Solo Open at Ardleigh Sailing Club
by Steve Ede 26 Jun 2023 18:14 BST
24 June 2023
Ardleigh Solo Open © Tony Tye
Ardleigh Sailing Club hosted its annual Solo open on Saturday 24 June. The forecast probably put a few travellers off but those who made the trip were greeted by a warm and sunny reservoir plus complementary bacon butties. The wind was light and shifty all day, but PRO Paul Constable made the best of things to give a decent day's sailing.
Race 1 saw Steve Ede round the windward mark first, closely followed by Mark Maskell, Roger Wilson and Ian Ayres. There was close racing throughout the fleet in shifty conditions, with Ede holding on to win from Maskell and Ayres.
Race 2 saw Ede start at the committee boat and again get to the windward mark first. Phil Sturmer chose to start at the pin and rounded second. These two then pulled away from the fleet to establish a huge lead, catching the back of the fleet on the fourth lap. Behind there were plenty of place changes with Wilson taking third and Maskell getting up to fourth by the finish.
For the final race Ede again got to the windward mark first and led throughout with Maskell and Ayres close behind.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Steve Ede | Ardleigh SC | 2 |
| 2 | Mark Maskell | Blackwater SC | 4 |
| 3 | Ian Ayres | Rollesby SC | 6 |
| 4 | Roger Wilson | Rollesby SC | 7 |
| 5 | Phil Sturmer | Brightlingsea SC | 9 |
| 6 | Matt House | Ardleigh SC | 9 |
| 7 | Kevin Edwards | Rollesby SC | 11 |
| 8 | Tony Tye | Ardleigh SC | 15 |
| 9 | Mike Barnes | | 17 |
| 10 | Mark Lock | Ardleigh SC | 17 |
| 11 | Paul Alridge | Brightlingsea SC | 20 |