Marconi Sailing Club
Membership open to all
Dinghies
Solo Open Event 2004
The sun shone, the wind blew - what better recipe for a successful Solo Open meeting at Marconi S.C. on the River Blackwater in Essex on 16th May.
22 boats including 13 visitors enjoyed the sunshine and estuary sailing at its finest in the fourth meeting of the Solo Eastern Travellers series sponsored by Rooster Sailing.
The preceding day had been taken up with a training session from Solo Class stalwart and boat builder Tony Thresher resulting in some aching limbs come the Sunday reveille!
In a light Easterly the first race started on the flood tide and getting a good start and minimizing the effects of the tide was paramount. Jerry Garner led at the first mark and Godfrey Clark got away to a good start only to misjudge the tide at the windward mark and let three other boats through in the process. Jerry Garner led at the leeward mark and consequently led through to the finish, followed by Steve Ede and Godfrey Clark.
The tide had just turned by the start of the second race calling for different tactics to be deployed. Nevertheless Jerry Garner got a useful lead again with Godfrey Clark again in the chase. Godfrey very nearly triumphed by better judging the angle of the finish line but Garner got the verdict of the "photo-finish" to give him an unassailable winner's position in the event. Steve Ede came third.
Race 3 started with the wind strengthened by the sea breeze now a force 3. This time Steve Ede led all the way round pursued by Garner and Clark with regular visitor David Walford claiming the 4th spot and local boat Michael Taylor coming in 5th. Jerry Garner has changed his home club to Papercourt which has clearly honed his tidal sailing ability to win at Marconi after several years of visiting.
Race Officer John Weedon set some interesting courses and at the prizegiving Commodore Chris Davies welcomed the visitors and thanked them for their support as well as thanking all the Marconi Club people who had made the day a success.
Jerry Garner also thanked the club for putting on a good meeting, especially the Race Officer, rescue crews, the help with the launching trolleys and the galley. Thanks are specially due to Frank Burgess and son Mark for use of Ocean Slipper as the Committee boat once again.
Marconi Sailing Club also claimed the 8th spot John Salmon and 11th Ron Greygoose, 12th John Burgoyne, 13th David Ball in a borrowed boat, 14th Martin Hall, 15th Rear Commodore, Claire Davies, also in a borrowed boat, 16th John Strange and Fleet Captain John Nisbet in a strange lapse of current form at 18th.
Results
| Position | Name | Club | Sail No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jerry Garner | Papercourt S. C. | 4189 |
| 2nd | Steve Ede | Ardleigh S. C. | 4528 |
| 3rd | Godfrey Clark | Fishers Green S. C. | 4120 |
| 4th | Michael Taylor | Marconi S. C. | 4247 |
| 5th | David Walford | Fishers Green S. C. | 4277 |
| 6th | Roger Smith | Marconi S. C. | 4356 |
Click HERE for full Results Table
Report by Roger Smith
Email: info@marconi-sc.org.uk
Page last updated: 9/28/2004 10:16:34 PM