National Solo Class Association Area Review 2014
by Will Loy 29 Dec 2014 14:31 GMT
29 December 2014
Steve Denison, Northern Area Champion © Will Loy
It has been another successful season across the UK for the National Solo class. The Solo has been supported up and down the land for over 50 years and was at the grass roots of single-handed racing from the day Jack Holt put down his pencil and built the first of hundreds of the plywood, hard chined racing dinghies that have become arguably, his most resilient design.
There are strongholds of National Solos' in all areas, from Salcombe in the southwest to Abersoch in North Wales to Loch Lomond in Scotland. Each area series consist of an average of 12 open meetings throughout the sailing season from March to October and to qualify you have to have to compete in a specified qualifying number and be an N.S.C.A. member which costs only £22 per year. The benefits of which include being on the exclusive mailing list of Solo Specific, the official N.S.C.A. magazine, free training days, inclusion into the sacred members section of the website and a good chance you will be in one of the many videos that is shot by our media team.
Area Results
The Northern Area has long been a hotbed of talent, the cold bleak conditions, strong winds filtered through the nearby glacial Scottish highlands and lack of electricity have for a hundreds of years strengthened the northerners stamina and resolve to produce sailors who are hard as nails. This is also a hot spot for National Solo builders, Winder Boats and Boon Boats to name but two and the fierce on the water competition feeds new boat sales for both.
Steve Denison (5473 Winder-North) is the 2014 Northern Area champion. He won his home club's open at Hollingworth Water and had a string second place finishes to take the title.
Paul Heath (5312) was second overall and his results included wins at West Riding and Nantwich and Borders. Third overall was Stephen Graham (Burwain), a model of consistency with a string of thirds at Rudyard Lake, Delph and West Kirby. There were 11 qualifiers and 149 entries over the 12 different venues.
The Midland Area Series was won in style by Stuart Hydon (5504 Winder-Edge). Stuart won the first five open meetings to shut out the series with Banbury, Barnt Green, Chelmarsh, Draycote and shustoke under his belt. The rest of the series was for second place and David Liddington (4605) jumped out of the pack to claim this with the win at Hollowell sweetening his achievement. Kevin Hopkins (4186) completed the podium and his win at Bartley was the highlight of his series.
The Western Area Series was won by Paul Teague from Bristol Corinthian with Keith Hill second overall. There was a whole host of individual open meeting winners which included Chris Goldhawk (Bristol Corinthian-Chew Valley), Ross Harvey (Bowmoor), Peter Ballentine (Salcombe), Adrian Neal (Sutton Bingham), Ian Cook (Frampton), and James Ross (South Cerney) but none were able to meet the qualifying criteria.
The Southern Area Series was hotly contested and it was Steve Ede (5225 Winder/HD) who was crowned champion with wins at Papercourt, Dell Quay and Chipstead. Steve has been in and out of Solos' for the last few years but proved he still has skills in any condition and at any venue. James Ross (5281) has emerged as a future prospect and his wins at Portchester and Mengham Rythe cemented his second place overall. Jeff Dolton finished third overall, consistently producing good results. Other individual winners included Ben Cooper (Spinnaker), Tim Deacon in his home built Solo/North (Frensham), and Tom Gillard in the Sailboat.co.com/North who won the southern area Championship at Bough Beach.
The Eastern Area Series was won by Steve Ede with wins at Fishers Green, Hickling Broad, Ardliegh, Leigh on Sea and Marconi. This series is arguably one of the most difficult to win with small gravel pits, narrow waterways and full on tidal estuaries providing a true test of skill.
Ewan Birkin Walls (5135 Boon/HD), another long standing Solo owner finished second overall with victory at North Herts and East Beds and Stewartby. Simon Maskell (5339 Winder/North) finished third on the podium, his wins at Broadwater, Rollersby and Hunts a great effort but not enough to overhaul Simon.
The Thames Valley Series had 7 qualifiers and there were 100 entries with Vince Horey (5475 Winder/PB) finishing at the top of the list. The King George based sailor bagged Littleton and Maidenhead open in between his exploits in a 505. Both boats offer seat of your pants exhilarating performance in a one design class and tight boat to boat racing. Ok, the emphasis is on the boat to boat racing for the Solo but I offer no apologies for my literal exuberance.
Mike Dray (4386 Winder/North 3dl) finished second overall, the win at Kingsmead keeping him ahead of Godfrey Clark (4803 Gosling/PB) in third. Godfrey won King George Open before wheeling out his new Gosling for the EOS. Other individual winners included Andrew Boyce (Twickenham), Alex Corby (Burghfield), Tim Lewis (Silver wing), Alex Baxter (West Oxford) and Gareth Griffiths (Island Barn).
Unfortunately, due to the cost of travelling The Sea Series suffered from qualifiers this season. There were many individual winners, Pete Mitchell (Chichester), Andy Couch (Port Dinorwic), Charlie Cumbley (Hayling-Nigel Pusinelli Trophy), Matthew Sheppard (West Kirby) and Andy Colyer (Teign Corinthian) but it was class stalwart Mike Wilkie (5352 Winder/Edge/North) who ventured far and wide to take the title. Congratulations to him for a supreme effort.
The Scottish Area Series was won convincingly by Stuart Gibson (5157) with victories at Bardowie, Loch Ard, Prestwick, and Newbough. Kevan Gibb won the Scottish Championship at St Mary's Loch and Andy Hutchinson and David Sword had wins at Helensburgh and Loch Lomond. The Scottish fleet continue to flourish and the talent is prestigious. The usually strong winds and big water lochs are the perfect platforms for the National Solo.
Running in conjunction with the area series are the Veteran and Grand Master Series, which are very well supported. It is well documented that the National Solo is known as an 'old mans boat', a phrase that I have heard since I started sailing one in the late seventies...when I was fifteen! Ok, most of the guys who sailed then are still sailing Solo's today, hence the strong veteran demographic. I therefore submit that the reason for the National Solos' continued vibrant health is that it is such a good boat to sail, provides a testing yet comfortable ride, close competitive racing and a vast array of rig/equipment options to match helm weight, height and pocket that it is almost inconceivable to find to a better singlehander.
The Veteran Series was won by David Mitchell (5363 Winder/North) with Mark Lee and Graham Cranford Smith completing the talented podium. David has been sailing Solos' for many years, his son is now at the front of the fleet but David is still able to give him a run for his money. Mark Lee (5130 Winder/Edge) has been racing out of Weymouth for the last two years and his performances have improved each season. Mark's father raced Solo's against my dad back in the day, a theme echoed throughout the fleet. Graham Cranford Smith (5444 Winder/North 3dl) is reasonably new to the class but is relishing the close racing of the Solo and is always on the scene when I am videoing.
The Grandmaster Series was won by John Webster (5488 Winder/HD) with Mike Wilkie second and Nick Fisher third. John proved this was no fluke after his convincing race win at the EOS in the fleet of 64. Testimony that you do not have to be a youngster or even veteran to win, just work harder and sail faster, tomorrow you will ache more though. Mike Wilkie is another who was sailing Solos' when I was just a nipper. I still remember seeing him hiking hard at Island Barn reservoir wearing the biggest wettest jumper to keep his boat flat. That was well before there was a weight limit.
Nick Fisher captains' tankers for a job so must really appreciate the nimble feet of the Solo that can 'tack on a sixpence' as my father would say.
Congratulations to all who took part and qualified for these series in 2014, the continued health of the National Solo is no more evident than to see how many events are staged in the UK throughout the season and how many sailors make the worthwhile effort to leave their own club water to attend. Together with the 'major events' the National Solo calendar provides competitive racing at different venues and levels and with free training days, video and photographic coverage and a support system of a thousand online members, is a recipe for continued success in 2015 and beyond.