Lee On the Solent Open 17-18 July 2004

On arrival at Lee On the Solent anyone could have been forgiven for turning around and going home, with a thick mist and not a breath of wind it looked like it could be a long weekend. However, the sun broke through and with that a South Westerly wind filled in and began to build.

By the start of race 1 their was 12 knots of breeze and a building Solent chop, Rick Perkins was first round the windward mark and he lead for two laps before a tactical error up the last beat saw Ian Renilson, Martin Boatman and Graham Oliver slip past.
Race 2 saw Ian Turnbull wake up and start what was going to be an impressive afternoon taking Ovingtonsy from Graham Oliver and Ian Renilson.
Ian Turnbull proceeded to take the next two races from Graham with Ian Renilson and Martin Boatman making up the top 3.

DAY 2

After a short postponement the fleet took to the water and started race 5 in 12 knots of breeze. After leading for a lap Graham Oliver’s one bad tack allowed James Macintosh and Martin Boatman through where they remained for the duration of the race. Ian Turnbull also managed to overhaul Graham down the final run to take 3rd.
Ian Turnbull and David Poston dominated race 6 with Martin comfortably in third until a clumsy tack saw the end of his tiller extension and race. This allowed Graham to pass and take 3rd.
By the time we reached race 7 the conditions were getting serious with 20+ knots of wind and a 4 foot steep chop making for extreme down wind sailing. It was Graham Oliver who rose to the challenge taking the 7th race followed by Martin Boatman and Ian Turnbull.
The final race saw only the hardcore skiffs remaining, all rounded the windward mark within seconds of each other but only Graham managed to reach the wing mark without pitch poling leaving him to race away to a massive lead. Martin came in Second and Ian third.

Congratulations to Ian Turnbull on a well deserved win with Graham second and Martin third.
Thanks must go to Lee On the Solent for hosting a fantastic weekends racing.

View a video clip of Ian Renilson blasting downwind >>>

1st    GBR139 Ian Turnbull
2nd   GBR161 Graeme Oliver
3rd    GBR143 Martin Boatman

Photos & video: Thanks to Dave Pilkington who was stranded on shore with his leg in a cast, the good news was that he knows how to drive a camera.