Europe, Finn & Solo Open Meeting Report

We had a fantastic turnout for our Europe, Finn and Solo Open Meeting last weekend (25/26 April), as we welcomed sailors from across the country for a weekend of competitive racing out in the Bay. 110 boats headed out for the Open Meeting, with three solid fleets enjoying great conditions.

Europe Report

The Europe class have been combining with the Solo Tyler trophy at HISC over the last three or four years with a good amount of momentum that has built with this event and it has been great that the Finns have joined in with this single-handed event, bringing a grand total of 110 boats. We can say that this is now a permanent yearly fixture.

The Europe class had 26 entries, six of those being female sailors and 20 male - this is very encouraging and the class is working hard to encourage this diversity. An all women's training event pre nationals is in the offing with some of our German friends making a long trek for that too.

The forecast for the event was looking great if a little light on the Saturday. The Race Officer Paul Hammett and his team were very communicative to all three classes in keeping us informed of what the plans were, which meant setting out in very light winds to sail over to the racing area in Bracklesham Bay made lots of sense. The weather gods from the East obviously listened to Paul and he was able to get three light wind races in, the last race being shortened but still a a quality race. The fleets arrived back fairly late to the Sailing Club and a number of the competitors from each class enjoyed some socializing on the balcony and some food in the dining room later on, most were off to bed earlier as the forecast for Sunday was a fairly breezy Easterly/Southeasterly. Overnight the standings were Mr Richard Eagleton The Legend of the glass the oldest member of the class in top spot that even included a capsize and overnight prize would have been given to Gabrielle Bayer who drove from Stuttgart in Germany to attend the event definitely our furthest traveller for the Europe's.

Launching on Sunday into a lee shore was challenging but visitors and locals helped out and the big shout out to Susan Lewis who helped multiple Solos and Europes get off the beach - ironically her own experiences are of sailing at Paper court and her first sea experience, so our hats go off to her and her amazing help in collecting countless trolleys from another class. To survive the easterly and the fairly big waves going downwind to reach the committee boat even in pre start were challenging.

Racing for the day was set for three races which looked very feasible if fairly breezy with a reasonably long fetch and some quite awkward waves made sailing up wind fairly challenging. Jason Belben dominated with three wins and got all of the things you need to get right right and Andy Felgate-Palmer had some good races but didn't quite have the same pace as he had the day before. Lots of racing with two two distinctive groups probably a group of 10 at the front with a bit of a gap and then the balance of the fleet having good racing with places changing .

I think everybody in the class were quite relieved that by the end of Race 2 the wind had eased reasonably and the final race was more civilized and the long beat back home again was much calmer than it would have been three hours previously. A great prize giving was conducted and appreciation to Paul, his race team, the safety team and of course the mark layers was given and we will say thanks once again for running some superb racing. Our visitors to Hayling Island thoroughly enjoyed themselves throughout and they look forward to returning and the Hayling Island Europe members look forward to meeting them all again soon!

Andre Ozanne

HISC Europe Class Captain

Solo Report

Over the weekend of 25th and 26th of April, the Solo class competed for the oldest still competed for HISC trophy – the ‘Tyler Trophy’. This year it was combined with the National Solo Class Association ‘Southern Area Championships’ sponsored by P&B and CB Coverstore.

With the attraction of great racing on the sea, 51 competitors from far and wide entered the fray, with 19 boats from the HISC fleet.

Saturday discussion in the dinghy park and the briefing by PRO Paul Hammett centred on whether there would be any racing on the day. The gods were smiling on us and we were released on time to the race area off Bracklesham Bay. By first start at 13:00 the wind settled at a gentle South easterly at around 9 knots, course all weekend was a triangle with leeward gate followed a sausage with short fetch to the finish.

Race 1 and the HISC sailors were well to the fore, with Alex Butler holding off the charge from visitor Oliver Davenport, followed by rising HISC Aero convert Paul Haswell.

Race 2 with wind softening to around 7 knots the contest remained close. National champion of many classes, Tom Gillard managed to join the dots and secured the win from another HISC sailor, Tom Goodey and the fast finishing Davenport.

Race 3 and wind had dropped further to around 5 knots. The triangle was challenging however nothing compared to the 2nd beat where wind dropped below 5 knots and the race was shortened at the windward mark. There were many sailors triumphant and larger numbers with head in hands! Another win for Gillard, from young visitor Harry Lucas with Davenport again third. Wind died after race finished and the fleet gratefully accepted a tow home.

On Sunday forecast was for more wind and it delivered. The race area was Hayling Bay West.

As race 4 commenced on time it was sunny and east south-easterly wind at around 18 knots with stronger gusts. With an ebb tide It paid to stay on a long starboard and tack onto port parallel to the Chichester bar. There were a few capsizes, however Davenport found conditions more to his liking winning from Gillard and visitor Chris Brown.

Race 5 conditions were similar and similar race strategies from the leaders. Davenport managed to hold off Gillard for another win with visitor Vince Horey third.

Race 6 and the overall win was between Davenport and Gillard. Wind had softened to 10 knots and the fleet were pushing it on the start line resulting in a black flag, with 4 boats OCS. With all to play for they remained close with Davenport narrowly having his third win of the day from Gillard with Goodey in third.

This left Davenport and Gillard equal on 8 points with Davenport taking the win and prestigious Tyler Trophy and Southern Area Championship on countback. Third, Fourth and Fifth were Haswell, Butler and Goodey. What a brilliant result highlighting the strength in depth of the HISC Solo fleet.

Overall a magnificent event with great conditions and competition all the way down the fleet. A big thank you to Paul Hammett and team for excellent race management in challenging conditions.

Greg Swift

HISC Solo Class Captain