2014 Results | Solution Class Association

Grafham Water hosted an excellent event, with 8 Solutions attending. The forecast was for the wind to increase on Saturday, and sure enough it did, gusting 30 knots ++.

Saturday was a survival day, with some big squalls and poor visibility. A couple of sailors decided that spectating from the shore was more fun and I think most of the fleet had a dip at some stage.

Christian Smart, previously Blaze National champion borrowed 422 and put it to good effect. He broke away to take a good lead on the first race, and was consistent throughout the day with 2 firsts, and a second. Kevin Clark (455) second in the firstand third race and first in the second race, Ross Prytherch (438) continued to have thirds.

After a hard day on the water, the Soutions came second at the inter class quiz between the different Ovington classes.

On Sunday as people arrived the lake was like glass, one extreme to another, we started the first race in less than 5 knots, most boats being tangled up in the club racers! 2 races were completed.

Thanks to Grafham and Ovingtons for an excellent weekend enjoyed by all.

Report: Ross Prytherch Photos: Ovingtons

Round 6 of the Solution Travellers series took place at Redditch on Saturday 20th September. The very light winds deterred some, but local sailor Mark Crowther was joined by Kathryn Hayfield and Martin Tubb for 6 races.

3 short races were run before lunch, each being 2 laps of a windward leeward course with 2 bottom marks to spice things up a little. Kathryn posted 2 firsts with Mark just behind, but in the third race Mark played the wind shifts to score the win, with Martin pushing Kathryn into third by a boat length.

After a substantial and excellent lunch, the afternoon races were on a triangle course. Kathryn and Mark posted a win apiece in races 4 and 5. The wind then picked up for the final race and Martin found his form to post a win.

With 2 discards and 4 races to count, Kathryn was the overall winner on count back, making for a great result on her birthday.

Thanks go to Redditch Sailing Club and the race officer for running an enjoyable event.

9 Solutions made their way to Tynemouth Sailing Club to join the 4 local boats for the 2014 Solution National Championship. 8 boats took part in some sneaky race training given by Nathan Batchelor on Friday 18 July in some great conditions and gave those on shore some entertainment watching pond sailors fail to deal with the surf on their way back ashore leading to a few capsized boats.

Saturday started with a trip to the Ovington Boats factory to see how these great boats are made. The weather was not playing and a thick sea fog meant that racing was kept to inside the harbour. After a wait for shipping traffic to pass out the way, racing got underway with a strong current going out of the harbour and 5 knots of wind. A triangle course was laid and local sailor Ian Martin was first to the top mark with Sam Davy close on his heels and Nathan Batchelor following. A long leg against the tide across the harbour was hard going and by the time they all got to the 2nd mark, Nathan had taken the lead with Ian in 2nd and Sam in 3rd after they went a bit too close to the harbour wall and got caught in the wind shadow. The top 3 held these positions until the end. The rest of the fleet had a good old merry-go-round of positions with everyone getting the hang of the challenging conditions. Martin Tubb's capsize and swim at the bottom mark provided the best entertainment of the race. As the boats approached the finish, the wind dropped right off and with another ship due in, it was decided to call it a day and hope for better sailing on Sunday. A better forecast and the chance to be out at a sea had a big appeal.

Saturday night's entertainment was provided by local sailor Karl Milford and his band.

As Sunday dawned, the weather was clear with 6 knots of breeze allowing the racing to take place in the North Bay outside the harbour. Nathan took the lead at the first mark. Ian and Sam battled down the 2nd leg with Ian pushing Sam out at the 2nd mark to round ahead and again those positions stayed the same to the end.

In the 3rd race, Ian was too keen at the start and was called back. Niall Graham rounded the first mark in the lead, and he and Nathan battled all the way round. Nathan pipped Niall at the line to take all 3 race wins. Sam came in 3rd after a little cool-down swim on the run.

Thanks must go to Harken as their generous sponsorship meant that there were prizes for everyone in the fleet. Thanks are also owed to Tynemouth SC and the race team for putting on a great event and managing to get in 3 races in difficult conditions, to Ovington Boats for opening up the factory for Saturday's tour and to Karl Milford for getting off the water and straight behind the microphone to keep us entertained all evening.

The Ted Funnell Memorial Cup was won by Karl Milford for finishing mid fleet.

Report: Sam Davy. Photos: Timothy Olin Tynemouth SC

Well five Solutions turned up at Blithfield to contest the next event in the series, the weather looked set to be fair for a good days racing, the sun was shinning and a good breeze was blowing across the reservoir.

The Solutions followed the Phantoms over the start line separated by two minutes, it was fairly closely contested up to the windward mark with Martin and Arthur taking an early lead followed by Sam, after Arthur capsized and Martin touched the next mark this let Sam through; Kathryn and Peter were having their own race at the back and did not bother the other three. It finally ended up with Sam taking line honours followed by Martin and Arthur.

After a leisurely lunch it was back out for race 2 by which time the wind god started blowing a good bit harder making for some serious hiking up the beat and some interesting downwind legs. Again Sam, Martin and Arthur were off to a good start closely followed by Kathryn and Peter, Kathryn got a great lift up the first beat and sneaked into second place by the windward mark. Kathryn lost a couple of places on the downwind legs while Arthur decided that a swim was the order of the day, but sadly getting back on board was more about Nutcracker than Swan Lake and he subsequently retired on manhood grounds. This left Sam and Martin up front followed by Kathryn and Peter.

Race 3 saw a drop in the wind after tea but Arthur was not fit to race again citing pain and age as a good reason to stay onshore, the four all got a good start with positions swapping up the shifty beats Sam took a lead with everyone else trying to catch him. Peter eventually got close but not near enough to pass, Martin and Kathryn bringing up the other two places. Kathryn said afterwards that Kevin had suggested that she should stay near the back of the fleet to get some good video footage, for the forth coming film!!

Report: Peter Fisk. Photos: Blithfield SC

Despite the lousy weather forecast, 13 sailors made their way to Bala Sailing Club on 24/25th May for the Solution Inland Championships, sponsored by Ovington Boats.

Saturday blew harder than the forecasters promised, suiting the windy weather specialists and Sunday gave the light airs aficionados their turn in the spotlight. Whilst Nathan Batchelor showed the fleet why they should attend his pre-Nationals training day in July by taking an unassailable lead in every race, the rest of the fleet enjoyed some of the closest racing to date. Nathan elected to sit out the final drifter of a race which gave Ian Walker the opportunity to take final line honours.

Thanks go to Bala Sailing Club for putting on a great event and to Ovington Boats for the generous prizes.

Report: Kathryn Hayfield. Photos: John Hunter Bala SC

8 Solutions convened at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club on 28 & 29 March for the first event of the 2014 Travellers Trophy.

Saturday started with a morning of race training led by Dave Eccles to give the fleet some practice before the afternoon's racing. Kevin Clark showed his speed in heavy winds (or merely took advantage of the fact that the rest of the fleet were worn out from the morning's training) by posting 2 bullets in the lively conditions. Paul Hargreaves, a new face in the Solution fleet, showed promise of competition to come by earning 2 second places.

Sunday dawned with lighter winds and a change to the front of the fleet. John Morrison, who struggled with Saturday's breeze, led from start to finish in all 3 of Sunday's races. There was a lot more place changing throughout the rest of the fleet but Kevin Clark and Paul Hargreaves both stayed up near the front to make it all to play for in the final race. Kevin managed to squeeze a 2nd place which was enough to take first overall. Paul's consistency gave him 2nd and John managed to finish 3rd even counting a DNC.

Thanks go to Leigh & Lowton for putting on a great event and to Dave Eccles for getting up early to give some training.

Report: Kathryn Hayfield. Photos: Paul Allen LLSC