Page 30 - Salcombe Masthead 2020

28 Fleet Reports
SOLO FLEET REPORT 2019
We’ve had another good year and it’s pleasing to be able to report that the slow drip of members sloping off to join the Phantom fleet has dried up. At the same time, we have been able to welcome new members Mike Hodges, Steve Long & Paul Playle. Three enquiries from prospective members in the last couple of weeks mean that fleet membership still hovers around the 60 mark.
the Capsize Belt by capsizing, on the start line, at the moment the starting signal was sounded.
David Greening & Robin Hodges were in fine form for the Spring Series, finishing 1st & 2nd in that order. Out of the 18 different starters, only Graham Cranford-Smith managed to deny them line honours on one occasion.
As the weather improved, the Sailing Club series brought out 26 starters, with Robin Hodges still on top to take the series, but there was now competition from Simon Dobson, ski season over, who classified 2nd and tied on points. This series produced a different winner for each race, with Robin Hodges, Simon Dobson, David Greening, Billy Jago & Malcolm Mackley all claiming bullets.
As usual, on the second May Bank Holiday we held our Spring Open Meeting – 26 Solos entered with some familiar, but different names emerging at the top as Tim Law & Mike Hicks scored a 1 – 2, closely followed by David Greening who was the only other race winner. Meanwhile, Ed Stephens, being unable to take part in all three days, consoled himself by taking an easy win in the medium handicap class in the Saturday Club race.
As has been the custom now for decades, the Spring Open Meeting was generously sponsored by Barney Greenhill. Barney not only sponsored the prizes, but each competitor received in their welcome pack, a generous food & drink voucher redeemable at the Club bar over the week-end. Barney’s association with Solos goes back to the early 1960’s, a framed photograph of a young Barney, sitting on Small’s Cove looking out at two Solos, hangs on the ‘tween-decks. Another framed copy of this photo, known as the
Travellers in 2019 – The Solo class is not short of open meetings for the determined traveller. With most of the fleet now berthed on the tank at Batson instead of Smalls, preparing to travel to an event is now considerably easier. Roger Guess has made it even easier for himself by buying
a second boat, so that he has one at each end of the M5. Graham Cranford-Smith, Roger Lumby, Tim Law, Nick Jackson, Malcolm Mackley, Simon Dobson, David Greening and many others have flown
the Salcombe burgee at Open and Championship meetings.
Undoubtedly, the jewel in the crown this year was ‘Salcombe on tour’ at the Nations Cup. Hosted by Yacht Club de Carnac, 9 Salcombe Solos joined the 80 strong fleet, representing six nations. With unbroken sunshine for the week, conditions were perfect for all of the Salcombe WAGs who joined the tour and as usual, the dining
out and après sailing was memorable,
but not so good for the waistline. Iain McGregor was sadly unable to make the trip, following surgery to his right shoulder, but he was there in more than spirit when it
was discovered, to his amusement and the horror of others that the commemorative mug presented to entrants in their welcome pack was adorned with a photo of Iain in his Solo. Salcombe posted some good results in this very competitive fleet, topped by Tim Law who took an individual race win and finished third overall.
On the Club racing scene, since last year’s report, the 2018 Winter Series only managed 3 races, due to bad weather, but attracted 16 different starters in all. The series was won by David Greening, followed by Simon Dobson & Ed. Stephens.
2018 rounded off with the 3-race Festive series – Solos dominated, with 15 of the 32 entrants and 1st & 2nd places claimed by Billy Jago & David Greening, on equal points.
The 2019 season opener, the Commissioning Race brought a variety of 18 entries out of hibernation, including 7 Solos, with Robin Hodges’ Solo emerging as overall winner. Geoff Allen made the earliest recorded bid in history to join the Hall of Fame that comprises winners of
WITH UNBROKEN SUNSHINE FOR THE WEEK, CONDITIONS WERE PERFECT...