Jul
11
2011
Peter Hearne
Dinghy News, Front Page, News
Simon Jones (TCYC) wins the 2011 Solo Open event at Coombe Cellars by the narrowest of margins from Chris Goldhawk (Chew Valley) with Mark Lee (Weymouth) third, after racing was disappointingly abandoned on Sunday due to lack of wind.
Twenty Solos came to the start line on Saturday morning for the first of the day’s two scheduled races. With an easing force 3 breeze from the WSW Don Harrison (Race Officer) had set a long beat up and across the river from Flow point to a windward mark just off the Coombe Cellars pub followed by two interesting cross river downwind gybe marks. Simon, Chris and Mark soon found the best and quickest way up the beat and after one lap had established a good lead from the chasing pack. Chris eventually held off Simon up the final short beat to the finish line to win by a margin of just 6 inches after three laps and nearly an hour of racing! Mark was third.
Further down the fleet boats exchanged places on a regular basis as they struggled to match the front runners reading of both wind and tide.
Race two saw a similar pattern unfold with the same three helms drawing away, but this time Simon held on to take the win from Chris with Mark recording another third place.
With Simon and Chris both on three points, Mark on 6 points and the rest of the fleet having had fairly mixed results everyone was very much looking forward to the three Sunday races. Unfortunately, this was not to happen as the forecast gradient light wind did not materialise nor did the sea breeze get going, so the Race Officer was left with no option but to abandon the day’s racing as the tide started to ebb. (However, the race result Laptop was still kept busy streaming the British F1 Grand Prix!)
On equal points and with identical count backs Simon Jones (TCYC) was awarded top spot over Chris Goldhawk (Chew Valley) by virtue of a better last race result.
As usual, many thanks to Don Harrison and his team on the Committee boat and all the Safety boat crews who supported the event. A special thanks also to Annie Hearne who organised and headed the super catering arrangements on both days. Finally, thanks to our Solo Fleet Captain, Derek Wyatt, for overseeing the whole event.
Overall Results Summary
First Simon Jones (TCYC)
Second Chris Goldhawk (Chew Valley)
Third Mark Lee (Weymouth)
First Lady Hannah Showell (TCYC)
First Grand Master James Stevenson (TCYC)
First Veteran Simon Jones (TCYC)
First Adult Chris Goldhawk (Chew Valley)
For full Results click on: National Solo Western Travellers Series – TCYC Coombe Cellars 2011