Solo and ILCA Open at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club

Bristol Corinthian Solo and ILCA Open © Rob Hackney

A bright but windless morning saw 22 Solos and 9 ILCAs meet at at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club for the annual Solo and ICLA Open meeting.

With the Solo Welsh Champonships at TATA Steel SC having been cancelled due to too much wind this was to be the first of the Solo Western Area series sponsored by GOAT Marine and Dinghy Shack. The forecast was for 8mph winds from the North, but it was anyones guess as to what would arrive, if anything. Nestled under the Mendips a Northerly was not the best forecast.

As luck would have it there was enough of a breeze to set a course for the planned first race at 12pm. The fleets headed out to the far side of the reservoir where RO Charles Davidson was waiting with his team to set the course. Without much delay both starts were able to get under way first time, with all racers behaving themselves on the start line. With the wind still light the RO shortened course at one lap which had taken about 25 minutes to complete. First Solo across the line was Tim Wade, closely followed by Chris Brown from Draycot in 2nd and Malcolm Davies from TCYC in 3rd. First ILCA was John Wade from Bartley SC, 2nd Jon Lewis BCYC, and 3rd was Malcolm Williamson BCYC.

Bristol Corinthian Solo and ILCA Open - photo © Rob Hackney

With the wind filling in a bit more the second race also required a new course to be set as the wind had moved a little towards the west. Again we all got off the first time, I'm not sure if the Solos have mellowed with age or the RO was being lenient, but we were all pleased to be racing after the short delay. This race had enough wind to get us around in 3 laps, but it was also beginning to cloud over and we could see the weather systems for the forecast thunder storms beginning to appear. Mike Dray from Hawley SC took the bullet on this race followed by Nigel Bird from Papercourt and Chris Brown, Draycot. For the ILCAs John Ling again took the line honours, this time 2nd went to another John, John Lapes from BCYC, with 3rd going to Alan Pryce BCYC.

The wind really did then start to play up, moving a lot more to a Westerly, but never settling down. The RO would set a line, arrange the trapezoid course, and then the wind would move again. Meanwhile the fleet were dodging heavy showers, and those of us (OK, only me) who had not read the forecast were really regretting their decision to just wear shorts and T-Shirt. After a lengthy delay the RO got us all under way again all be it with a start line that was the best that could be arranged under the winds fickleness. The beat turned into a one tack wonder, reaches into runs, and the wind kept changing throughout the race. It certainly kept the fleet on its toes, and flummoxed the current Solo national champion Ben Flower who did just not get to grips with BCYC's wind shifts. After three laps of confusion, rain and thunder the Solo winner was Chris Brown, followed up by Nigel Bird and Malcolm Davies. ILCAs kept with the 'John' theme with John Ling taking his third 1st place of the day followed by BCYCs Jon Lewis and John Lapes in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Many thanks to our RO Charles Davidson and team for their energy in setting courses in ever changing conditions and everyone that travelled to BCYC for this event, especially with the given forecast. We should also not forget Bryan Smith and his shore team for managing the parking, registration and input of results. Congratulations must go to Chris Brown for winning the Solo Open and John Ling for winning the ILCA Open.

A big vote of thanks should also go to the Solo Western Area Series sponsors GOAT Marine and Dinghy Shack for the amazing set of additional prizes they provided for the Solo event.

Overall Results: