Nationals at Lee on Solent 2009

The Buzz Nationals were held at Lee-on-the Solent Sailing Club over the weekend of the 4th/5th September, in very varied conditions.

14 boats started out on Saturday for three back to back races in winds gusting up to 30 knots. Breaking waves on the beach made launching difficult but thanks to excellent support from the Lee beach team, everyone made it to the starting area. In race one Simon and Clare led the fleet, closely followed by Jon and Ethna Haines in a three lap up wind down wind course. Race 2 was again won by Simon and Clare in Buzz 1201, with Ed and Sarah Styles in second place followed by John Cass and Julia Blackman in 1100. The wind was getting up by now, and upturned boats could be seen all over the course. Mike Stainier broke a main halliard so had to retire as did James Russell. By the third race, most competitors were tired but determined. Simon and Clare showed their star quality with a third win, followed this time by Andy Holmes and Janet Shaw, with Stuart Bailey and Zoe Noble in third place. Ian Staples had a incident on the finish line with an Iso that holed his boat and prevented him from finishing, however he managed repairs in time to be back out for Sundays racing. The Lee shore team helped everyone land safely in the breaking waves and everyone was very glad of the tea and home made cake laid on by the House Committee. The AGM took place on Saturday evening, with Andy Holmes welcoming new members and Roger and Penny Ayre joining them up to the Class Association! This was followed by a dinner in the Lee-on-the-Solent club house. The views from the balcony were so stunning that many sailors thought it would be far more pleasant to just sit and admire the view.

Sunday dawned with much lighter force 3 winds and sunshine. All 14 Buzzes were ready to go. Jane Noble and Mark Wilson had arranged a Pro / Am competition for the Sunday, pairing the top half of the fleet with the lower half and offering a bottle of wine to the most improved pair. This was won by Stuart and Zoe paired with Ian and Jess Staples. The first race of the day was won by Stuart Bailey and Zoe Noble, followed by Jon and Ethna Haines. The wind shifted during this race causing the race team to have to shift the windward mark considerably, but the wait in these pleasant conditions did not take long. Simon and Clare were back on form after this, winning the last two races to leave the title of National Champions in no doubt. Second place in race 5 was taken by Stuart and Zoe, and in race 6 by Ed and Sarah. Chris and Martin must be the most consistent competitors of the weekend, and the training organised earlier in the season by Mike Stanier paid of for Mark and Tris Turner who completed every race in testing conditions.

There were several spot prizes awarded including one to Jane Noble, for the best dressed person at prize giving - she and Mark are such keen sailors that they had gone back out after the last race to help fellow Buzz sailors learn the ropes and got locked out of the changing rooms! And Zoe Noble (no relation ) had a prize for the sexiest scream on the downwind legs.

The final results were 1st Simon Corey and Clare Hansell, 2nd Stuart Bailey and Zoe Noble, 3rd Ed and Sarah Styles, 4th Jon and Ethna Haines.

Simon thanked Lee--on -the-Solent Sailing Club for organising and excellent weekend of racing and presented them with a Buzz pennant and a bottle of wine. All competitors enjoyed the food and hospitality laid on by the club, and in return were invited to come back for future events.

Report by - Ethna Haines

Results

Full Results