Buzz Nationals at Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club

Buzz Nationals at Lee-on-the-Solent © H2O Photos / www.h2ophotos.org.uk

Buzz Nationals at Lee-on-the-Solent © H2O Photos / www.h2ophotos.org.uk

Buzz Nationals at Lee-on-the-Solent © H2O Photos / www.h2ophotos.org.uk

The Buzz and ISO Nationals were held in sparkling weather at Lee on Solent alongside an Osprey open. The grassy common was a perfect boat park for the three fleets. Ten Buzzes came to the start on Saturday, a short distance from the club slipway, for a port handed windward-leeward course.

Eager to get started two boats were OCS on the first race. There were close battles throughout the fleet but Simon Cory and Seb Hansell (1201), who were particularly dominant upwind, won all 3 races by various margins from Stuart Bailey and Zoe Noble (401), Jon and Ethna Haines (971) looked set to make it a consistent 1-2-3 in the fleet in all races but a capsize in the windier conditions of the final race allowed Mark and Jane (1027) their best race of the day to take third, just sneaking ahead of Ian and Jess Staples (919). With some boats playing the tides it was the ones gambling on more wind further out that seemed to do best. Mike and Nathan Stanier (921) had a good 4th in race 3, and were much closer to the front of the fleet than the previous year benefitting from training they had arranged earlier in the season.

The main club house hosted the class AGM and provided a great meal in the bar overlooking the setting sun in the Solent, allowing the fleet to mix and the top sailors to pass tips to their pro-am partners.

Sunday threatened more wind but soon eased to force 2-3. With an earlier start the tide was noticeably stronger. 1201 remained untouchable with commanding wins in races 5 and 6 although 971 closed on the downwind legs of the 2 lap races. Mark and Tris Turner (763) provided entertainment in the fifth race when, against trend, having chosen the inshore passage they looked favourites to get to the top mark first but overshot the mark, put the spinnaker up too early and screamed through the rest of the fleet, missing the rounding and narrowly avoiding a swim. 1201 and 401 secured 1st and 2nd by the 4th and 5th races respectively.

For race 6 the top mark was reset. 3rd and 4th spots were still up for grabs, 971 made the better start and increased their lead over 1027 throughout. 763 rose to the challenge set by their pro-am partners 1027 (aided by the incentive of beer) of beating 921 in at least one race, which they did in the last race of the day (helped by 921 being OCS and finding it hard to find space to return). Ian and Jess Staples (919) were consistently 5th, unlucky not to get at least one 4th. Andy Holmes, with new crew Ros Brook, (877).picked up their best result in the last race. It was also great to see newcomers John Tucker and Mark Neal (822), who with 1201, won up the pro-am prize and will hopefully be back next year.

Thanks to all involved with event for a great week-end both on and off the water.

Overall Results: