Solo National Championships at Brightlingsea Sailing Club - Day 3

Day 3 of the Solo nationals at Brightlingsea © Fiona Brown / www.fionabrown.com

Day 3 of the Solo nationals at Brightlingsea © Fiona Brown / www.fionabrown.com

Sponsored by Allen Brothers and Noble Marine

Day three was another day where the fleet found itself sailing in a gradient breeze in the morning and a sea breeze in the afternoon with a long lunch break wait between to allow the wind to turn around.

The first race of the day was to be race five of the series and the initial attempts to get the fleet started with a Blue Peter failed so the black flag came out of the race officer's quiver. By and large the fleet were well behaved with only Simon Jones being called over the line and out of the race by the committee. The wind was from the north at around 6 knots and flicking back and forth so staying in phase was essential. The fleet remained closely packed all the way around the course and some of the mark roundings were very tense and exciting with multiple boats overlapped and fighting for position. The fleet sailed the triangle and second beat in good if oscillating wind, but as the fleet came down the run it was clear the wind was dropping and the race committee elected to finish the fleet at the leeward mark. It was very tight at the front of the fleet, but Andrew Wilde got the better of the competition to gain his first win of the championship, with Ross Harvey second, Andy Davis third, Andy Tunnicliffe fourth and Charlie Cumbley fifth.

Once the sea breeze arrived it filled in to a lovely 8 knots and the sun came out too to make race seven a more visually pleasing affair. Again it took a couple of attempts to get the fleet underway, but this time all were well behaved and the race committee declared it a clean start. This time the wind held good and the race committee was able to allow the fleet to complete a triangle and sausage before finishing the fleet at the top of the third beat to keep them within the recommended time limit. At the line Andy Davis led Ross Harvey with Steve Cockerill third, Charlie Cumbley fourth and Pete Mitchell fifth.

In the overall standings Charlie Cumbley holds onto his lead by two points from Andy Davis who is on 14 points. Pete Mitchell had finished eighth in race five and so holds onto third place with 20 points. Andy Tunnicliffe is two further points pack in fourth with first Veteran Steve Cockerill in fifth overall, just one point behind Tunnicliffe.

Day 3 of the Solo nationals at Brightlingsea - photo © Fiona Brown / www.fionabrown.com

Niall Houston from Hayling Island is the leading youth sailor after six races and is also in eleventh place overall. Leading Lady is Vanda Jowett who is in nineteenth overall and first Grand Master is John Webster who holds twenty fourth place overall.

Two more races are planned on Wednesday, starting at 11.00 weather permitting. The regatta continues until Friday.

Further information about the regatta is available at www.solonationals14.com

Results after Day 3: (six races, 1 discard)

Day 3 of the Solo nationals at Brightlingsea - photo © Fiona Brown / www.fionabrown.com