NSCA Solo Class Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

Prize winners in the Solo Class Vintage Championships at Leigh-on-Sea © Colin Walker

Solo Class Vintage Championships at Leigh-on-Sea © Colin Walker

22 entries for this year's Vintage Championship hosted at Leigh on Sea Sailing Club were greeted with blue skies, sunshine again. The fourth NSCA Solo Class Vintage Championship this year was supported by Rooster Sailing.

After the usual bacon butties, coffee and tea and the briefing by the PRO Steve Corbet the fleet set off to the offshore committee boat. However, an early start meant that the normal sea breeze wasn't established as the fleet left the shore. Early launchers were able to get to the committee boat but the rest became becalmed as that breeze died away. A long postponement was duly flagged and the support boats towed the fleet to the starting area. The wind then played tricks so that a trapezoidal course could be set.

Eventually the first race of three got under way. The pin end was crowed but it was Ewan Birkin-Wall (4206) and Vince Horey (3715) who got the puff and sped into a lead followed by past champion Doug Goudie (4040). The wind remained fickle at best throughout the shorten course race and Birkin-Wall went on to win from Horey and Goudie.

The second race started pretty promptly after race 1. The start line remained biased towards the pin end as the wind had settled and built up a couple of knots or so. The sun shone on the fleet and again a crowed pin end saw Birkin-Wall and Goudie both OCS, which let Horey in and after a short beat to the first mark led the race at the finish of another shortened course. Local lad Bugsy Beechey (3923) came in a well deserved 2nd followed by Alan Roberts (3121) in 3rd, one of the oldest and prettiest boats in the fleet.

With the now sea breeze building by another couple of knots or so and now with the tide heading back out, the line was altered take that into account. The whole fleet was keen to go and got away cleanly. The championship up for grabs by no less than five boats as they started. Birkin-Wall however using his vast experience of sailing managed to get to the front whilst the rest of the close fleet changed places on each of the 5 legs, lots of gains to be had and lost! Again, a shortened course was the need as the tide receded. Birkin-Wall led at the finish followed closely by Horey. Jonny Wells (3903) 3rd, beating Beechey into 4th place.

The fleet headed back to the shore in an increasing breeze pleased that no less than having to complete 3 races.

The prize-giving held in the open aired top floor of the club by Colin Walker, the retiring LSC Class Captain introduced Steve Hill the club Commodore who presented the prizes.

Steve, himself a solo sailor, welcomed all the 8 visiting soloists for making the effort to come to Leigh.

Hot dogs and burgers were consumed with relish in the afternoon along with the local brewers best beer. Evening entertainment was provided by Charlie and his band was also a great success.

Rooster Sailing prizes for the championship were presented to the following:

• Nick Hann (2120) a Slater GRP, won the oldest boat prize.
• Mike Dedman (3355) a Omega/ Lovett GRP/Wood, won the prize for best endeavour by finishing every race.
• The Mid fleet prize in 11th place was awarded to Richard Knight (3909 - Leigh on Sea SC) a 1993 Ledger all wooden boat.
• The NSCA Championship Trophy was won by Ewan Birkin-Wall (4206 - Grafham SC) in a 1998 Miles built wooden boat, with two wins and on 2 points.
• 2nd Place was won by Vince Horey (3715 - King George SC) a 1990 Rob Beckett all wooden boat on 3 points
• 3rd Place was won by Bugsy Beechey (3923 - Leigh on Sea SC) a 1993 Thresher all wooden boat on 6 points
• 4th Place was won by Jonny Wells (3903 - Essex YC) a 1993 Thresher all wooden boat on 8 points
• 5th place was Alan Roberts (3121 - Leigh on Sea SC) a 1977 Lovett all wooden boat also on 8 points.

Ewan Birkin-Wall thanked the whole LSC team for their work in making it such a great event and looked forward to the future championships.

In conclusion, it was so good to see all the beautifully build vintage boats represented by most of all the old boat builders getting their craft in the prizes. Other builders of old were several Don Marine, Severn Marine and a lonesome Gosling. All so wonderfully cared for by their current owners.

Overall Results: