Solution Open at Burghfield Sailing Club
by Richard Brown 8 Jul 2021 17:07 NZST
3-4 July 2021
The forecast was for light winds and rain, no-one was expecting to have such great sailing event. A total of seven races were held in a shifting f2-f3 SSW breeze.
The Saturday race team set a course with a beat, reach and run providing plenty of opportunities for the nine sailors to take advantage of the wind shifts. The short start line gave little opportunity for anything other than starboards starts, making speed off the line critical. In race one all sailors bunched at the windward mark with Josh Hamer getting there first in his new Solution. As the race the progressed Josh managed to pull away with only Iain Wilkinson and local sailor Peter Blackman keeping in touch. This changed on the third lap when a big shift allowed Richard Brown and Robert Main to pass Peter and Iain on the penultimate beat. Richard took advantage to catch and pass Josh on the last lap, only to be passed at the last mark to take a second.
In Race 2 Josh Hamer again first to the windward mark and then caught a gust which allowed him to reach away from the chasing pack. Iain managed to keep in touch and put pressure on Josh up to the finish. Race 3 and 4 saw similar conditions but also allowed for plenty of place changes throughout the races. Those who missed the shifts and forgot to clear the weed lost out. Josh having scored four wins lead the event as we all enjoyed the evening at the pub.
The Sunday racing was just as close with everything to play for. With a different course which tested the sailors with light winds combined with 20k gusts, rain and sunshine. Josh and Iain battled for 1st and 2nd, 3rd place was open to four other competitors. Martin, Peter, Jack and Richard all had to wait until the prize-giving to see who had secured the 3rd spot. Margins over the finish line were tight often no more than half a boat length between the competitors.
Overall Results:
1st Josh Hamer (Glossop SC)
2nd Iain Wilkinson (Leigh and Lowton SC)
3rd Richard Brown (Great Yarmouth and Gorleston SC)
4th Peter Blackman (Burghfield SC)
5th Jack Turnbull (Redoubt SC)
6Th Martin Tubb (Leigh and Lowton SC)
7th Kathryn Clark (Lee on Solent SC)
8th Robert Main (Pembroke SC)
9th Paul Field (Benfleet SC)