Maidenhead Sailing Club's Solo Open was once again held with brilliant sunshine but very light winds. The combination of the light winds, holidays and the new Southern area championships the day before meant only 4 visitors and 8 local boats lined up for the delayed first start.
The race team (Maidenhead's Albacore fleet) had their work cut out to set a course and start line; however this was achieved and race one got underway. Ian Stone in a borrowed boat 4591 (his first time in a Solo) took an early lead from Barry Wicks 4684 and Simon Corper 5149, followed closely by Steve Jones 4741 and Kevin Hastings 4629. The light breeze meant positions changed constantly over the 3 laps, but at the finish Barry Wicks took 1st place with Ian Stone 2nd and Simon Corper 3rd.
Race two started with similar wind conditions, with Steve Jones taking the early lead, from Simon Corper, Kevin Hastings, Ian Stone and Barry Wicks, however, at the end of the 3rd leg the wind filled in from behind bringing the whole fleet together approaching the mark. As everybody battled for their position around the mark, Mark Savill 3251 sailed around the outside keeping the wind and took the lead. Over the next lap Steve Jones regained the lead and held this to the finish, followed by Barry Wicks 2nd, Simon Corper 3rd and Richard Willetts 2967 4th. Mark Savill held on for a well earned 6th. With a change of course and a small breeze, race 3 started with everybody trying to get a pin end start, Barry Wicks and Paul Bristow 4400 got their timing spot on and lead the fleet away, at the end of the race Barry Wicks was 1st, Simon Corper 2nd and Kevin Hastings 3rd. Overall results. 1st Barry Wicks Maidenhead 2nd Simon Corper Burghfield / Salcombe 3rd Ian Stone Maidenhead 4th Steve Jones Wraysbury 5th Kevin Hastings Maidenhead 6th Paul Bristow Burghfield 7th Richard Willetts Burghfield 8th Jon Hirsh Maidenhead 9th Rob Hamilton Maidenhead 10th Mark Savill Maidenhead 11th Alan Dibble Maidenhead 12th Alex Price Maidenhead
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