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Maritimo 2023 S-Series LEADERBOARD

Solo Winter Championship at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

by Nick Fisher 16 Feb 2015 07:02 UTC 14 February 2015

At 9 o'clock on Saturday morning the sun was breaking through but we were shy on breeze. By 9:30 there was a small glimmer of hope as the wind decided to come out to play, however, the wind Gods hadn't read the script and sent it in from the SSW. A quick word to the big fella upstairs and round to the NNE it went, not a lot of it but enough to encourage everyone to launch. Fortunately with a 1200 start we didn't have long to wait. With an entry of 56, the largest since 2010 there was a mass exodus off the beach.

  • 18 Youngsters (Under 50)
  • 29 Veterans (50 – 59)
  • 6 Grand Masters
  • 1 Great Grand Masters
  • 2 Ladies
11 Entries from Chew, 3 travelled from Scotland a terrific endorsement for the class.

Race 1

Our Race Officer, John Smalley, set up the standard Triangle, Sausage course, set the line and it was into the sequence. With the wind from the NNE we were treated to some good sized shifts, needless to say, as we waited eagerly on the line (or in my case some way behind it the wind shifted for the start and it was a general recall. The R/O, not a man to waste time, quickly reset the line and was soon back into the sequence, but NO, another swing and another general recall. Another quick reset, flags, hooter, whistles & black flag at the ready we were off. I won't say it was a flying start as it was only Force 2, with many holes. David Redpath (4572) was on a flyer though and suffered the consequences of his excitement.

Full sails, flat sails, cunningham on, or was it off? A large variety of settings throughout the fleet. With no planing conditions it was all down to pure skill & experience with no great advantage looking like Twiggy. Dave Mitchell provided this in abundance, taking the 1st bullet of the day. The wiley old Veteran was a happy bunny. Kevan Gibb was 2nd and Andy Davis 3rd. A good start for the Vets. Brenda Hoult made a good showing for the ladies with a 7th, John Webster was 1st Grandmaster with a 14th.

Race 2

With the wind playing games it was again a line adjustment and the black flag staying out the locker and on the halyard. The gun sounds and this time it's Paul Playle and Will Loy who were the resulting miscreants. Certainly no Chance of Will hiding in his bright red Thresher! Not much wind and still very shifty, those that chose go left on the second beat suffered badly, it was interesting that the local Chew sailors didn't really benefit as the NNE'ly wind is a rarity, fortunately. The bullet was taken by Veteran Stuart Hyden (5504), 2nd place was Andy Davis with Pete Mitchell in 3rd. After Race 2 Andy surges into the overall lead, Chris Brown in 2nd with a 4th & 5th. Dave Mitchell holding on to 1st Vets position and John Webster still 1st Grand Master. Brenda Hoult makes another good showing with a 9th.

Race 3

Being the joker that he is, the R/O set up the last race for a windward / leeward confrontation. I wondered if the leaders would notice the change, maybe not, would they leave the way clear for me to sneak round the windward mark and head off downwind while they reached to a non-existent wing mark. NO, they didn't, oh well next time. Time was getting on and a few hardy souls had a long way to travel, the wind slackened off and with it the enthusiasm of some of the sailors, 11 of whom elected for the early bath, myself among them. The enthusiasm and fitness of youth was now to play a big part and Pete Mitchell was first past the post and with this win took 1st place overall, on countback over Andy Davis, who had finished in 2nd. Oli Wells finished in 3rd place and 3rd overall.

Brenda was among those who had gone in early, so didn't better her score, still finishing 1st Lady.

Kevan Gibb took 7th place and with that 1st veteran, putting Dave Mitchell down to 2nd overall and Stuart Hyden 3rd overall.

John Webster maintained his position as 1st Grandmaster despite being beaten by Bob Taylor in the last race, the earlier 14th place took it on countback. Leaving Bob as the bridesmaid again. Graham Don was 3rd GM.

Great Grandmaster was taken by Steve Turner competing in his 1st Solo Championships, first of many we hope Steve.

Many thanks to the team on the day, particularly the Race Officer John Smalley and the co-ordinator Helen Martin who has recently taken on the Vice Commodores role.

There will be a link shortly to the many photographs taken by one of our rescue team.

See you at the Springs.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st5509Pete MitchellHayling Island SC‑10314
2nd5566Andy DavisBlithfield SC‑3224
3rd5525Oli WellsN. Hampton‑8437
4th5483Kevan GibbLargs Bay SC2‑1679
5th5564Chris BrownDraycote45‑119
6th5363David MitchellWarsash SC1‑10910
7th5504Stuart HydonShustoke SC‑2811213
8th5548Andy HewittCVLSC‑1912416
9th5432Brenda HoultHayling Island SC79(DNF)16
10th5320David WalfordFishers Green513‑2218
11th5362Chris GoldhawkCVLSC‑2171320
12th5478Nigel DaviesDraycote SC18‑21523
13th5466Paul PlayleIsland Barn17(OCS)623
14th5444Graham Cranford‑SmithCVLSC619(DNF)25
15th5168Tim LewisLittleton SC20‑24828
16th5573Chris CleavesSalcombe YC1515(DNF)30
17th5246Richard PepperdineSMSC‑37141731
18th5488John WebsterCarsington14‑251832
19th5104Bob TaylorTata Steel16‑341632
20th5302Shane MacCarthyGreystones SC‑2982533
21st5191Stuart BushShustoke SC13‑202033
22nd5559Jonathan SwainCarsington336(DNF)39
23rd4372Ken ComrieCVLSC1129(DNF)40
24th5507Nigel PybusDraycote Water2218(DNF)40
25th5381Peter KayWarsash SC‑36331043
26th5486David SwordClyde CC1231(DNF)43
27th4255Tony ThresherWest Oxfordshire‑23232144
28th5037Alastair RaynardCarsington SC9‑453645
29th5574Malcolm BellSalcombe31‑361445
30th4336Alex TimmsCVLSC30‑411545
31st5554Richard HudsonBough Beech‑47113546
32nd5098Phil KilburnNotts County SC‑46172946
33rd5485Keith MilroySt Marys Loch SC‑26222446
34th4386Mike DrayLittleton SC27‑322350
35th4692Derian ScottCVLSC24‑433054
36th5222John Rycroft ‑52272754
37th5113Steve TurnerCVLSC39‑471958
38th5024Rob MitchellCVLSC‑41283159
39th4901Richard FrostSutton Bingham‑48352863
40th4572David RedpathSt Marys Loch SC(OCS)303363
41st5356Graham DonCorus Margam‑43263864
42nd4904Terry PalmerUpper Thames SC‑45392665
43rd5138Patrick OversPaxton Lakes SC32‑463971
44th5494Nick FisherCVLSC3438(DNF)72
45th4514Charles DavidsonBristol Corinthian SC35‑503772
46th4784Rob MarlowShustoke SC42‑443476
47th5501Gavin VaughanCarsington3840(DNF)78
48th5202Frank BrownPapercourt SC40‑494181
49th5480Ian HopwoodNantwich25(DNS)DNS82
50th5351Keith HillFOSSC‑54513283
51st5529Nick HornsbyHollingworth Lake SC4937(DNF)86
52nd5479Nigel AnnettTata Steel‑44424486
53rd3626Alex DickCVLSC‑51484088
54th5489Tim MorganCVLSC‑55534295
55th4430Brian GowFrampton on Severn SC‑53524395
56th3604Will LoyRYA50(OCS)DNF107

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