Please select your home edition
Edition
Allen Brothers

Solo Open at Shustoke Sailing Club

by Olly Saunders 16 Jul 07:23 BST 14 July 2024

The last week has seen a build up filled with excitement, anticipation and much expectation for Sunday 14th July. Finally the day of the premier sporting event in 2024 had arrived. Would the Shustoke SC Solo Open Meeting 2024, sponsored by Allen and CB Coverstore live up to the hype!?

The forecast was for light north westerly breeze which can often be a tricky direction at Shustoke. As sailors arrived, they were greeted by more breeze than expected but unfortunately this wouldn't stay. After a briefing from Race Officer Jim Hopton, the fleet took to the water for an 11am kick off. A clean start for the whole fleet saw Martin Honnor (Ogston SC) win the pin and then tack on to port clearing the fleet and rounding the windward mark first. Never really threatened at the front, Martin consolidated his lead as places were changing behind him. Steve Dennison chased but couldn't catch Martin, followed by local sailor and defending champion Stuart Hydon. After 45 minutes and nearing the end of 2 laps, the shortened course signal was given. Some last leg changes further back in the fleet saw local sailors Cole Briscoe pull through to 4th and Jamie Cuxson in 5th.

Race 2 was held back to back in what felt like a dying breeze. This time there was a general recall on start one with a large proportion of the fleet over at the pin end with about 5 seconds to go. The second time around and the fleet were away, again with Martin, Steve and Stuart quick out of the blocks. The first beat was very tricky with huge holes of no wind and this created big gaps between the front and back of the fleet very early. In lap two Martin and Steve became locked in a tacking duel on the second beat which allowed Stuart to take advantage of a lift to sail straight past them and into the lead. Stuart held this to the end of the race, taking the bullet. On the final downwind leg, Martin got caught in one of the earlier mentioned holes and Stuart and Steve sailed away. Unfortunately for Martin as the wind filled in from behind, he got caught by the chasing pack and overtaken. Cole Briscoe got through to third, whilst Paul Burgoine sailing the NSCA Demo Boat, also Shustoke, capitalized on the situation to take 4th.

The fleet then went ashore for lunch, provided by the club members on galley duty and watched as the breeze that had died before lunch, inevitably came up whilst no one was sailing!

With the wind now seeming to cover the reservoir and all still to play for, the race officer got the fleet launched for a 2pm final race, with a new course to take advantage of a variation in wind direction. Away first time, Paul Burgoine had the best start and played the shifts superbly to round the windward mark first, followed by Cole Briscoe. These two put a good a distance between themselves and the chasing boats of Jamie Cuxson, Martin Honnor and Steve Dennison. Paul managed to hold the lead for most of the race until Cole was able to pass him on lap two. With Cole in pole, the final results hinged on the boats behind him. The final beat to the line saw a close tacking battle between Paul and Martin with Paul managing to stay ahead by a matter of a boat length or two at the finish.

So the racing was done and the keen mathematicians will have clocked that the top four boats were all tied on 4 points, highlighting how close the racing had been all day. This meant that the winner this year is Cole Briscoe who despite being at the very front of the Shustoke fleet for some time had not previously won this event and the Shustoke Solo Trophy was coming home! Congratulations Cole!

The prize winners received a variety of beer, chocolates and some kit from our sponsors, Allen.

At the prize-giving Cole thanked the Race Officer and his duty team, the galley team and our visitors. Thanks also to our sponsors Allen and CB Coverstore.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
1st4439Cole BriscoeShustoke SC‑4314
2nd5880Martin HonnorOgston SC1‑834
3rd5635Stuart HydonShustoke SC31‑64
4th6073Stephen DennisonRYA22‑44
5th6029Paul BurgoineShustoke SC‑8426
6th5704Jamie CuxsonShustoke SC5‑9510
7th5740Mike CosseyShustoke SC‑105712
8th5432Nigel WilkinsShustoke SC‑126915
9th6049Olly SaundersShustoke SC7(RET)815
10th5671Simon DippleShustoke SC‑1471118
11th5401Andy BownesBarnt Green SC911(DNF)20
12th5210Neil WilkinsonShustoke SC6(RET)RET21
13th4501Dave ShepherdShustoke SC1110(DNC)21
14th4503Mark CuxsonShustoke SC‑13121022
15th5177Chris BlackburnShustoke SC‑15131225
16th4537Ian ShawNotts County SC(DNC)DNCDNC34

1st Home Sailor (not in top 3) Paul Burgoine
1st Over 70 years old Mike Cossey

Related Articles

Solo class in the Hayling Island SC Winter Series
High winds reduce the series to four races Hayling Island's close of season events runs from Early November until mid December with one race each Sunday. The fleets are separated by 5 starting groups with the Solo class as usual having their own start each weekend. Posted on 16 Dec
Solo Season 2024
And the release of SoloInteractive 21 Here we are near the very end of another Solo season, a new Nation's Cup and National Champion and the first Dutchman since Mark Tigchelaar won at Medemblik in 1990. Posted on 24 Nov
Solo Class End of Season Championship
Very light winds at Draycote Water on Saturday It was a relief to be released from the seemingly infinite production of apple donuts, the bright red numerals on the face of my digital alarm clock burning the numbers four, four and five into the very backs of my retinae. Posted on 6 Nov
Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at Salcombe
36 competitors for the GOAT Marine Western Area Series event 36 competitors descended from various parts of the UK to contest the re-arranged Nigel Pusinelli Trophy, 11 were official visitors but a good proportion of the home fleet live in Surrey so were able to tie in a trip to the second home for the weekend. Posted on 21 Oct
Elton Solo Open
Final event of the 2024 Northern Series The final open of the season was held at the weekend, with a few key people missing it was going to be an exciting event. Posted on 17 Oct
Budworth Solo Open
Penultimate Northern Series event of 2024 Four intrepid travellers and an enthusiastic turnout of ten home club Solos (14 total) braved the 20-plus knot gust forecast to compete for the penultimate Northern Series Solo Open meeting at Budworth SC, in the heart of Cheshire. Posted on 8 Oct
Solo class Thames Valley Series at Island Barn
The day concluded with a traditional cream tea during the prize-giving ceremony The Island Barn Reservoir Solo Open, part of the Thames Valley Series, took place under ideal autumn conditions. The reservoir welcomed 16 competitors, with five representing the home club and others travelling from clubs as far as Salcombe Bay. Posted on 6 Oct
Singlehander open meeting at Notts County
40 boats take part, with a strong Solo fleet The Notts County single handed Open was held in the last weekend in September for RS600, Aero and Solos saw over forty boats taking part with the largest fleet being Solos at the Allen Midland Area Solo Championship. Posted on 5 Oct
Solo class Scottish Travellers at Dalgety Bay
Spending a lot of time trying to find clear wind up the beats The Scottish Solo fleet gathered at Dalgety Bay on September 28 for the last in the HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers series of 2024. The club is situated on the north shore of the Forth opposite Edinburgh. Posted on 3 Oct
Early Autumn Select One Design Maximum Discount
Great savings on sails and covers at Hyde Sails, orders must be placed by 30th September Hyde Sails One-Design Sails have had another successful season on the water, we are currently offering a maximum autumn discount period for select classes allowing for great savings on sails and covers. Posted on 27 Sep