Allen and CB Coverstore sponsored Midland Area Solo Series Round 2 at Blithfield Sailing Club
by Jonathan Swain 10 Apr 19:04 NZST
5 April 2025
Blithfield held the second event of the Allen and CB Coverstore sponsored Midland area Solo series and second event of the Midlands Big Lakes Series.
18 sailors were welcomed to sunny clear skies and a fresh 15-18 mph wind. With a forecast for the wind to maintain throughout the day and three races planned, a great days racing ahead was in store.
Race 1
Jamie Cuxson, Chris Gillard, Nigel Davis then Jonathan Swain led the pack around the windward mark. There were big pockets of wind come down the lake so the run down to the gybe mark was an opportunity to make big gains if you were in the right place. Cuxson led the fleet with Jonathan Woodward making big gains to bring himself into the top 3. The top 5 battled it out and Cuxson did well to maintain a lead throughout the race. The wind picked up to 20 knots on the last run causing some capsizes and decisions to go around instead of gybing. Cuxson took the win closely followed by Woodward and Swain.
Race 2
Chris Brown and Chris Gillard hit the starboard side of the beat giving an advantage. Swain closely followed and in a sizeable gust Swain managed to take a leeward advantage ahead of the gybe mark. Swain led the race to the finish building a comfortable lead. Cuxson pulled himself up to 2nd taking advantage of the downwind gusts only for Brown to gybe early and retain 2nd place to the finish.
Race 3
Only 6 boats were on the start line as a solid breeze and tiredness kicked in for some. Swain started to to leeward of the pack and took advantage of the starboard shift giving him a lead to the 1st mark. Swain went down the middle of the run with Davis and Brown going far left where they would capitalise on a patch of wind taking them into the 1st and 2nd position. Davis covered the fleet well and looked in a good position to take the win however he capsized at the gybe leaving Brown and Swain to fight it out. Swain opted for a all or nothing strategy downwind on the last lake which didn't pay off leaving Brown to take the race and event win.
Overall results were Chris Brown 1st, Jonathan Swain 2nd and Jamie Cuxson 3rd.
It was a fantastic day's sailing and a top performance by Blithfield Sailing Club in their pre organisation and on the day running of the event. We hope to return in 2025.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 6074 | Chris Brown | Draycote | | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2nd | 6055 | Jonathan Swain | Carsington SC | | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 3rd | 5704 | Jamie Cuxson | Shustoke SC | 1 | | 3 | 4 |
| 4th | 6004 | Jonathan Woodward | South Staffs SC | 2 | 4 | | 6 |
| 5th | 6108 | Nigel Davies | Draycote Water SC | | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 6th | 6021 | Alan Gillard | Sheffield Viking SC | 4 | 6 | | 10 |
| 7th | 6076 | Richard Instone | Chase SC | | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 8th | 5690 | Philip Barnes | Budworth SC | 6 | 8 | | 14 |
| 9th | 6073 | Stephen Restall | Elton SC | | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| 10th | 5210 | Neil Wilkinson | Shustoke SC | 8 | 11 | | 19 |
| 11th | 5736 | Iain Carpenter | Northampton SC | 12 | 10 | | 22 |
| 12th | 6092 | Geoff Wright | Blithfield SC | 10 | RET | | 25 |
| 13th | 4778 | Ted Kurcaba | Blithfield SC | 13 | 13 | | 26 |
| 14th | 4317 | Brian Boardman | Trimpley | NSC | 12 | | 27 |