Solo End of Season Championship at Draycote Water - Preview

Sponsored by Noble Marine

The final 'major' event of the year takes place this Saturday at Draycote Water Sailing Club, a hotbed of Solo activity in the Midlands.

A bit about the 'Majors'

The EOS will mark the end of a long hard fought season for many Solo sailors from around the UK. The calendar is made up of open meetings, which count towards the respective area series (Southern, Eastern, Thames Valley, Sea, Western, Midland, Northern and Scottish). The calendar is also punctuated with 'major' events, Winter, Welsh, Spring, Scottish, Nigel Pusinelli Trophy, Southern Championship, Northern Championship, Inland Championship, National Championship, Nation's Cup and the EOS.

These events usually attract large turnouts with all the hotshots, wannabes and also-rans attending. At this time they are stand-alone events but this is crying out for a 'major' sponsor to bring it together as a super series. The venues vary from time to time but the strength in depth delivers healthy competition at the front, back and middle. The N.S.C.A try to provide jury boats at these events which are welcomed by both the sailors and the PROs.

The 'Majors' in 2014

The Noble Marine Winter Championship took place in February and was contested by 53 sailors. Grafham Water hosted the event impeccably and Charlie Cumbley, the current National and Nation's Cup champion stated his intent for the year with the victory ahead of Tom Gillard, Michael Sims and Andy Davis.

The Spring Championship was hosted by Oxford S.C. in April and the 70 entries were treated to a balmy 17 degrees and a moderate breeze. This time it was Andy Davis who took the title with Charlie second, Tom third and Pete Mitchell fourth. Andy Couch was an impressive fifth as he set out on his campaign to win the Nation's Cup in Italy in July.

The Welsh Championship held at Tata Sailing Club in Port Talbot was won by Tom Gillard with Pete Mitchell and Michael Sims also on the podium.

The Nigel Pusinelli Trophy was won by Charlie Cumbley on the Olympic waters of Weymouth bay. The 34 entries were treated to some fantastic conditions and exemplary race management, this has to be a future National Championship venue for the Solo class. Pete Mitchell, Mike Sims, and Andy Tunnicliffe completed the top five.

Loch Ard Sailing Club hosted the Scottish Championship back in May and Stuart Gibson took home the trophy from the consistent David Sword with Hamish Whyte third.

The Southern Championship, held at Bough Beech S.C. was hotly contested by the 44 entries. The event was plagued by light winds and wild gusts but these held no fear for Tom Gillard who took the title from Steve Cockerill and Vince Horey.

The Northern Championship was equally hard fought for and it was Mike Sims who recorded the win from Steve Denison and Oliver Dumbleton.

Andy Couch won the Nation's Cup on Lake Garda, Italy in June, showing blistering pace upwind in the classic 'Ora' winds. The 70 sailors from the UK, Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium had a fabulous time on and off the water. Charlie Cumbley was second, Sims third with Mitchell and Tunnicliffe completing a familiar top five.

The fleet resumed battle a few weeks later at Brightlingsea S.C. for the National Championship. Charlie made no mistakes and defended his national title from Steve Cockerill, Andy Davis, Ross Harvey and Andy Tunnicliffe. 71 entries was down on the 115 of the previous year but reflected the huge amount of travelling required to do both the Nation's Cup and Nationals.

The Inland Championship was held at Rutland S.C. in September and the 83 entries was a great effort given the forecast for little or no wind. In the event there was ample breeze for the whole weekend and it was Tom Gillard who came out at the top of the pile after a tense final race showdown with Andy Davis. Mike Sims, Ross Harvey and Ian Pinnell completed a very talented top five.

EOS History

This event has been run since 2005 when Andy Davis took the first of two titles (he also won in 2012). The other previous holders are; 2006 Ian Clingan, 2007 Stuart Hydon, 2008 Charlie Cumbley, 2009 Chris Brown, 2010 Dave McGregor, 2011 Mike Sims and 2013 Pete Mitchell.

This Saturday October 25th

This year promises to be another edge of your seat thriller with conditions at Draycote Water forecast to be a very healthy 12-24 mph from the south west. All the major players are set to be there except for Charlie Cumbley who is on vacation. Pete Mitchell will be hoping to defend his title, a feat not done before. I will be there to capture all the action and so please look out for the report and video of the National Solo Class End of Season Championship. Three races with the first race kicking off at 11a.m.

Full N.O.R. can be found at www.draycotewater.co.uk/openmeetings

For any further information please contact Jonathan Hughes on 07778 029463 or

Alternatively, come along to Draycote Water and see what all the fuss is about and why the National Solo class is so popular.

www.solosailing.org.uk