Neuse Solo Race 2003
A 40 boat fleet gets near perfect "solo race weather"
October 9, 2003

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Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3

The first major sailing event "post Isabel" was mostly smooth going Saturday with 10 - 15 mph winds. The 19th running of the Neuse River Solo had 40 registered boats (up from 25 last year).

Ed Bliss onboard "Out Of The Blue" slowly passes TownDock.net's field photography vessel ( and "full keeled double ended heavy displacement racing machine" ).

The solo racers are separated into three classes - A, B & C.

This system is carefully orchestrated by yacht broker Simon Whitehead - who comes from a land where they say "4 October" instead of "October 4", all while driving on the wrong side of the road.

As a result, "C" is for the fastest boats, "B" slower, and "A" is for the ( at least theoretically) slowest boats.

Henry Frazer (of the "C" group) placed first overall sailing in his Etchell. First in class "A" and second overall went to Paul Welles sailing an Ensign - "Go Baby." Welles led for most of the race, being passed by Frazer just in the last several hundred feet of the 10.5 mile course.

Welles and Frazer work together at Triton Yachts - and we couldn't help but wonder what they were both thinking as Henry handed Paul the 2nd place award after the race. TownDock.net's caption team thought of a couple possibilities (Paul at left, Henry at right. The right caption comes first.):

The complete standings are below - and lots of photos follow on pages 2 & 3.