NSC’s Oliver Davenport wins Solo Southern Area Championships

 

Eighteen visiting Solo sailors joined ten local sailors for  a two-day open meeting in the waters of Hayling Bay

Race 1 got under way cleanly in a pleasant 10 knot south westerly. After the first lap Oliver Davenport was leading the way, with Olly Wells, Jonathan Swain, Alex Butler, Mark Lee and Mark Fuller in the chasing pack. A left-hand shift on the second beat shuffled the pack, with Alex taking the lead at the windward mark and Marks Lee and Fuller close behind, an order maintained downwind to the finish.

The variable breeze was not making life easy for race officer David Nicholls and his team, as several course adjustments were required before the second start. The fleet seemed rather tame on the line, as race 2 got under way successfully under P flag once again. At the windward mark, if memory serves the author correctly, Alex Butler lead round from a chasing group of Oliver Davenport, Mark Fuller, David Winder and Jonathan Swain.

As the sea breeze filled in more, Davenport stretched his legs to show great upwind speed to claim second at the windward mark, close behind Alex Butler. After a tight battle, Alex managed to hold off Olly downwind to take the race win. Behind them, David Winder took third from Jonathan Swain.

The turning tide spelt trouble for the start of the third start, as the first attempt to get under way resulted in a general recall. Olly Davenport enjoyed the 15 knots of breeze to claim the race win, from Alex Butler, Stephen Dickinson and Jonathan Swain.

Warm sunshine and a still wind greeted the sailors on Sunday morning. That didn’t stop some from fuelling up on a “championship” breakfast in the club restaurant, clearly anticipating a solid sea breeze to appear. A light south easterly breeze did eventually fill in, allowing for racing to get under way. The tide was pushing the fleet over the line, resulting in two general recalls and the dusting off of the U flag.

Olly Davenport took control in the first race of the day to take the win, with Jonathan Swain, Stephen Dickinson crossing the line in second and third in silence. The presence of their sail numbers on the ‘Whiteboard of Shame’ handed second place to Alex Butler and third place to Simon Law.

Race 5, after the inevitable general recall, resulted in another win for Olly Davenport, a second for Alex Butler and a third for Stephen Dickinson.

A course change for the final race meant the fleet would sail a sausage course due to the dying breeze. Keeping the boat going in light winds through the chop was critical, and Nigel Davies took an unassailable lead by the end of the first beat. Throughout the rest of the race close battles were raging behind him. President Guy Mayger, only joining battle on Sunday, took second on the final beat to an upwind finish, followed by Olly Davenport in third, Geoff Holden in fourth and Alex Butler in fifth.

Overall, first and second were separated by a tie-break, with Olly Davenport taking victory and Alex Butler second. Mark Lee took third and Nigel Davies and Mark Fuller completed the top five.

Thanks must go to race officer, David Nicholls, and his team for running an excellent weekend of racing. Generous voucher prizes provided by Magic Marine and Triggernaut Sunglasses were handed out to prize winners.

With super close racing throughout the fleet, things bode well for a highly competitive National Championships at Brightlingsea YC later in August.

Overall Results:

 

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1st6110Oliver DavenportNorthampton‑6211138
2nd5781Alex ButlerHISC11222‑58
3rd6006Mark LeeLymington Town SC29‑1545828
4th6108Nigel DaviesDraycote Water SC‑107969132
5th5871Mark FullerHISC355‑1471333
6th5835Stephen DickinsonBurghfield Sailing Club9133(UFD)3634
7th6093David WinderHollingworth Lake S.C731258‑1435
8th5964Nigel ThomasHill Head SC412‑14710740
9th6000Bryan TaylorFrensham Pond SC86612‑17941
10th5393Simon DerhamLittleton SC‑2411810141154
11th5742Simon LawFrensham Pond SC17‑2273161861
12th6074Chris BrownDryscote‑2314111761563
13th5111Richard HardingHISC5‑211919111266
14th6042Geoff HoldenTorpoint Mosquito Sailing Club1120‑212012467
15th5569Nick RawlingsHISC‑22191311131672
16th6062Greg SwiftHISC14‑24229191074
17th4610Bob ClarksonHISC1616‑248231982
18th5691Guy MaygerHISC(DNC)DNCDNC134283
19th6055Jonathan SwainCarsington1244(UFD)UFDDNF84
20th6050Mark FlewHISC1517‑2316202088
21st5293Timothy BarrTamesis(RET)181615182289
22nd6066Tim WadeLymington Town sc201520(UFD)152191
23rd5797Oli WellsNorthampton131010(DNC)DNCDNC97
24th6002Doug LattaHISC1823181821(DNF)98
25th5675Maria E. Franco FerroLittleton SC19‑2525212217104
26th5748Neil DavisonHISC21817(DNC)DNCDNC110
27th5417Steve ForresterRickmansworth2526(DNF)232524123
28th5913Steve HaggettLymington Town Sailing Club(DNF)DNCDNC222423133
29th5914Paul Davis (DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC160
29th5334Chris CharltonHISC(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC160
29th5921Stephen WaiteHighcliffe Sailing Club(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNCDNC160