Solo class Thames Valley Series at Maidenhead Sailing Club

Thames Valley Series at Maidenhead © Godfrey Clark

Maidenhead SC held their Solo open on 24th April as part of the Thames Valley Series. This was the first of the series to be held in the wake of the pandemic as any events originally planned for March needed to be re-scheduled. Conditions were champagne sailing under cloudless blue skies, and enough breeze to exercise the toestraps to the full.

Roger Bennett made his intentions clear from the outset by claiming a useful lead at the windward mark and was never challenged. Godfrey Clark made a good start but having stopped to reconnect his forestay, gave chase through the field but Bennett was long gone.

Huge port tack lifts were the dominant feature of the day and the leading helm had to decide to what extent to defend the left side of each beat. Thus it was Clark's early lead in race two was wiped out as the chasing pack found themselves lifted 40 degrees at one point, virtually re-starting the race at the second windward mark. Bennett was the prime benefactor and was able to defend his lead from Clark by about 30 yards at the finish.

Thames Valley Series at Maidenhead - photo © Godfrey Clark

The final race followed a similar pattern with Bennett managing to hold off Clark again despite only getting the gun by 2 seconds at the finish. An interesting tactic emerged when someone decided to go to windward of the island, enjoying an early gain but then suffering a slow run down to the leeward buoy. The two leaders ran deep and then reached fast into the leeward mark and extended their lead still further while only Kevin Hastings managed to escape the pack and follow them home.

Overall Results: