2024 Results | Solution Class Association

Of the 6 Solutions that came to the Leigh & Lowton Regatta and Solution open meeting, only 2 were in the running for the 2024 Travellers Trophy. Having travelled to all events this year, Richard Brown (Great Yarmouth & Gorleston YC) and Martin Tubb (LLSC) were ready to fight it out for the last trophy of the season.

Race 1 went to Martin, who got away with a port-end flyer. Richard managed to claw things back and took a brief turn at the front before Martin overtook on the last leg to win by 6 seconds.

Race 2 was all Richard’s after he played the shifts to perfection. For race 3, the rest of the fleet decided to spice things up; Kathryn Clark led at the windward mark, shortly followed by newcomer to the fleet, Stephen Timbey. Unfortunately Stephen capsized at the wing mark letting Martin through. Martin managed to overhaul Kathryn at the last windward mark and led the last lap to take a second win and overnight lead.

Tired sailors were saved from human foosball and raft racing when the BBQ was served!

Race 4 on Sunday morning was not as sunny but still a fine breeze. Richard tried to take a port end flyer but was blocked by Martin who took the lead once again. Martin and Richard had a good duel throughout the race until they met a group of other boats on the penultimate downwind leg. Martin managed to squeeze round the mark in the clear but Richard was less fortunate and lost some time negotiating the traffic giving Martin a third win. Over the lunch break, it was agreed that Martin was looking good for the overall win and therefore the Travellers Trophy; Richard would need two bullets with Martin down the pan in the final 2 races to change that outcome.

In Race 5, Richard managed to do another horizon job, taking an unassailable lead from the start. Paul Nix rounded the windward mark in 2nd with Kathryn in 3rd, leaving Martin languishing in fourth. Despite a capsize from Paul and a close battle with Kathryn all the way around the course, Martin wasn’t able to get past either of them which left the competition wide open once again.

Race 6 started with more pre-start manoeuvring than the America’s cup. Martin thought he had Richard pinned on the wrong side of the committee boat but somehow Richard managed to duck down to leeward for a clean start. The two of them were so focused on match-racing each other that they both overlooked the change of course and went merrily off to the wrong windward mark. A friendly shout from Paul highlighted their error, but not before Kathryn had rounded the correct mark and shown the boys a clean pair of heels for the final race win. Martin managed to get back to the right mark ahead of Richard and eventually overhauled Paul to take 2nd in race 6 giving him the overall win and putting his name on the Travellers Trophy again for the first time in 10 years.

Special mention must go to Mark Fox, who won a box of chocolates and a roll of tape for being the furthest travelled Solution. He then sadly managed to spear the rear window of his car with the mast when hitching up, so the roll of tape was put to good use patching it up for his long drive back to Lee on Solent.

Thanks to PRO Mike Baldwin and his race team for putting on some great races in near perfect conditions, and all at LLSC for another cracking event.

Report: Kathryn Clark
Photos: Paul Hargreaves

The weekend of 10th-11th August saw 11 hardy Solution sailors arrive at Lee-on-the-Solent Sailing Club for the combined Solution and Phantom open. We had visitors from as far away as Leigh & Lowton SC and Great Yarmouth & Gorleston SC under the illusion of the wall-to-wall sunshine and 10-12 knots of breeze that had been promised, but the weather had other ideas.

With three races expected to run on Saturday, the helms launched through the waves that were dumping on the beach with the assistance of the heroic beach team into 18-20 knots SW'ly and overcast skies. The Race officer opted for a 'Triangle/Sausage' course and once the Phantom fleet got away cleanly, the solutions lined up for the 1st race. The Solent didn't disappoint providing a 1.5m chop.

Everyone got away cleanly with Ian Morgan giving the fleet a wave sailing masterclass leading from the beginning to the end of the hour-long race. Calshot's Mike Davis and Lee On Solent's own Richrd Gibbon battled it out for 2nd and 3rd respectfully. There was close racing in the middle of the fleet with many sailors swapping positions both upwind and down. Newcomer to the fleet Andy Bray suffered a capsize that resulted in the loss of his rudder taking him out of the remainder of race one and missing race two whilst sourcing a spare one on shore.

Race 2 got under way without the conditions abating, forcing three of the helms to give this one a miss. The 50ft committee boat cast a large wind shadow causing chaos with many sailors tipping into windward! Ian once again led the race followed by Mike Davis who was joined at the front by fellow Calshot member Colin Smedley who finished 3rd after sailing a fantastic race.

Race 3 started as the wind speed increased to 20/25 knots sustained with gusts recorded of 27 knots. This happened to coincide with the tide setting west to create a very uncomfortable wind over tide situation. Ian once again led the fleet, chased closely by Jon Steward who manged to capsize and turtle his boat on the run, taking himself from 2nd to 8th in the process. Phrases such as 'golly gosh' could be heard as the fleet passed his position. Mark Fox showed his heavy weather prowess and finished a very creditable 5th after surviving the course.

With the day's racing over, the fleet headed ashore for an evening in the LOSSC Club house for dinner and respite. Sunday morning provided more favourable conditions with the previously mentioned sunshine making a late but much appreciated appearance, although the breeze was still higher than forecast but had backed south easterly

Race 4 welcomed the return of Warsash's Steven Sherwood who had missed races 2 & 3 but was again led by, yes you guessed it, Ian Morgan who sailed his own race. Back in the main fleet, 2nd and 3rd places have been fought over by Mike, Jon, Richard and Andy Maskell who were all trading placed regularly. Jon snook ahead of Mike for 2nd, with Mike taking 3rd place

Race 5 got away under black flag after a general recall due in part to the tide pushing the fleet over the line. Richard Brown who had been battling Martin Tubb mid fleet made a spectacular start on port crossing the fleet who had mostly elected to start on starboard. This time Mike worried Ian upwind and managed to lead the race downwind for a time, again very close racing with the main fleet with everyone playing snakes and ladders.

By the time race 6 started the tide had begun to turn and the sea state dropped off significantly but the fleet had shrunk to 8 as Ian, Andy Bray and Steven opted to beat the rush for the showers. Again, another incredibly close race in the solution fleet with anyone of 5 able to win at times. Andy Maskell sailed a fantastic race keeping close behind Mike and Jon who were taking turns at leading the race before sprinting past the pair on the final leg to the finish for a very well-deserved win.

The Solution fleet would like to thank Lee-on-the-Solent SC for hosting the event and providing prizes, the race officers and all those in supporting roles who made the event possible.

As tradition dictates this report was written by 3rd place, Jon Steward, who must try harder!

Report: Jon Steward
Photos: Jamie Robinson

The Solution Inland Championships were held in association with the Phantom class Inlands at Northampton Sailing Club on the 3rd weekend in June.

Three boats arrived early on Friday to take advantage of the offer of joining in with the Phantom class training day. After spending some time bimbling on shore they headed out onto the lake to participate in the training session where they enjoyed short sprint races in a favourable 10-12 knot breeze, before a 25 knot squall ended the session and sent everyone ashore for a debrief.

By Friday evening several other Solutions had arrived from Warsash, Lee-on-the-Solent, Leigh & Lowton and Great Yarmouth & Gorleston so dinner from the curry house was delivered to the club for all to enjoy.

Saturday morning arrived with more wind than anticipated and a short delay to the racing was held in the hope of missing thunder and lightening. Eight hardy Solution sailors headed downwind to the start area with thunder rumbling behind. At the start of race 1 the Phantoms got away cleanly in 15 knots of breeze, but with around 2 minutes to the Solution start a squall came rolling down the reservoir with breeze in the 20 gusting 25+ range making it a slog to windward, the inverted P course meant the Solution fleet was passing the Phantoms as they returned downwind on port causing some chaos.

Several Solutions sensibly retired from race one with Ian Morgan, Richard Gibbon and Jon Steward battling it out at the front, with Martin Tubb and Richard Brown a little way behind. Some temporary gear failure for Ian and capsizes for Richard and Jon meant they all had a turn at leading the race. After 40 minutes of hard racing on lap 3 the windward mark dragged anchor and the race was abandoned but the sailors were unaware and confusion ensued when rounding mark 3 and heading back past the line it was discovered the committee boat had left station and located to a new starting area.

There was a long wait before the next start while the course was re-laid and the whole Solution fleet headed ashore to take respite from the 25 knot+ gusts.

The Phantom fleet eventually got under way for the restart of race 1 and from watching at the top end of the reservoir with the sun shining and the wind appearing to be easing decisions were made as to whether to re-launch or find cake or indeed both!

Six boats launched and headed for the start area where we waited for the Phantoms to finish their race the pleasant 10-15 knot breeze and sunshine returned giving a false sense of security but not for long as the dark clouds arrived bringing wind and rain, the Solution fleet waited for nearly an hour as the course was re-laid and the Phantom fleet suffered two general recalls.

Eventually the Solutions got away for the start of race 1B with Richard Gibbon getting the best start and holding first for most of the race, Ian Morgan and Jon Steward battled it out for second before Ian shook off Jon and hunted down Richard to take the lead, Martin and Richard Brown had a tussle of their own.

With race 1B over, and the wind not showing signs of abating, the fleet headed ashore to recuperate ahead of day 2.

The galley put on a fantastic roast dinner and an enjoyable and social evening in the bar.

Sunday morning came with more favourable conditions and a hope of achieving all three races, fortified by a full English breakfast from the sailing club galley, all eight sailors headed out in pleasant but shifty 8-10 knot winds for races 4, 5 & 6 of the championship.

With the same course as Saturday but much better weather the fleet enjoyed close racing with everyone participating in the positioning game of snakes and ladders.

Jon had the best start of race 4 and took a convincing lead up the beat until Ian won a lucky lift while everyone else was headed and took the lead for his 2nd win on the weekend, Mark Jackson and Mark Fox were having a battle of their own, regularly switching places as can bee seen in the results.

In race 5 it was again very close between all sailors with Kathryn Clark motoring up the beat and troubling the leaders at the windward mark, with Richard Brown and Martin showing their prowess off wind both pulled sailors pulled ahead of Richard Gibbon who took a very different route from the leeward mark back through the gate to reclaim third place.

In the interval between races 5 & 6 while we waited for the Phantoms to have another general recall the wind increased to a steady 12 gusting 15 knots and the wind chill had many sailors reaching for their spray tops.

Richard Gibbon, realising he had to beat Jon to avoid 3rd place and therefore having to write the race report, closed the door on Jon and Kathryn at the committee boat end of the line allowing Mark Jackson to show the rest of the fleet how starting should be done and romped away to windward. The forth place battle between Richard Brown and Martin was only decided on the final beat to the finish line; Martin rounded the leeward mark ahead, but was pinned to the right by some Phantoms and Richard went left and crossed the line ahead to take 4th in the race and overall. The final race ended with the sailors in the same positions as the overall results.

The Solution class would like to thank Northampton Sailing Club for hosting our event and providing prizes.

Report & Photos: Jon Steward

The Solutions arrived on Saturday to a sunny and breezy Felpham Sailing Club for the first day of the nationals, held alongside Felpham's annual regatta. With thirteen boats registered and the first gun at 12:00 boats started to congregate on the beach ready for launch. With disputes about how windy it really was in the shifty northerly the boats headed out to a trapezoid course a long way offshore. Some mild chaos followed with a few capsizes and people realising it was in fact windier than expected. The smart boats turned back but for the first race we had 9 brave sailors.

Ready for a breezy start there was a strong port end bias capitalised on my Ian Morgan who nailed a port hand flyer and crossed the entire fleet. It was tight racing with more then a few capsizes on the hairy downwind, overall Ian sailed well and won the race with Mike and Richard in 2nd and 3rd respectfully.

Race 2 was more of the same, with the wind reaching gusts of mid twenties and a few offshore waves developing it was a true show of grit to keep it going upwind. Andy Maskell sailed well in the strong winds bagging a second followed by Mike in third, Ian was once again in the lead, a reoccurring performance throughout the weekend.

Race 3 again more hard work and arguably with even stronger gusts we went from 9 down to 7 with 2 retirees. Three boats pulled away with Ian in front, Tom in second and Mike in third. After a quick 2 laps the race was over and people were very appreciative of that.

Day 1 left Ian in first, Mike in second and Tom in third.

After a great meal and quiz in the evening, Day 2 began. A much lighter day still from the north blowing 9 knots gusting 15. With a full 13 Solutions on the start line the racing began.

A very port end bias saw Ian and Tom fighting for the pin end and in the end everyone started on port. A very shifty first beat saw a lot of changing positions with Ian reaching the top mark first, but everyone was very close together, the downwind was a fight with a lot of covering and tactics resulting in a very tight rounding of the bottom mark. After a tight 2 laps again the recurring theme Ian was first, Andy was second and Mike was third.

Race 5 was postponed for a decent amount of time due to horribly shifty winds before the sea breeze kicked in and set south westerly. Now a strong and consistent 15 knots racing began. A starboard end bias saw a vicious fight for the committee boat end, in which Ian came out on top. It was a close overall race with a lot of position changes. Ian again in first now with 5 bullets, Mike in second and Richard in third.

Race 6, Ian stepped out to let someone else get a bullet and also got some great video footage, after a long weekend of hard work there were some tired legs for the final race again a starboard start Jon Steward got off best but tacked off early and got caught in a header. Tom was first to the windward followed closely by Andy and Jon. After 2 laps Tom just stayed on top with Jon and Andy mere seconds behind. Overall it was a great race and an even better weekend.

As shown by the results it was very close for all positions after Ian. Congratulations to all. Mike Davis won the masters trophy for being over 55. The Ted Funnell Memorial Trophy was awarded to Colin Smedley for finishing mid-fleet and Richard Brown the sheep dog trophy for finishing all the races.

Thanks to all the competitors and Felpham SC for holding the event. It was a great turn out and the facilities were all amazing, locally known as the best little club on the south coast it is a must visit for great wind and big waves.

Report: Tom Twist
Photos & video: Ian Morgan