Please select your home edition
Edition
Craftinsure 2023 LEADERBOARD

Solo Open at Starcross Yacht Club

by Alan Olive 30 Jul 2024 21:57 BST 27 July 2024

Race 1

The joy of racing at Starcross is that it's not only a shifty lake but it's got a fickle tide too and as Race 1 started the right-hand side, against all logic seemed to have paid with Paul Kelley and Charlie Nunn leading out of the right-hand side of the course, shrieking off on the triangular course. The pack were close on their heels but never caught them as the wind dipped and blew again across the course. Big thanks to Olly T for pointing out the spreader mark to me, although, as they say, no good turn goes unpunished as I managed to sneak past of the next beat.

Paul K had to hand over the lead on the downwind leg to Charlie N and despite nipping at his heels next got past, following him into the finish with Spod Olive behind.

Race 2

With the breeze holding steady at 12 kts the fleet set off again but this time the left hand seemed to pay, sheltering them from the stronger tide on the right. Again, Paul Kelley had the boat speed upwind but with Olly Turner and Charlie Nunn on his heels, he slipped back after a luffing match between with Paul and Olly, resulting in turns by Paul. Olly stomped off to win the race with Charlie just behind and Paul, looking chastened as he took 3rd.

Certainly, in my boat after the race it was a time to glug the juice, stretch the back and snack on a bar, hoping that everyone else was feel the thigh burn as we waited for race 3.

Race 3

Clearly the wind gods had got quite grumpy by this stage as they parked a large cumulus cloud over the race course and threw the wind dice, shifting it 30 and then 90 degrees to the right. Having picked up a clump of weed on the start, I tacked off to the unfavourable right side only to be meet with the mother of all shifts taking me straight to the first mark just behind Charlie Nunn. It then proceeded to die slow leaving the fleet drift in the becalmed tidal stream of the Exe. The Race officer remained calm as we floated off down stream and was rewarded by a series of random puff coming from the West, propelling some (not all of the fleet) back around the course. Charlie Nunn and Spod Olive still slipped away with Olly Turner just on their heels, which they kept as the wind swirled around the course.

It's not often that you come away from an open having had it all. Unpredictable, frustrating while providing some excellent and close racing, with chop, sun breeze and waves. Lots of swapping places, but inevitably Charlie Nunn, pulling away and winning the day with Olly Turner and Spod Olive behind him, sneaking past Paul Kelly in the count back for third.

Thanks again for Goat for sponsoring us, the Starcross shore team and the race officer Russ Gibbs for some great racing.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3PtsPrizes
1st6106Charlie NunnTorpoint / Porhtpean1‑212 
2nd5546Olly TurnerSalcombe YC‑4134 
3rd5649Spod OliveStarcross YC3‑525veteran
4th6059Paul KelleyStarcross. Y.C23‑55veteran
5th5778Shaun WelshTorpoint Mosquito SC‑104711grandmaster
6th6033Simon GreensladeStarcross YC56‑811grandmaster
7th4654Malcolm DaviesTeign Corinthian SC‑128412veteran
8th5918Paul LewisHayling Island SC67‑1013 
9th5926John SteelsStarcross YC79(DNC)16grandmaster
10th5731Vernon PerkinsSouth Cerney SC‑1413619grandmaster
11th6030Adrian GriffinSalcombe YC910‑1119septimus
12th5642Steve RobertsTorpoint Mosquito SC8‑121220 
13th5353Chris MeredithChew Valley Lake SC‑1111920grandmaster
14th6083Michael WebsterStarcross YC13‑141326septimus
15th5709Simon DeeksStarcross YC1515(DNS)30grandmaster
16th5674Bruce WattStarcross YC16(OCS)DNS36septimus
17th6003Paul JacobsStarcross YC(DNC)DNCDNC40veteran
17th6086Martin CraneStarcross YC(DNF)DNCDNC40septimus

Related Articles

Salcombe YC Spring Series race 4
Owning a Merlin, Solo and Salcombe Yawl is known locally as The Golden Triumvirate Teams were confronted with a briskly flooding tide and a solid but gusty 15 knot breeze on this fine day. Much like handicap racing across the UK, Salcombe relies on trusty club stalwarts for weekly handicap attendance. Posted on 31 Mar
Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club Tipsy Icicle Series
150 sailors competed across 11 weekends Despite severely adverse weather conditions, the Tipsy Icicle Series once again provided great dinghy racing for NW dinghy sailors. 150 sailors competed across 11 weekends in gentle breezes, strong gusty winds, ice and floods. Posted on 24 Mar
Salcombe YC Spring Series race 2
A brisk 10-15 knot north-easterly, paired with plenty of blue sky and sunshine A brisk 10-15 knot north-easterly, paired with plenty of blue sky and sunshine, set the stage for Race 2 of the Spring Series. Launching once again at low tide turned into a muddy affair. Posted on 17 Mar
Solo Winter Championship at Rutland Water
Near perfect conditions for the fleet The Solo fleet returned to lovely Rutland Water for the first time in a few years and were delighted to find near perfect conditions for our Winter championship and first North Sails Super Series event of 2025. Posted on 15 Mar
Salcombe Yacht Club Spring Series Race 1
Between 0-15 mph depending on where you were in the estuary at any particular time The 2025 SYC Spring Series got under way at Salcombe with grey skies and a North Easterly breeze of between 0-15 mph depending on where you were in the estuary at any particular time. Posted on 9 Mar
Whitstable Yacht 2025 season preview
Including hosting national championships for Tasars and Wanderers Whitstable Yacht Club is looking forward to the new 2025 season with a schedule that includes national championships for Tasars and Wanderers, the Solo Spring Championships, the return of the SE Toppers together with a full programme of 107 club races. Posted on 6 Mar
Solo class prepare for Dinghy Show this weekend
See one of the most tricked out Solos for many years The National Solo class is super excited to welcome visitors to our stand (number 350, opposite the interactive area) at this weekends RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre. Posted on 18 Feb
Solo class Traveller Series dates announced
After 2025 success with 143 sailors taking part The 2024 Solo Southern Area Series comprised ten events with 143 sailors taking part in at least one of them. Papercourt SC hosted the last event of the series where we had the prize-giving for the 2024 Southern Area winners. Posted on 22 Jan
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 2024
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 2024