West Riding Sailing Club, Wakefield, Yorkshire

Twenty-four boats representing fifteen clubs travelled from as far south as Draycote and as far north as Dundee to join eight home club Solos. It was great weather for camping, but sadly not as idyllic for sailing with two races held on Saturday in a medium breeze, but none at all on Sunday as the centre of the high-pressure system sat over Wintersett Reservoir. This was disappointing, and those involved in the organisation of the event felt for those who had put in the effort travelling long distances to attend.

The first race got away first time in a wind swinging between south and southeast. Perversely it swung beyond the southeast as the fleet was unleashed and those from the left hand end of the line were able to make the windward mark in one. However, it veered back again sufficiently to lift those approaching the first mark on starboard and John Clarke, Stuart Hydon and Chris Gillard were first round ahead of the two port tack boats of Steve Graham and John Gledhill.

Hydon soon established himself in the lead and gradually drew away to a comfortable win. Gledhill went left on the beat and leap-frogged up to third place at the second windward mark. Clarke soon pulled away to secure second spot as the first six of Hydon, Clarke, Gledhill, Chris Gillard, Steve Dennison and Dave Mitchell pulled well clear of the main body of the fleet.

Gillard and Dennison relentlessly pursued Gledhill, but it was Denison who picked up the places to take Gledhill on the last lap for third spot, a highly significant result in the final destination of the championship. Final order Hydon, Clarke, Dennison, Gledhill, Gillard and Mitchell.

After a general recall and with a black flag in operation Dennison shot up the first beat of the second race to round ahead of Graham and Gillard with Clarke, Gledhill and Hydon in pursuit. The wind then flipped to the southwest and a beat and a broad reach were transformed into two close reaches, which shut down some of the overtaking opportunities. Dennison, Graham and Gillard sailed away in unchanging formation leaving Clarke, Gledhill and Hydon to tussle until a coming together at a windward mark forced Gledhill and Hydon to take penalty turns.

This allowed Pete Mitchell and Chris Brown through, but Hydon recovered well to pull them back one by one up to fourth place. With the wind gradually dying as the afternoon progressed, Hydon closed on Gillard who managed to hang on to third place to the finish. Final order Dennison, Graham, Gillard, Hydon, Clarke, Pete Mitchell, with Dennison one point ahead of Hydon for the overall lead.

Visitors to West Riding SC were introduced to their unique brand of indoor games during the evening, and some well known Solo faces were recognised in Team Moo Cow indulging in games such as Swingers and the Big Bang. They were less successful than on the water.

Sunday dawned in glorious sunshine and Team Moo Cow members were seen taking an early morning dip. The enjoyment ended there as race Officer Jonathan Gledhill spent a tortuous four hours monitoring the wind. It never blew for longer than ten consecutive minutes, and from any direction between east and west, making course setting an impossibility. Regretfully at 1400 hours the remaining races were abandoned.

Prize giving lifted spirits again as Dave Winder had stuffed Steve Dennison’s car with a generous variety of prizes, and seventeen Solo sailors went home with some kit they hadn’t arrived with. Congratulations to Steve on being the first Solo Northern Champion. This event was a small start, but from little acorns mighty oak trees grow.