Solution Open at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club

Leigh & Lowton Solution Open © Paul Hargreaves Photography

Of the six Solutions that came to the LLSC Regatta and Solution open meeting, only 2 were in the running for the 2024 Travellers Trophy. Having travelled to all events this year, Richard Brown (Great Yarmouth & Gorleston YC) and Martin Tubb (LLSC) were ready to fight it out for the last trophy of the season.

Race 1 went to Martin, who got away with a port-end flyer. Richard managed to claw things back and took a brief turn at the front before Martin overtook on the last leg to win by 6 seconds. Race 2 was all Richard's after he played the shifts to perfection.

For race 3, the rest of the fleet decided to spice things up. Kathryn Clark led at the windward mark, shortly followed by newcomer to the fleet, Stephen Timbey. Unfortunately Stephen capsized at the wing mark letting Martin through. Martin managed to overhaul Kathryn at the last windward mark and led the last lap to take a second win and overnight lead.

Tired sailors were saved from human foosball and raft racing when the BBQ was served!

Leigh & Lowton Solution Open - photo © Paul Hargreaves Photography

Race 4 on Sunday morning was not as sunny but still a fine breeze. Richard tried to take a port end flyer but was blocked by Martin who took the lead once again. Martin and Richard had a good duel throughout the race until they met a group of other boats on the penultimate downwind let. Martin managed to squeeze round the mark in the clear but Richard was less fortunate and lost some time negotiating the traffic giving Martin a third win. Over the lunch break, it was agreed that Martin was looking good for the overall win and therefore the Travellers Trophy; Richard would need two bullets with Martin down the pan in the final 2 races to change that outcome.

In Race 5, Richard managed to do another horizon job, taking an unassailable lead from the start. Paul Nix rounded the windward mark in 2nd with Kathryn in 3rd, leaving Martin languishing in fourth. Despite a capsize from Paul and a close battle with Kathryn all the way around the course, Martin wasn't able to get past either of them which left the competition wide open once again.

Leigh & Lowton Solution Open - photo © Paul Hargreaves Photography

Race 6 started with more pre-start manoeuvring than the America's cup. Martin thought he had Richard pinned on the wrong side of the committee boat but somehow Richard managed to duck down to leeward for a clean start. The two of them were so focused on match-racing each other that they both overlooked the change of course and went merrily off to the wrong windward mark. A friendly shout from Paul highlighted their error, but not before Kathryn had rounded the correct mark and shown the boys a clean pair of heels for the final race win. Martin managed to get back to the right mark ahead of Richard and eventually overhauled Paul to take 2nd in race 6 giving him the overall win and putting his name on the Travellers Trophy for the first time in 10 years.

Special mention must go to Mark Fox, who won a box of chocolates and a roll of tape for being the furthest travelled Solution. He then sadly managed to spear the rear window of his car with the mast when hitching up, so the roll of tape was put to good use patching it up for his long drive back to Lee on Solent.

Thanks to PRO Mike Baldwin and his race team for putting on some great races in near perfect conditions, and all at LLSC for another cracking event.

Overall Results: