tim Deacon, Taylor and Simon Jones behind.

Wednesday saw both races started at their scheduled times in a force 3. The first race had three general recalls, with seven people being blacked flagged. Once the fleet got away Videlo took a slender early lead from Ede and Tom Davis. These three then pulled well clear whilst a major tussle ensued behind. Line honours went to Videlo followed by Ede, Tom Davis, Andy Davis, Ashworth and Barclay. The breeze dropped slightly for the afternoon race, and this time Tom Davis made the early running from Jerry Garner and Ede. Whilst Davis pulled clear, Garner, Ede, Goldhawk and Videlo fought for the places behind. By the finish Davis had a clear win whilst Videlo narrowly beat Ede. Garner, Goldhawk and Mike Taylor rounded off the top six.

For Thursday a force 3 south easterly created an awkward chop which many people found difficult to master. For race seven Ede and Videlo went left of centre on the first beat to make the early running whilst Ashworth rounded third having gone hard left. Goldhawk and Jim Newman rounded fourth and fifth having gone hard right. Ede pulled out a comfortable lead on the second beat, but Videlo clawed this back on the downwind legs to take a close win ahead of Ede, Ashworth, Goldhawk, Tom Davis and Garner. All of the races so far had used a trapezoid course, but for the afternoon race a carentec style course was chosen. Once again Videlo made the early running, this time ahead of Houstan, Andy Davis and Tim Fisher. Ede sailed a storming first run to move into second, but Houstan re-took the place on the next beat. Although Videlo had a clear win, behind places were much closer with Houstan narrowly beating Ede, Goldhawk, Any Davis and Tom Davis. As the championship entered its last day Videlo has a strong position at the front of the fleet although Ede could still theoretically beat him. Behind these two positions were all very close so there was plenty left to play for. Videlo seized the initiative by taking an early lead in the penultimate race from Gosling, Ashworth, Jones, Catchpole and Garner. Ede again pulled back on the downwind legs to come back into contention. Videlo took the win from Catchpole whilst Young, who had banged left on the second beat was third. Gosling, Ede and Bob Taylor took the remaining top places. Although the top two places were now decided, the rest of the top ten was still wide open as the fleet started the final race in a frustrating force 2 breeze. Houstan, Andy Davis, Mike Ball and Tony Russell were well placed early on, but on the second beat Bob Taylor stormed into the lead having banged hard right. He then pulled out a commanding lead on the downwind legs whilst Houstan held onto second ahead of Andy Davis, Catchpole, Videlo and Ball.

Overall Results:

Pos	Helm	Sail No	Club	Pts
1st	Keith Videlo	4369	Frensham Pond	12
2nd	Steve Ede	4344	Ardleigh	23
3rd	Ian Houstan	4323	Littleton	39
4th	Andy Davis	4388	Bartley	51
5th	Tom Davis	4390	Chew Valley	53
6th	Harry Ashworth	4400	Bartley	64
1st Veteran	Bob Taylor, 7th
1st Lady	Vanda Young, 11th
1st Junior	Andy Davis, 4th