Solo Open at Fishers Green Sailing Club

Fishers Green Sailing Club held their annual Solo Open Meeting on Sunday 19th May 2024. The forecast was for moderate conditions with the prevailing wind from a north easterly / easterly direction.

A challenging direction for the club with the race officer during the day having to set and reset courses as the wind changed. Irrespective of this each course did have two longish beats / a fetch and a long run in it. The wind did direction did alter in both strength and direction at times which resulted in both course gains and losses during the day.

Fishers Green Solo Open - photo © Kevin O'Brien

It was pleasing to see 22 entrants on the start line which included 16 club members (95% of the home fleet) and thanks also go to our visitors who had all travelled some distance to join us on the day.

I am pleased to report that the Solo Fleet were well behaved during the day with the start recalls being due to a violent short term changes in the wind direction and not helms pushing the boundaries on the start line.

Fishers Green Solo Open - photo © Kevin O'Brien

Race 1 - medium winds and a pin end favoured start. A clean start by all. Two longish predominantly starboard sided beats to the windward marks followed by a fetch at speed and a dead run back to the leeward mark before returning onto the first beat. Simon Maskell (6037) was the winner by a distance followed by local helm Paul Rayson (5181) and Steve Ede (6045). During the race aside from the winner Simon gains were made / lost on each leg of the course as the wind speed varied and slightly changed direction.

Race 2 - a similar format to that seen in Race 1 apart from the windward marks being moved away from temporary wind shadows that were now evident. Again this race started in a fair breeze. A well set start line with no favoured end. A similar course. Paul Rayson (5181) local helm was the winner followed by two visitors Alan Bishop (5971) and Steve Ede (6045). Again positions were gained / lost especially on the run as helms searched for the fresher breeze.

Fishers Green Solo Open - photo © Kevin O'Brien

Race 3 - After lunch the fleet launched for the remaining race. Steady wind conditions remained with a clean start once the wind direction had settled down. A similar course to that set for Races 1 & 2. Another pin end favoured start. As the fleet progressed up the first beat the conditions became tricky - gusts of wind alongside numerous changes in direction. Two longish beats / a reach and a long run back to the leeward mark. Another different winner Mark Maskell (6007) followed by Steve Ede (6045) and Steve Bishop (5723).

Who would have thought that the Solo was a 'Family Class'. We had 2 helms competing from 3 families on the day - The Mancini's from the home fleet and the Maskell's and Bishop's from our visitors. Overall another successful Solo Open Meeting enjoyed by all and a credit to those at Fishers Green Sailing Club for their organisation / hospitality etc. It is always great for both local helms and visitors to be competing on the water within a large / competitive Solo Fleet.

Final positions within the top 4 were calculated and prizes were given to all:

1st Paul Rayson (5181) Fishers Green Sailing Club (Plus 1st Club Helm)
2nd Mark Maskell (6007) Blackwater Sailing Club
3rd Steve Ede (6045) Ardleigh Sailing Club
4th Simon Maskell (6037) Hunts Sailing Club

1st Lady Helm - Claudia Mancini (4639) Fishers Green Sailing Club

Spot Prize
1st Solo Open Meeting - Conrad Smith (4022) Fishers Green Sailing Club

Overall Results: