Solo class in the Hayling Island Sailing Club Winter Series
by Mike Lennon 16 Dec 12:28 PST
3 November - 15 December 2024
Hayling Island's close of season events runs from Early November until mid December with one race each Sunday. The fleets are separated by five starting groups with the Solo class as usual having their own start each weekend.
Two races were lost due to high winds leaving a 4 race series. Race 1 kicked off with lightish North easterly breeze. The race was won by Mike Lennon after winning the start on heavily biased line and one sided beat. Lennon extended through the race from Neil Davidson who had a close fight with Mike Murley-Hughes throughout.
After a week off due to high winds, race 2 was won by Alex Butler with Guy Mayger taking second and Lennon in third - this was to be a repeat cycle for race 3 which was held in a big sea considering the racing was inside the harbour with a Southerly wind gusting to 20 knots. This gave some great surfing conditions and jeopardy.
Having lost another weekend to storms the series finale had a familiar feel with Alex again taking the win from Guy. Alec Powell made a guest appearance to take 3rd.
18 boats took part over the 4 races underlining the strong status of the Hayling Solo fleet. Some newcomers have joined the competition with more threatening for next season.
The racing was close at times with battles throughout the fleet with some great races over championship style courses. But congratulations are due to Alex Butler who really did dominate. Guy put up a fight and might claim best upwind pace honers, leading at the top mark first time around in most races, but Alex was in another dimension downwind at times.
Come and join the fun next season at HISC - more boats more fun and more chat in bar about how I was robbed of certain victory.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | 5781 | Alex Butler | (DNC) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2nd | 5691 | Guy Mayger | (DNC) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 3rd | 6104 | Michael Lennon | 1 | 3 | 3 | (DNC) | 7 |
| 4th | 5583 | Mike Murley‑Hughes | 3 | ‑7 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 5th | 5569 | Nick Rawlings | 5 | 4 | 5 | ‑7 | 14 |
| 6th | 5495 | Robin Gadd | 7 | ‑11 | DNF | 6 | 20 |
| 7th | 4441 | Nicholas Webb | 8 | 10 | (DNC) | 8 | 26 |
| 8th | 5748 | Neil Davison | 2 | 8 | (DNC) | DNC | 29 |
| 9th | 5553 | Alec Powell | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 3 | 41 |
| 10th | 5871 | Mark Fuller | 4 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 42 |
| 11th | 5111 | Richard Harding | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 5 | 43 |
| 12th | 6062 | Greg Swift | (DNC) | 5 | DNC | DNC | 43 |
| 13th | 4373 | Alex Powell | (DNC) | 6 | DNC | DNC | 44 |
| 14th | 5918 | Paul Lewis | 6 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 44 |
| 15th | 6103 | Graham Simmonds | (DNC) | 9 | DNC | DNC | 47 |
| 16th | 5004 | Jerome Bakker | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNF | 48 |
| 17th | 5115 | Stephen Mather | DNF | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 48 |
| 18th | 5151 | Richard Whiteley | (DNC) | 12 | DNC | DNC | 50 |