Well here we go a solo report ~ the wind was up and with race team PRO Nellie setting a course several hours before the off we all headed down to channel. I was late to the start as I miss judged the tide and at the 1st mark Jerome was 1st around and then at runway it was follow the leader to Dunes, luckily several solos tacked off and I stood on to get the lee-bow to round dunes 2nd. Now for the fun of a run to channel against the tide & dropping wind several helms such as Robin reached up and seemed to be getting ahead but those who stayed low came out in front at channel. we all headed to the inflatable avoiding Elites and I rounded 1st with Jerome right on my transom. We noticed Nick R and Ian S went low and I suggest to Jerome he should follow as they were clearly getting in front. we were all following Nick and then when about 150m from the mark I noticed a "P" on it ~ sh_t we were going to the wrong mark, I told Jerome out of kindness and headed to runway we shouted to Ian & Nick but they were in their bubble. As we got to Runway Robin who was further back noticed our errors & went around in front with Jerome tangling with an Aero who has not put a knot in his mainsheet thus loosing it through the blocks. We were then on another long run and Robin kept low and although I felt I had water on him at channel I did not wish to have a damaged solo. so we then followed each other over the line Robin, Chris, Jerome, Ian, Nick & David Ted had retired Chris

With a perfect forecast and high tide conditions Sunday looked like a day not to be missed. With a course set up for a triangle/sausage (x2) the fleet got away on a strongly biased pin end line first time. With the smart money being on a rapid flick onto port as soon as possible, the start was surprisingly gentle, with Nick Peters, Nick Rawlings, Simon Childs and Craig Williamson all pushing the line, an individual recall was ignored and the fleet headed right. With enough breeze for hiking for all, “Lardy” Childs got round first followed by Williamson, Rawlings and Peters. The reaches saw Williamson and Peters pull through and a fairly one sided beat meant not much changed upwind. The first run saw Williamson gybe off and Peters sneak through – Childs, Rawlings and Greg Swift all compressing for the minor placings. With the breeze starting to drop an ever more one sided beat saw Peters extend at the front, and Rawlings sneak through at the windward mark to third. In the lighter breeze the fleet started to spread out a little, and the only action was avoiding getting mixed up in the other fleets while Swift put in a late challenge but just failed to catch Childs at the finish. All that remained was for Peters to take the winning hoot, but he crossed the line in silence, having been deemed OCS, leaving Craig Williamson to take the daily honours, followed by Rawlings, Childs, Swift. A beautiful day concluded with beer on the balcony in the sun – what could be better in early October !!

The forecast was for Easterly 10 = Knts and this duly arrived enabling Greg lamb to set up the start over the Pilsey Sands with East Head the first mark. To my untutored eye there seemed to be a pin end bias with the tide going down the line so I started that end finding not the expected scrum but a clear run off the line. A minute on starboard and I was able to tack into the flood tide and cross the fleet Why cannot all starts be like that. It was easy to over stand east Head in the strong tide but I was still able to tack round ahead of Nick Rawlings and set off on a reach to Astra. Now yesterday I had lost my glasses in a race in what seemed like hurricane conditions. Being in the lead and having to spot the next mark was a consequential problem I had not anticipated at the time. but here I was in first place and no smudges of yellow to be seen Then two smudges appeared but which one was Astra. Nick seemed to be going lower so I bore away only for Nick to then harden up. Zig zagging in this fashion I got to Astra just ahead of Nick with Ian Pinnel not far behind. They both promptly sailed over the top of me at least relieving me of the problem of finding Calvert This was a long reach made more interesting by a line of X boats sailing across our course spinnakers up. By the time I had threaded myself through them Ian and Nick were well ahead and a chasing pack of Solos well behind . By now I was firmly in the race report slot which was probably why the rest of the fleet were hanging back. A gybe round Calvert another reach to SW Pilsey and despite one or two holes in the wind I was sailing round the course by myself with Ian and Nick miles ahead. However on the beat to john davy the wind which had been up and down began to increase and Greg Swift no slouch in a breeze up wind was getting closer. I compounded the problem by stuffing the boat head to wind in the slop in tacking for John Davy so by the time I was going down the run Greg Swift and Tim Polgase were rather too close for comfort. At SW Pilsey a 200 unobliging got inside me at the mark so on the short beat to the line Tim and Greg looked as though they might get through. However both of them thought better of it, clearly having no interest in writing a race report so I was able to comfortably cross them on port to finish third. Ian won followed by Nick.Tim and Greg finished behind me in that order. Many thanks to Greg Lamb and his team.

We know from the forecast (25 knot west/south westerly) that it was to be a challenging sail. Throw into the mix a strong 4.6 metre tide, with low water at 17:00 and it was going to be lumpy! 7 Solos made it to the start near North Pilsey. A clean get away with beat to N Pilsey and it was easy to overstand, with the tide taking hold. Nick Rawlings led from Tim Polglase and Greg Swift just behind. A frenetic reach to Channel with some big ’holes’ to dive into with the lumpy sea. Nick and Tim gybed around without incident, Greg and Chris Powles in close company wore round. After them there appeared to be carnage with capsizes and even a rudder becoming detached. Chris P retired at this stage and then a long tight reach to Calvert where Greg caught up ground to Nick and Tim. Run against the tide to Sandy and then a long long long square run to Elanor. Nick pulled away from Tim on the first part of the run and Greg encountered one of the ’walls of death’ and capsized north of Gardner. Tim caught Nick in the second half of the leg and got so close in fact that they touched rounding Elanor and Tim had to take turns, filling up on the second turn. Nick saliled serenely on to Dunes, John Davis and then the beat to the club line East finish. Tim was not far behind. Greg had another capsize in the highly confused seas near East Head and trailled in well behind the Nick and Tim. The other Solos all retired - well so did all but two of the rest of the competitors. One of those races which had ’squeaky bum’ moments and exhilarating time to remember.

Beautiful autumn morning , sunny with a light westerly / north westerly gradient. Quite clearly a sea breeze would develop later ; probably in time for the sail home . Greg Wells was the race officer , low tide at midday so he set a course in the harbour entrance near the wreck. Good area for club racing if it is not too rough and you are not trying to get Lady G to anchor. However , I digress. So the first beat dilemma was clear , stay right to keep out of the strongest tide or stay left to pick up the incoming sea breeze. My plan was to take the port bias and get onto port immediately. However that seemed to be a popular choice and the best option turned out to be start in the middle with freedom to tack and get onto port. That is what Craig did and when the wind went right him and those with him were off. Craig led Bill Shepherd at the top mark and was never headed. On the second beat going right was the only way forward. Simon Hill was second with me pulling past Bill into third. That was the order down the run. Up the next beat I got past Simon into second and took up a loose covering position to the left with Craig doing the same to me. Then magic happened. The sea breeze arrived , from the left , and at the windward mark Craig and I had pulled out a minute on the others and second now looked pretty safe. Bill was in third at the gybe mark , but keen to avoid the report writing elected to hit it fair and square. Ian Swann doing his first Solo race in 4444 was at hand to spot him doing it and squeezed past during the turn. Ian then demonstrated some good old fashioned Contender downwind technique to consolidate and took third at the finish behind me in second and Craig in first. And the sail home was pretty good as well.

A forecast 8 mph north easterly encouraged 13 Solos to sign on. In the strong incoming tide, race officer Nick Peters set a course on Pilsey sands to try to keep the fleet as far away from the stream as possible. Despite the tide trying to push everyone over the line the fleet made a clean start. Most of the fleet headed left up the first beat, but at the the first mark (Pivot) Pete Best, who had gone right, rounded with Nick Rawlings and Ian Barnett, who had gone left. The first reach, to an inflatable near N Pilsey, was fairly processional, but the second reach, against the tide to an inflatable near Freddie Brooks, proved slow but tactically challenging. Most of the fleet went high, but Ian and Tim Polglase, previously a back marker, went low and both gained, Tim pulling up to third when Anthony Penfold was swept into the leeward mark by the tide. On the second beat Nick R and Ian duelled for first place and Tim P and Tim Dickinson for third, with most of the fleet playing the left hand side. At the end of the run Nick P decided the fleet had not had enough of sailing around in what was probably about 4 knots and sent everyone around for the last time. The fleet had now pretty much decided that left was the way to go up the beat and Nick and Ian continued to argue about first place, and the two Tims likewise about third. The last beat was relatively uneventful, but as the fleet started down the first reach of the last triangle the wind continued to drop. The first reach was painful and the second reach promised more of the same; at least it was now pretty much high water so the chances of involuntarily visiting Emsworth for lunch had reduced. Nick P wisely moved his committee boat to the leeward mark for the finish, but with the wind now having died away almost completely things were not looking good. Tim P seemed to drift marginally faster in the right(ish) direction then Tim D and started to close up on Ian and Nick R, with what wind there was moving consistently around to the south and the reach consequently turning into a beat. A small pressure increase allowed Ian to cross the finish to take the win and for a moment it looked like Tim P might pip Nick R for second, but it was not to be, Nick deservedly finishing just ahead after a last lap which took about 50 minutes. Tim D finished fourth, followed by Anthony, then Bill Shepherd and Bill Ingram.

Very unusually, the Dash was all to windward this year. Eight boats made the trip after, sadly, leaving one behind on the beach with a bleeding head before he had gone afloat. (No, not bashed by a competitor). The conditions promised to be challenging with a complex beat all the way through the Itchenor straight with the lines of moored cruisers apparently travelling at 2 to 3 knots in the opposite direction. Camber was reporting gusts in the high teens. Brenda sensibly opted for a B sail and others wondered if they should have done the same. The start was the usual one staggered at 1 minute intervals. The first batch were a bit tardy getting away and lost most of their advantage. Barry B and Anthony P were next away, followed by Peter H and David Moseley a minute later and Tim R a further minute behind. The fleet laid the entrance to the Bosham channel in one tack, hard on the wind all the way, then the tacking began. Barry had the lead at this point. Getting through Itchenor was a matter of not making a mistake and having to do extra tacks or bear off for a moored boat. Finally you had to judge when to clip the final corner and start the fetch up to Dell Quay. At this point Barry still held the lead, with David close behind while the others had had one or two small slip ups. Dell Quay was reached at last with Barry holding off David by 10 seconds on the line. Anthony held onto third with Peter and Tim a few seconds behind and one second apart. After a good lunch the downwind sail home was a flyer in the rising wind taking about 40 minutes. Thanks go to Peter W and Jane B for the starting and manning the rib. Oh, guess who did the handicaps!

Seemed more like winter than 12 July on arrival at club with a car park full of Finns and Blazes. Wind was from WSW at 20 knots with some stronger gusts and a building ebb tide. 5 Solos arrived at the startline near Dunes, David Moseley, Nick Rawlings, Tim Polglase, Robin Gadd and Greg Swift. David did not start in the end and the other 4 set off on a bumpy beat to SW Pilsey. Tim lead, followed by Greg and Nick with Robin close behind. There were some large gusts on the reach to channel, with Greg, Nick and Robin getting through Tim. All survived a tricky gybe and set off on another exhiliarating reach to Freddie Brooks, Greg still just leading from Nick, Robin having dropped back after nearly being blown over in a savage gust. Positions remained the same on wind against tide broad reach to East Head another gybe and reach to Thorney. A quick reach to Ellanor, avoiding the Itchenor Swallow fleet and then set off on the bumpy beat to the gate. Greg covered Nick closely to the gate and led at Dunes by a couple of boat lengths, with Tim making up some ground in third, Robin dropping back a little after a few more ’adventures’. On the run to Thorney, Greg and Nick ran side by side, Greg then headed off towards Pilsey side of channel in less tide. It was here the Itchenor swallow fleet caused a telling change. They were running between Nick and Greg and Greg lost sight of Thorney for a miunute or two and eventually sailing well past the mark letting both Nick and Tim past. Nick sailed on to a comfortable win. Tim held off Greg by half a boat length at the finish and Robin finished fourth. In summary - a cracking sail!

The day started gloomy and chilly with a light SSW wind and there was much muttering in the dingy park when the race area was to be Hayling Bay East, However the wind picked up and swung just enough right to enable everyone to get out to the start on time. The fleet got away first tome in a 8 knt Sw breeze. Pete Mitchel started well right at the committee boat end but it was Robin Gadd who keeping left up the first leg came out on top at the first mark. Pete remorselessly chased him down so at the finish it was Pete followed by Robin followed by Nick Rawlings. Meanwhile further down the fleet overnight leader Chris Atkinson was well placed until the pressure ( the wind of course ) got too much as he tacked for the windward mark and he unfortunately fell in. For the last race the wind had built to a steady 15 Knts + giving some great downwind sailing. Nick Rawlings got off to a great start powering up the left side of the course but it was Pete who lead at the windward mark followed by Nick and Nick. There was a good fight for fourth place Greg swift getting through on the second beat. The increased wind put paid to Chris’s hopes of winning as the fleet opened out and soNick won the Golden Jubilee trophy on handicap. Congratulations also to Pete Mitchell for winning the pennant with 3 bullets commiserations to Chris, many thanks to Paul and Caroline and the race team for laying on some excellent sailing and a pat on the back to the fleet for good line discipline on Sunday.

16 Solos lined up for the first race of the July Pennant with an Olympic triangle set over Pilsey Sands. After one general recall the fleet got off to a clean start. Most of the fleet went right to get into the ebb tide but a massive shift put paid to them and the group of four who had gone left Including me I am glad to say found themselves reaching into the windward mark on port with the rest of the fleet barely visible under the boom. Jerome led at the mark followed by Nick Fuller Greg Swift and David Moseley. Greg wiped out on the second downwind leg leaving the three to sail round by themselves. The race was shortened after 2 laps much to my relief as I could see Pete Mitchell looming larger in the rear view mirror. Jerome won with Nick close behind The second race was a more orderly affair Pete Mitchell taking his normal position at the head of the fleet and winning from Nick Rawlings. For the QE Golden Jubilee trophy Chris Atkinson was the overnight leader with a 2 and a 4 but would the pressure prove too much.

David Moseley was the race officer again on Sunday; the course was a ‘L’ shaped one in a light southerly in June with the tide ebbing. What could possibly go wrong? Well , before the start the Elites started to setup a course immediately upwind , fortunately I was able to move them on before blood was spilt. Then the wind veered south west so we could lay Sandy in one tack – and then came it back again. Clearly there was nothing for David to do but put on the dark glasses and fire off the signals before anything else happened , so that is what he did. The start was fairly even considering everyone wanted to tack into the tide and the incoming next westerly shift , and indeed the right paid off. David Steel led at the windward mark and off to Gardner closely followed by Greg Swift , Chis Powles , a bare armed Jerome and me. Then it was a reach to SWP and a run down to Channel. Chris and the pack headed right out of the tide , however David S ignored all temptation and stayed high , pulling out a substantial lead. At Channel Chris was up to second and Jerome had dropped back leaving a gang of three chasing David S. With the wind going further right it was a heavily biased beat back to the gate and on to Sandy. Chris got round second but the tide was starting to sluice a bit now and he was brought back by Greg / Nick immediately astern. By Gardner these 3 had pulled a big gap on fifth with David a safe distance ahead. However we now had a westerly making the leg to SWP a proper beat , and by the mark Robin Gadd had caught right up. Off to Channel in what was now a fetch as the wind hit north westerly , and it started to rain. I thought of Jerome’s bare arms and chuckled quietly. The wind piped up and Nick got through Greg and both Greg and Nick nearly got past Chris before the wind and the rain faded. A quick broad reach with the tide down to the finish with David S winning from Chris , Nick and then Greg holding off Robin.

Having been placed 3rd again I have been encouraged (won’t say by whom) to give this report an antipodean flavour.... With the sun shining and WNW wind gusting 20+ knots it could have been Sydney Harbour! The fleet of 5 Solos gathered at committee boat near Dunes. An even start with ’work’ (translates to ’beat’ in northern hemisphere) against the ’set’ (translates to tidal ’flow’) to laid mark near SW Pilsey. Nick Rawlings was opening a lead followed by Robin, Chris Powles, Dave Moody and Greg. A tight fetch with lots of ’vang’ (translates to ’kicker’). At the gybe Nick was leading with Robin and Chris close together. Greg powered over Dave to claim a place. On the reach to N Pilsey there were some strong gusts and Solos bore down like a Bondi Tram. A run with the set to leward mark and back through the gate. Nick extending his lead with Chris second and Robin third. Positions remained same for next lap, however we lost David due to his rudder blade sheering off on gybe (a hint of wobbygong here?). On final lap Nick well in front, Chris a clear second. As Robin and Greg approached northern tip of winner bank Robin put in a covering tack.....however nearly capsized and Greg got through. No changes for rest of race however a hint of ’dry as a dingo’s armpit’ as we all hiked hard on the final reach. Final Result: First Nick R, second Chris P, 3rd Greg and 4th Robin.

15 Solos greeted the starter in a light 8 knot Northerly wind, with high water at 10:33 BST. Course was triangle, sausage, triangle with a start near Dunes. A fairly even start and the fleet split left and right. Tricky to keep boat moving in the short chop. Nick Rawlings led by some margin at the first mark with Robin Gadd, Bill Shepherd, Dave Moody, Phil Robin, Barry Blaydes and David Moseley closely bunched. Not much place changing on the two reaches although Robin and Bill were battling to keep clear air. On the next beat there were variations in pressure. Nick extended his lead with Robin in a pretty safe 2nd. Behind, Bill S, Phil, Dave Moody, Barry and Dave Moseley held the next places with Greg Swift making up some ground. The fleet closed up on the run. On the final beat there were some shifts and differences in pressure. Greg got a couple of these right and moved up to third at the final windward mark, followed by Phil, Bill S and Barry. The two reaches were uneventful with no place changes. From the final mark it was a short port tack leg to the finish. Everyone managed to get back to shore in a dying breeze and building tide! A win for Nick Rawlings, Robin 2nd, Greg 3rd, Phil 4th and Bill S 5th.

On Saturday the fleet was met with a strong 20kt breeze from the west/south west, and the fleet was kept in the harbour. The race officer bizarrely decided to start before 1400hrs and with a course round the harbour marks it turned it to a bit of a procession with a few late starters. Buoys were laid for the second race and a triangular course – 4 boats completed both races, Nick Peters took two bullets, Nick Fuller was 2nd overall, and Nick Rawlings 3rd. Sunday greeted us with a force 2-3 from the south once the sea breeze set in and racing was held in Hayling bay east. David Steel was showing great bursts of speed and spotted there was more breeze on the left side of the course in race 3. He was hard pressed by Craig Williams and Nick F following closely in third and by the finish it was neck and neck but they finished in that order. Craig took an early lead in fourth race, but on the second beat David pulled through as again he took advantage of more wind on the left side. Nick F was again third, and on the final beat he and Craig split tacks with Craig taking the left side. David decided to cover the right and Nick F which allowed Craig to pull through in to first. This left the final results very close with Nick Peters and Craig tied on points, but Nick’s two 1st vs Craig’s one gave Nick the victory. Nick Fuller was third overall with David Steel fourth and Nick Rawlings fifth.

Wind: SW F5 Gusty. Tide: Low. Course: Start near Astra, Dunes, Black Inflatable near Gardener, East Head, Astra, Gate. Start: Six Solo’s. The start was running about ten minutes late, all our Solos were avoiding the racings X boats and Swallows in gusty winds and large waves wanting to jump into the boat if you let it, all of us were sailing across the harbour behind the line waiting for starting signal. Clean start for all Stephen Chiverton 5380, Nick Rawlings 5569, Chris Powles 5412 and Nick Peters 5493, they started around the middle of the line and are bunched up together keeping the boats flat off to the first mark, its a beat all the way with one or two tacks need, Nick Webb 4441 and Phillip Milehan 3635 started near the committee boat are not as flat as the others and are sailing down the right side of the channel. On the way to the fist mark I notice Phillip M who is behind me in sixth capsizing it looks like his center plate may have hit the bottom (it very shallow on the right side) and it sent him over. Mean while Stephen C, Nick R, Chris Powles and Nick Peters all round the first mark (Dunes) very close all together onto a broad reach . At this point I thought, the leading pack would have it all their own way for the rest of the race, but as usual with sailing its not that straight forward. The next mark was the Black inflatable near Gardener, again the leading pack went around very close not sure in which order but the four boats went down to three, Chris Powles pulled out due to a tricky jibe. The next leg to East Head Stephen C, Nick R & Nick P the leader pack now down to three followed by me (Nick Webb) running up rear which was fourth place , this leg was almost a run everyone was leaning back to keep the bow up, desperately avoiding any unwanted water ploughing, everyone was getting up to some high speeds. The next mark was East head the leader pack jibed around onto lumpy seas to a full run, shortly followed by me. Everyone held it together missing the X boats and Swallows to a tack around Astra, then on to the Gate. Round two here we go again, four boats left, Stephen Chiverton, Nick Rawlings, Nick Peters and Nick Webb, you would think that would be the final result it wasn’t one more casualty to come, it stayed the same past dunes and then as the three leading pack jibed around the black inflatable near Gardner Nick Peters got taken out from that tricky jibe. Final result (The survivors) Stephen Chiverton 5380 Nick Rawlings 5569 Nick Webb 4441

On arrival at the club the wind was light westerly and the fleet of 15 Solos set off to the race area on Pilsey sands with start near Pivot. After a short delay to allow the wind to settle. The race office had anticipated this would be SW however for duration of race it was more SSW. Course was Trinagle, sausage, triangle, saudage, triangle around laid inflatable marks. The start was port end biased and only one boat would get the pin end port tack start - that was Nick Peters, a couple of others tried and had to bail out. With the course set it was possible to lay the windward mark after a short starboard leg. Nick Peters did a ’horizon’ job on the fleet. Greg Swift and Nick Rawlings stayed a couple of boat lengths apart for three laps with Nick just getting inside at windward mark. There was little place changing therefter. Nick Peters won from Nick Rawlings and Greg Swift. Next was Tim Randall followed by Robin Gadd and Rob Hack. A very pleasant sail and the weather and water is getting warmer!

In contrast to saturday a relaxing force 3 south westerley tempted 16 solos out to Hayling bay East for two back to back races. Race one . The fleet split left and right up the first beat and the right side seemed favoured. Nick Fuller led and built up a comfottable lead while in the chasing pack behind Greg Swift worked his way up to P2. That made 3 bullets for Nick and three P2 for Greg so the only third overall was undecided on the last race. Race 2 Nick again rounded the first mark in front. Robin Gadd and David Moseley hrounded next neck and neck. Robin got ahead on the reach but DM stayed close to his transom round the course. On the last short leg to the finish Robin went left to socialise with a bunch of 200 s David kept right tacked for the pin end and just failed to pip Robin on the line. So Robin got P3 overall by 1 point from David. The rest of the fleet had an exciting time sharing the last short leg to the finish with a bunch of asymetrics.

Arriving at HISC and the masts were whistling and halyards clanging, the sign-on sheets looking pretty blank. Eventually 4 Solo sailors signed on: Nick Fuller, Greg Swift, Sandy Briggs and Jason Bentley and made their way out to race area. The race committee led by our own Nick Rawlings headed out to Hayling Bay East. First challenge was Lady G was jumping up and down in the waves and her anchor dragged, eventually exchanging roles with Juno. The course was a triangle and sausage. The wind was gusting over 25 knots and irregular waves of over 1 metre - fearful to frightening conditions. With the delay Sandy decided to head back leaving Nick, Greg and Jason. It was an even start with Nick opening up a 50 metre lead over Greg at the windward mark,. The three headed off on the first reach with Jason capsizing. At the gybe mark Nick capsized, recovered quickly, Greg wore round and was just behind. The two stayed aabout 20 seconds apart, surviving the final run - a win for Nick, Greg being the only other finisher. Race 2 and race officer set just a triangle. Even windier this time. Nick rounded windward mark about three boat lengths in front, down the wild reach again and guess what... Nick capsized on the gybe again. Greg was a boat length behind and that is how it ended. The reach back into the harbour maintained the exhiliarating day. A big thank you to the race committe who organised good racing in incredibly difficult conditions.

The weather forecast must have put off a number of competitors. In the rain and mist and with force 6 gusts before launching it was easy to see why. In the end there were only two who came to the start line, Ian Mitchell and Greg Swift. The course was three triangles with a start near John’s Folly, beat to inflatable near Dunes, run to East Head and Inflatable near John’s Folly and through gate. It was an even start and Greg went towards East Head with Ian staying on Pilsey side of channel. Ian got it right and had approximately 30 second lead at first mark and that was about the margin at the end of the race. The wind moderated and it was a cracking sail with some nervouse moments running square near East Head spit with wind against tide on the last lap.

Ten Competitors started the race with Barry Blades as the race officer. A short first beat at low water made for some close racing behind the leader,Chris Powles. His lead remained unchallenged but the race for 2nd,3rd and 4th position between David Moseley, Robin Gadd and Simon Hill changed at regular intervals. The course set for a fast reach to East Head where the Solos met up with the Sunbeams and Swallows racing from Itchenor and using the same turning mark. On the 3rd and final lap, Chris Powles was well ahead and took a convincing win. David Moseley defended 2nd place and Simon Hill covered Robin Gadd to a close 3rd.

The Race officer lost the fleet. Shortly after the start while the boats navigated a low water course in the southerly breeze, the fog came down. The wind had already shifted, wrecking the planned course, so the first beat was from near Runway to near Dunes. Next was a reach to N Pilsey, a beat to Freddie Brooks and then a reach round the banks back to the CB. The race officer could see no marks and no boats. Had they all given up as they past HISC? Eventually Chris Powles appeared seemingly knowing where he was going. Now what, shorten for safety reasons or send them on another lap? Chris looked cheerful enough and James Gaskell was not far behind. Ok another lap. Later the fog lifted a little so that the fleet could be seen make progress round the course. Back came Chris and James to finish, with Andrew Voysey next solo. No drama really.

Nine competitors were greeted to a cold, breezy start and a strong tidal flow. Sandy Briggs took an early lead closely followed by Robin Gadd, Simon Hill and Nick Rawlings. The lead then changed between Robin and Nick with Simon close behind while Sandy suffered a setback by hitting the leeward mark. On the 2nd lap, it was Ted Gadd who realised that the fleet were proceeding to the wrong mark. Robin took note and the fleet changed course accordingly. Robin went into the lead with Nick and Simon respectively. On the final lap Nick sailed well to regain his lead. Robin finished 2nd and Simon, 3rd.

Correction to report below. Robin Gadd finished 1st Nick Rawlings 2nd and Simon Hill, 3rd.

The forecast for Saturday was definitely for lots of breeze and the 6 intrepid Solo sailors who made it to the start line were not disappointed. The wind was from NNE with gusts of 25 knots plus. The first race set the pattern with Nick Fuller and Nick Rawlings dicing for the lead with Greg Swift not far behind with Sarah Mitchell and Nick Webb in close attendance. David Moseley retired after this race as he was still sorting out the ’knitting’ of lines on his new Speed 5.5. Nick Fuller gained the victory. Race 2 and Nick Rawlings capsized on the start line causing others to avoid him. Nick Fuller 1st, Greg 2nd and Sarah 3rd. Race 3 was Nick F, Nick R and Greg. Race 4 and 5 was a real tussle up front with Nick R 1st, Nick F 2nd and Greg 3rd. Race 6, with gusts over 25 knots, the Nick’s and Greg were close together until the top mark the last time where Greg tried to bear away - and didn’t resulting in a capsize and a dnf. Nick F 1st, Nick R 2nd and to complete the finishers, Nick Webb 3rd. Overall results Nick F 1st, Nick R 2nd and Greg 3rd. A great day of racing and a big thank you to Chris Powles, Trevor Cartright and Cliff Wiles for excellent race management.

We were welcomed to a bright, warm sunny day with 15 to 20 knots blowing from the south. Despite this only 10 Solos launched to sail. However, of these, only 4 finished, so what happened to the rest? Well, before the start Phil Robin was doing a bit of gybing practice and his boom slipped off the goose neck and bent it. Shortly after the start, Ted Gadd decided the blustery conditions under the lee of the club house were not for him. After a lap or so Peter Best found himself detached from the fleet and thought the shore looked attractive. Meanwhile David Mosely was all over the place, getting into an awful mess on each tack. On coming ashore, he showed the terrible tangle of control lines on his new Speed. After sailing for well over an hour, Barry Blaydes and Simon Hill, who had been battling together for 3 laps, were dismayed to find there was another lap to go and thought better of it. So yes, 4 boats did finished. Nick Peters had lead throughout, chased by Nick Rawlings who was always in touch. Third came Robin Gadd, who had settled down after the first lap and past Greg Swift who had had a short cooling off period.

As the covers came off in the boat park, there seemed to be little prospect of racing today. A one hour postponement was hoisted as the sailors studied the calm. The forecast held some promise of a southerly later on. How could this be, was it supposed to be a sea breeze, the sky was overcast. At 11.45 the postponement fell and there was a rush to but on kit. Out on the water it did seem a southerly was coming. After a bit of a delay while it settled and marks were brought out, the racing started. A good compact course set by Tom Morris provided two good races for the 9 Solos that had awaited the wind, with 9 laps being sailed altogether. Greg Lamb and Nick Rawlings continued their competition from yester for overall honours, but today Stuart Godwin got into the mix. With Greg winning the first race his position looked good. The last race was rather easy for him as Nick had to return from a premature start, but still finished second, and Stuart put in a quick capsize on a Tack (how does he get under the boom anyway). So Greg won the first Pennant, with Nick second and Robin Gadd third.

Saturday was another grey day in a high pressure system. The wind again from the north east, blowing at a good 15 knots. A triangle - sausage course was set with the start in the Dunes channel a couple of hours after the sprig high tide. 9 Solos went out to play. Paul Childs lead round the first lap, followed by Jerome Bakker. As the fleet came down to the leeward mark, Paul lost most of his lead as there appeared to be confusion as to which was the correct mark. As the beat back to the committee boat began, the over-riding factor of the afternoon became apparent. Namely the strength of the current flowing out of the harbour. After quite a lot of place changing the fleet rounded the windward mark again for the run. Paul was clear in front again, but that beat to the CB became the challenge. Paul just kept his lead to the line, while Robin Gadd worked the East Head beach to finish second with Nick Rawlings third. The second race was much the same with Paul in the lead on the first lap. This time, not only was there the strong current, there was very little depth of water. Paul was seen standing out of his boat near the outer distant mark while the fleet crawled past. It was Greg Lamb who mastered the challenges to win the race, with Nick second and Jerome third.

7 out of the 15 competitor were Solos. Ross Harvey took an early lead as the fleet made their way to Bridge buoy at the Langstone bridge. On the beat back the fog came down making navigation a bit tricky. Nick Rawlings and Greg Lamb were locked in a tight duel all the way back. Eventually Grey saw what would looked like the finishing line. "Is this our finish" shouts Greg. "No" replies Nick. Wrong!! This let Robin Gadd finish second Solo and Sandy Briggs third. Oh by the way, Ross was second overall in this handicap race. So who beat him? His Dad, in his Comet

No racing today. Even more wind than yesterday!

No racing today - too much wind

Hazy Spring sunshine and a nice south-easterly F3/4 greeted the fleet of 13 Solos for an Olympic course using black inflatables and Dunes as the wing �albeit with a rather one-sided beat. �There was some congestion at the favoured pin end �from which Nick Peters emerged with most dignity �having bailed early �gybed round and come out of the line on port. But it was Nick Rawlings who got away best �initially standing out into the flooding tide �then tacking onto a long and lifting starboard tack to lead well at the first mark �followed by Nick P and Anthony Penfold. Nick "I don't need to write down the course because I can remember it" �R �unaccountably �then headed for Treloar rather than Dunes �allowing his two delighted pursuers to slip through. �From there �Nick P was never headed and went on to a good win. �But there was a good scrap behind for the places between Anthony P �Nick R and a hard charging Chris Powell. �Approaching the finish �Nick R just failed to cross Chris on port and did turns �handing Chris second place �with Anthony fourth �Simon Hill fifth and Robert Hack beating Barry Blaydes �by a short nose to sixth. �A lovely sail!

At last a day with a gentle wind and the sun shinning. The fleet just managed to reach double figures. Robin Gadd showed the early pace and completed the first lap with a good lead. However the wind was shifty and patchy enabling the fleet to close up and changes at the front. As the fleet came to the line at the end of the third lap and the shortened course was signalled, Tim Dickenson was leading from Chris Powell and Nick Rawlings. Nick realised he was going to have to write the race report so he invoked some external influence that only he knows of. On reaching Sandy Tim hardened up and proceeded up the beat for another round. Chris sailed on to go to the line we started on, which was not the finish. Nick tack smartly and soon reached the proper line in the lead.

Another cold and blustery north east wind resulted in only 3 Solos venturing out. The massive ebb tide dominated the tactics. Nick Webb spotted the influence too late and was 5 minutes late getting back to start. When he finally completed the first lap, he was unable to round Sandy and progress onto lap 2. Meanwhile Nick Rawlings had powered ahead of Tim Dickenson on the first fetch. The tidal gates made it difficult to judge their relative progress, but Nick held the lead to the finish.

Another cold and blustery NE wind. Again the fleet was split between the stalwarts who went out and those who didn’t. 5 Solos were ready for the start and tacked away from the line just offshore to Gardener. Once again Jerome Bakker led off down the reach. This time Tim Dickenson was the chasing boat, with Nick Rawlings and Greg Swift in pursuit. Robin Gadd in the van. Racing was very tight throughout the race. Jerome held the lead, although Nick got very close at times. Greg made an error at the windward mark and capsized. The course was shortened and this lead in Jerome losing track of the number of rounds sailed and reaching off from the windward mark, with Tim in tow. This enabled Nick to run back to the finish and finally crossing in the lead.

What a contrast with the weather for the opening handicap in 2014 when the sun was shining and sailors were complaining of being too hot. This time a bitterly NE wind at 15+knots deterred many but not the real stalwarts of the fleet. There were 4 Solos on the line including Tim Dickenson, now back with a Solo after his multiyear round the world sail with family. The start was just off the beach, great for viewing apart from the wind chill. Nick Rawlings seemed to be have some problems settling into his new ship as he nearly missed the start and was then trailing the others by the first mark. Jerome Bakker emerged leading down the first reach followed by Nick Peters, although some mention of a 720 having delayed him was later mentioned. Nick P rapidly overhauled Jerome and then steadily pulled away into a substantial lead. On to a sausage and it was now Tim who was challenging Jerome. Nick R had closed this pair up noticeably by the start of the final triangle, but seemed to drop back on the final beat. However, as the back trio approached the club finish line they were locked together with Nick on the shore side dodging the flood. On the line Nick was second and Tim third from Jerome. So Nick R just escaped his usual third and the ticket to write the report. Tim did not know about the rule so it has been done for him.