Sunday 18th June 2023
On Sunday, the Sailing Club hosted its annual Open event for the Solo Class. Inevitably, the weather forecast was going to play a big part with the threat of a thunder storm in the afternoon. 18 boats entered, with 12 visitors from around the north, and saw very close results, though the overall winner soon became clear.
The south east wind was much stronger than expected but was also patchy in the first race, Steve Denison got clear away early to lead and was never challenged. As a former Club member, he took advantage of the shifts and so did Andy Carter another former member in second place. In third place was Innes Armstrong from Burwain. Downwind boats were planing in the gusts.
In the second race¸ Denison again got clear away into the lead challenged by Armstrong and Martin Honnor from Ogston, with Carter in the group. At the finish, behind Denison it was Honnor who took second place ahear of Armstrong.
For the final race, Bithell reset the course. There were now three boats in contention for second overall, with Denison already assured of the win. This time Denison did not get away from the start as easily and was lying in fourth place at the end of the first lap, moving through to third place in the second lap, while Armstrong held off Honnor and local sailor Nick Hornsby. At the finish, Armstrong won that race with Denison runner up and Honnor in third place. So overall Denison won with Armstrong second and Honnor third. Best placed local sailor was Martin Brennan who finished fourth twice to take fifth place overall.