Solo Open at Oxford Sailing Club

Oxford Solo Open © Matthew Bell

Oxford Solo Open © Matthew Bell

Saturday 22nd Aug saw the return to the Solo Class to Oxford Sailing Club for an Open Meeting shared with the British Moths and Lightning 368s.

A small fleet of eight boats with helms of mixed experience and age range started race 1 in the light and variable conditions with Andrew Turberfield making the best start and crossing the fleet from the pin end. His boat number and name implemented perfectly. 4321 Go! However, Mark Maskell sailed a canny first beat to round in the lead from Tony Thresher and Andrew. By the end of the first lap of the Trapezoid course Mark and Tony had pulled clear. By the start of the 3rd lap Tony had closed a little on Mark who decided that left was the way up the beat which gave Tony the chance to work to the right and round in the lead at the top. He then managed to extend his lead on the next run which he held to take the win with Mark in 2nd. Mike Barnes in Top Drive came through in a tight finish to take 3rd.

Race Officer George Barker got the 2nd race under way quickly in the knowledge that the wind was due to drop later. Tony made the best of the first beat towards the right hand side and rounded mark 1 in the lead with Richard Willetts and Mark chasing. Tony extended once more on the run and won the race. Behind the fleet got very spread out due to the variable conditions across the reservoir. Staying in the channels of wind whether by luck or judgement was at a premium. Once again Mark came 2nd with Michelle Collier-Brooks using her local knowledge in a borrowed boat 3rd. As the rest of the fleet finished and made for the shore for lunch the wind began to fade and we wondered whether a 3rd race would be possible?

Oxford Solo Open - photo © Matthew Bell

With the clock nearing 2pm the lunchtime chatter of sailors from the three classes was interrupted by George who told us that he and his crew were aiming to start the 3rd race at 2.15! This seemed unlikely and one or two decided de-rigging was a better bet than rigging and getting on the water. Be that as it may most of the sailors found their way to the starting area to find a gentle breeze as the morning out of the North that eventually stabilised sufficiently to get the racing under way.

Mark Maskell made the most of being able to tack out early onto port in good wind and lead at the first mark from Richard Willetts. There then followed 2 laps of very light wind racing that tested sailors patience and ability to pick up every little bit of pressure available to them. In the end Mark held his nerve and negotiated the conditions best to take the win from Tony Thresher who found some extra pressure just before the last mark to sail away from Mike Barnes and round inside Richard to take 2nd.

Oxford Solo Open - photo © Matthew Bell

All in all an excellently run Meeting which we hope the Solos will be able to join again next year. Given a better forecast and scheduling the meeting as part of the Solo Class Midland Series a larger number of Solos will travel to what is, even with the drought this year, a good sized inland water.

Overall Results: