D-One Suntouched/Sandiline GOLD Series at Paignton Sailing Club

The D-One helms at the Paington Single Handed Regatta © Esther Forsyth

6 D-Ones travelled to the English Riviera to join the Asymmetric Fleet at the Paington Single Handed Regatta on the weekend of the 12/13th May. This was the first Event in the Suntouched/Sandiline GOLD Series of 2012. The weather gods played ball and we were greeted by a decent Southerly breeze and bright blue skies; Torbay at its best.

Race 1 started on time with Charlie Cumbley efficiently making his way to the top mark first followed by Nick Simmons and close behind Charlie Chandler. With a big wind shift the run turned into fetch and became a game of who could hike the hardest to lay the bottom mark. With the wind settling in its shifted position one more lap took place before the RO shortened with Charlie talking first, Nick 2nd and Tim Garvin 3rd.

With a slightly softening breeze race 2 started with an adjusted true course. Simmons found some good speed in the lighter conditions to round just in front of Cumbley followed by Chandler. Simmons and Cumbley pulled clear of the fleet with Simmons holding the lead and Chandler taking 3rd.

By the start of the final race on Saturday the breeze had dropped off to a slight 5 kts. Cumbley, Chandler and Simmons all spotted that the pin end was biased and the right hand side of the course was the place to be. Cumbley got the jump on Chandler and Simmons and lead around the top mark never to be caught. Chandler sailed a great run and second beat to take 2nd and Nick 3rd.

A meal and evening's entertainment were put on at the club with the rest of the single handed fleets. Joined by the Phantom fleet, the night continued on into town where the Jäger bombs became the drink of choice. Needless to say sore heads were a plenty come the morning!

Sunday morning dawned bright, sunny and windless! With AP raised at the club some wondered if we would sail, but in ‘Garda-esk' fashion, a beautiful 15kts filled in allowing an 11am start.

Albeit with hangovers, it was champagne sailing. R4 started in a building breeze from the South. Jon Hammond fired out of the blocks on great form sailing an excellent first beat rounding the top mark just behind Charlie Cumbley with Chandler in 3rd and Tim Garvin in 4th. Cumbley and Hammond could not be caught. To no avail, Chandler went exploring the left hand side of the course in the 2nd beat allowing Simmons to pull through into 3rd with Chandler, Garvin and Hopkins completing the order.

After a long wait for the breeze to settle after R4, the final race of the day started in a beautiful building SW'ly breeze. The pin end was king again and Cumbley shot off crossing the fleet on port. Chandler was close behind with Garvin showing good pace in the breeze upwind to haul in Chandler by the top mark. Cumbley hooked into a great gust downwind to take him all the way down and pull a big lead on the others. Chandler led from the rest of the pack leaving Garvin, Simmons and Hopkins to fight it out for 3rd. With some good tight racing, the 3 rounded the final top mark with Garvin 3rd, Simmons 4th and Hopkins 5th. Tim looked like he had got it but dropped it in on the final gybe giving 3rd to Nick and 4th to Russ.

Congratulations to Charlie for taking the win overall counting only 4 points when the discard came in. New boy Nick Simmons took 2nd and Charlie Chandler 3rd. Thanks go to Paignton SC for putting on a great event and allowing us to coincide our open meeting with POSH and North Sails for providing the prizes.

Next on the calendar in the Suntouched/Sandiline Series is Thorpe Bay YC Regatta over the 16th/17th June. Charter boats are available for the UK nationals at Lymington and the Gold Cup in Alassio, Italy. For information mail

Suntouched/Sandiline GOLD Series ACT 1 Results: