Solo Western Area Series and Sea Series Open at Teign Corinthian Yacht Club

Solo Western Area Series at Teign Corinthian YC © Garnett Showell

A strong turnout from the home club's sailors and a number of visiting helms meant that an impressive fleet of 22 boats took to the water at Coombe Cellars on Saturday 18th August to contest the annual Teign Corinthian Yacht Club Solo Open Meeting (NSCA Western and Sea Series).

The forecast morning moderate breeze from the Southwest was a little slow to materialise but the Race Officer, Don Harrison, was able to set a fair course which comprised of two separate beats up the river connected by a short reaching hitch and a long run back down the river to the leeward mark to provide plenty of overtaking opportunities for the racers.

Solo Western Area Series at Teign Corinthian YC - photo © Garnett Showell

With a number of trigger happy helms, the first race got underway at the second attempt with two boats still OCS. John Steels (Starcross YC) and Doug Latta (Porchester SC) were the early pace setters. Further back, the chasing mid fleet became tightly bunched during a lull in the wind strength which resulted in some strongly contested mass mark roundings! After two laps of racing, John Steels held on to finish ahead of Doug Latta, with another visitor, Craig Harris (Chew Valley), finishing third.

By the start of race 2 the wind had a settled at a pleasant South-westerly force 2 to 3 but with enough shifts to the left to keep everyone's attention. Doug Latta was the first to the windward mark but a momentary loss of concentration saw him sail around the next reaching hitch mark the wrong way causing some mayhem for those following who did not make the same mistake! However, he recovered and together with Simon Jones (TCYC) distanced the fleet. They were, however, caught and passed by Peter Hearne on the final run but at the end of three laps he had to settle for third place with Doug taking the win with Simon second.

Solo Western Area Series at Teign Corinthian YC - photo © Garnett Showell

After two races sailed, Doug Latta was leading overall but with no discards and all 3 races to count the regatta was still wide open with Steels, Jones and Hearne not too far off.

The third race saw some close racing throughout the fleet but after the first lap Jones had pulled out a winning lead with Latta, Steels and Vernon Perkins (South Cerney) doing the chasing. It ended with Jones taking the win, Latta second followed by Steels.

Solo Western Area Series at Teign Corinthian YC - photo © Garnett Showell

So, with a first and two seconds the overall winner of the event was Doug Latta (Porchester SC).

After racing, the prize giving was accompanied by a splendid buffet organised by Annie Hearne and the winner, Doug Latta, (New NSCA Chairman) was full of praise for the efforts of all the TCYC volunteers who had given their time to support this very successful event.

Overall Results: