Rooster Solo class Vintage Championship 2025 at Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club

Unbelievably close racing - Rooster Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea © Will Loy

Leigh on Sea Sailing Club turned on the Essex magic for the Vintage Championship, supplying champagne conditions which even Lake Como would have struggled to match, North Berwick, venue for the Solo National Championship in three weeks take note!

I had made the journey up from Brixham in the early hours, passing the World Heritage site of Stonehenge just after sunrise without even a second glance, my focus being on the relics of a Solo yesteryear and their equally ancient owners.

The club is positioned in some prime real estate with easy access to local eateries, the beach, stylish apartments and a train line, if Phil and Kirsty had to choose a perfect location for a sailing club then Leigh on Sea would probably be it.

The narrow cobbled street to the club entrance would later be packed with punters sipping beer and comparing fake tans but for now, save for the odd shop keeper sweeping up dog-ends and eye-lash extensions, it was serene.

The club have their own parking area right on the promenade, not sure how they wangled that but it was 'a right touch'. The club itself, though lacking the palatial opulence of Salcombe is a good representation of the Essex people, being honest, robust and filled with warmth. The clubhouse is in fact the old Leigh train station, the addition of a top floor commanding unbridled views across the estuary and a bar which would look at home in Eastenders completes the experience, and that is even before we go racing!

Matt Tothill was busy cooking breakfast baps and after confirmation that I was not a competitor, handed me a Cumberland sausage in a roll from the 'safe' pile, he would later be racing his Severn Sailboats Solo, therefore this treachery was understandable. I made my way along the concrete corridor, passing two families with suitcases and, dodging the signage for platform 9 3/4s, ascended the stairway to the generous upper decking.

The tide was due to be high at 14.28 so it was a vista of silt that greeted me, only a snaking sliver of a tributary hinting that we might be at the seaside, I took another bite of my breakfast and, identifying a Lovett and a Miles, headed to the promenade to go and bore their owners with information as valuable as a condom with a hole in it.

Alan Roberts was busy assembling his dark blue hulled weapon of choice, confirming it was not just a Richard Lovett build but the multiple World Championship winning 'Pogs" 3315. Once owned by Solo legend Ken Falcon, this boat was unbeatable in an era which is as fresh in my mind as today's butty, his most memorable win I would suggest being the Battle of Pevensey Bay when he went head to head with Dick Batt (Lovett 3300) and a huge sea state for 6 days.

Nigel Pybus was busy fiddling with his brother's Andy Miles build, 4236, these were pretty successful in the 1998-2002 period before the majority of the fleet switched to FRP. Brian Morum was also readying his Miles, 4443, suggesting that this was possibly Andy's last build before resuming a more profitable career in cabinet making, in hindsight he made a good choice.

Mike Barnes has been campaigning his Beckett built Solo on the open circuit for the last two years following a sabbatical in Nigeria, the stratigraphic geologist's oil find proceeds going mostly into the upkeep of his beloved 3847 'Top Drive". The former Solo magazine editor and class President is still as in love with the Solo as he was forty years ago and his Solo is immaculate, mainly due to that Gosling fairy dust. Mike was busy munching on a bacon bap and would be regarded as strong competition to the cook so I hoped his constitution, toughened from years of a Nigerian strain of Delhi Belly would be sufficient to get him through the day.

I bumped into David Goudie who won this event a few years ago, owner of an immaculate Kevin Gosling build, unfortunately he is injured and would not be racing but bought his binoculars to cuss out the competition for 2026.

Former class Secretary Robert Laurie was hastily stringing his Young Brothers build (3722), his fathers boat but now under his vestige until he sells it. Incidentally, I purchased one (3513) in the mid eighties from Nigel, the novelty of waiting at Portsmouth ferry port and seeing it wheeled out by the staff seemed a little tight but now I know the costs of IOW ferries, it all makes sense.

The late arrival was pretty much the icing on the cake for me, Red Alert (3733) in the flesh. Chichester based Ian Barnett has, with the guidance and skill of Gosling, brought the Phil Morrison build back to it's head-turning best. The stunning striped sapele decks, rich in layers of varnish provide a depth and lustre that FRP cannot match. This is complemented by a shade of red that may have been mixed by Micheal Angelo and would not look out of place on an F40.

With the tide rushing in like a Tsunami, the competitors quickly changed and after attending a short race briefing, we prepared for battle.

The majority of the members keep their Solos on racks right at the water's edge so I headed that way for last minute interviews and to rendezvous with my media rib, negotiating the planked flooring with some concern and weighed down with calorific guilt which is way heavier than the normal sort.

I bounced past Threshers, Don Marines and a Duffin, and with my eyes drawn towards inlays and case extensions, the crease of my perfectly formed lips let out a little trickle of saliva.

This affliction was quickly remedied when I saw the size of the media rib I would be stationed on, even the most desperate asylum seeker would have questioned the sanity.

Not only that, we were commissioned to transport two of the race team out to the arena so what followed was a 'Its a knockout' scenario of inflatable versus the elements, the estuary only losing by a pint or two.

The team members jumped aboard the committee boat with the swell causing no damage but it would have looked sketchy had it been on 'Saving Lives at Sea', I was just relieved to stay on the waterbed, for now anyway.

So we finally get to the racing and after a short postponement to right some capsized Solos, we would be into sequence which, to keep everyone on their toes and butting the trend adopted by the rest of the World, would be a 3-2-1 go!

Ian Barnett sending it in 'Red Alert' - Rooster Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea - photo © Will Loy

Race 1

The Easterly is blowing a nice 16 knots and even though the tide is running with the wind direction, it's wetter than a car wash in the rib. Undeterred and aware that the NSCA WhatsApp community is waiting and watching, I pull out my phone and stabiliser, despite their protestations. My Nikon P950 has been through some tough times recently but I did not appreciate him sharing his negativity with the new guys.

Ian Barnett punches out at the pin end in an attempt to keep out of the strongest part of the tide while Brian Morum opts for the committee end with the locals, the bows bucking up and down through the short Essex chop. Most the rigs on these old horses are state-of-art Technora powered D+ and Superspars and while mast rake is limited by bulkhead position they still carry plenty enough in these conditions.

Alan Roberts and Colin Walker tack off, out into the middle of the course, Colin's Thresher getting the better of the Lovett in this first part of the race but both sailors looking comfortable as the breeze pummels the fleet.

Top mark and it is Draycote sailor Nigel Pybus in the Miles from a group including Matt Tothill, John Charles and Jonny Wells. While I appreciated the 'white water experience' Leigh had provided it did compromise my media capabilities so I apologise to the front runners I omitted from this report.

The trapezoid course made a nice change from the windward/leewards and the reaches looked exhilarating, the Holt design giving the sailors thrills but no spills thanks to that flat aft section.

Pybus and Charles worked the middle of the course for lap two, picking up a lift and maybe some advantageous tidal influence over the lee bow and they would fight it out for the remainder of the race with Charles taking the bullet. Matt Tothill was third from Jonny Wells and Ian Barnett who had recovered from a bad first beat. Richard Beechey had shown some speed in his Thresher 3923 but capsized at the top mark, at least someone was now as wet as me.

In the Constructors Championship, Miles took the win from Thresher, Severn Sailboats, Holt and Morrison.

I took the opportunity to transfer to the sightly larger 'Jubilee' safety rib which went without incident as far as I was concerned, the rib teams though seemed amused by my technique which resembled a baby Giraffe's first attempt at standing. Once aboard I was able to take up a seated position behind my driver, providing a welcome reprieve from the spray.

Matt Tothill, second overall - Rooster Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea - photo © Will Loy

Race 2

Matt Tothill and Jonny Wells nailed the port lay line into mark 1 and they roared off down the reach, plumes of spray exploding from their bows, visibility impaired by the sheets of salty water. Mike Barnes was on the pace in third with Brian Morum keeping him honest and Robin Tothill a distant fifth.

The larger rib had allowed me to unholster my Nikon, it would have been criminal not to take some high resolution photos so with the phone safely tucked into the dry bag, I clicked away with the abandon of a gunslinger with anger issues.

The slog up the second beat provided some shifts and opportunities, Wells getting the better of Matt Tothill and Barnes losing position to Morum and Robin Tothill but in my book they were all winners on such a splendid day.

PRO Steve Corbet was having a lovely time on the committee boat and sent them around for a third lap, the finishing order staying the same but I am sure it was much closer than it reads on screen.

In the Constructors, Holt took the win from Severn Sailboats with Miles third, Robin was racing in a plastic fantastic but I am unsure of the builder, analysis of the photos indicating that it might be a Don Marine, Beckett was fifth.

With the deftness of a London pick-pocket I took a moment to clean the camera lens on the back of my drivers shirt before resuming my position to capture the action.

Race 3

On to the finale of this Vintage Championship and with the breeze holding at 16-20 knots and with the tide now on its way to France we went into sequence. The chop was now steeper than the cost of living and with my camera once again dowsed, my driver offering me the use of the back of his shirt to dry it which I accepted with some grace.

Ian Barnett sends Red Alert off at the pin end with Robert Laurie punching out mid line and Brian Morum below him but showing good technique in conditions not usually faced on the Norfolk Broads.

Top mark and Laurie looks imperious with Morum on his quarter and Charles, Matt Tothill, Nigel Pybus the top five as the fleet scream to the gybe mark. The run is surprisingly drama free but with the front four extending by the leeward mark. Charles is up to second and with a race one bullet already, is looking strong for the overall title but Jonny Wells, winner of race two is right on his heels from Morum and Matt Tothill.

Ian Barnett comes into the top mark well over stood and capsizes in the bear-away, thwarting his assault on the leader board.

Robert Laurie though, looks quite at home leading and the Young hull, which has always been a strong build and acknowledged as fast in breeze and waves is in its element. The top four continue to tussle with the sea state and each other, the racing was as close and exciting as it gets but at the gun it would be Laurie from Charles with Tothill, Morum and Wells completing the top five.

In the Constructors Championship, Young took the win from Thresher, Severn Sailboats, Miles and Holt.

Robert Laurie leads eventual winner John Charles in race 3 - Rooster Solo Vintage Championship at Leigh-on-Sea - photo © Will Loy

In Summary

The fleet returned to shore which was alive with the best the Southend massive could muster, golden brown bodies, accentuated by their expensive bling accessories absorbing far above the prescribed UV rays, think of the money they saved on tanning salons. The sailors were oblivious, most still blinded by salt penetration, pulled Solos up the short ramp to the promenade, the sound of Ibiza anthems echoing in their ears, quadriceps bulging with lactic acid.

Leigh on Sea know how to do events and, after a BBQ which was both generous and delicious the Prize Giving took place with the sunshine still beaming down.

Special thanks to Colin Walker for organising and providing sponsorship prizes from Rooster, the winners receiving vouchers towards some super Rooster sailing apparel.

John Charles in the Thresher showed the fleet the way but it was tough going and as close racing as you can get in a one design single-handed dinghy. Jonny Wells (Holt) beat Matt Tothill (Severn Sailboats) on count back with Brian Morum (Miles) and Robert Laurie (Young) completing the top five.

Thanks to all who attended, the Solo class, designed in 1956, has evolved into the state of art racing machine that we have today but that is only due to the vision of the builders of yesteryear, the diligence by the class measurers and the energy from its members, may it continue.

Photo gallery: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCmpH9

Overall Results: