Selden 53rd Solo National Championship & Nation's Cup - Overall

Charlie Cumbley wins the Selden Solo Nationals at North Berwick © Will Loy

Charlie Cumbley wins the Selden Solo Nationals at North Berwick © Will Loy

Race 11

Day 6 dawned sunny and warm, Scotland has delivered lovely weather and conditions to suit the lightweights, the heavyweights, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I made my way onto the East Lothian rescue rib with the sure footedness of a tightrope walker with vertigo and set out to Sea. Bass Rock jutted from the clear blue water, it's surface sprinkled with what looked like icing sugar. On the rock, pure white Gannets looked on in dis-interest at was about to unfold in front of them.

There are 3 races planned, 2 discards coming into effect after the first race of the day so plenty to play for. The racers completed their routine practice beats, timed runs to the line and sat dry mouthed as the minutes ticked down. The breeze was from 295 and ranged between 8 and 10mph with more breeze on the right and less tide on the left. It was Nick Bonner who rounded just ahead of Cumbley and Pete Mitchell to give him something to shout about at the bar for the next 12 months. The reaches were tedious and that was from my position on the committee boat, on the course it must have been painful. Cumbley took control and extended to win comfortably and put one mitt on the cup. Andy Davis had again worked miracles and finished second from Pete Mitchell who was still in the mix to top five overall.

Race 12

The course was re-aligned at a new angle of 275 degrees and Ted looked out pensively towards Craig Leigh. There was still more pressure on the right of the course but with the tide on the turn, the correct strategy would be pivotal. Cumbley and Davis were towards the pin with the majority of the fleet in tow but at the top it was Mike Sims, a committee boat starter who got the pat on the back for sound tactics. Andy Tunnicliffe, Chris Turner were next and as I looked back, back, back, it was Cumbley and Davis who were buried. This race was as tense as an end of season soap opera and at one point, with the leaders approaching the bottom mark there was confusion as to whether Ted had shortened course but alas, there was no flag hoisted. Mike Sims was already on the way up the final beat and with his nearest rivals implying he should head for the line, ducked towards it. Fortunately Mike is smarter than the average cat and headed back up on the correct course with no major loss of distance. At the gun it was Sims, Turner, Tunnicliffe, Olly Wells and Pete Mitchell. Cumbley recorded 14th and Davis got a discard in with a 20th.

Re-scheduled Race 4

With only 1 race remaining and 29 minutes until the time limit would be met to halt any further racing for the day, the tension was at DEFCON 3. The fleet were too keen and with 3 OCS including Bonner, the start sequence was re-booted. The cheerful demeanor was replaced with sobriety as the seconds ticked down. Cumbley sat to leeward of Davis and with a raft of starboard tackers engulfing them was able to tack clear of Davis's shadow. The scores on the doors meant that if Davis could restrict Cumbley to 14th or worse he would win the Championship. At the gun both sailors were in clear air and tracked up the beat in close company. From my lofty position on board the committee boat it looked like Cumbley had been able to force Davis to tack off onto the unfavoured left of the course. But, I was 300 yrds downwind with dodgy vision and an over enthusiastic imagination. The breeze was holding at a fickle 9.4 knots and it was Tunnicliffe, Craig Williamson, Wilson and Sims around first. Cumbley was 5th and although not home dry, had made the title his to lose.

The reaches were long drawn out affairs, yesterday's awesome downwinds just a warm and distant memory. The second beat was processional, the penny had dropped and the sailors went hard right. The unremarkable run towards the leeward mark is hard to put into words, it was dull, but for the sailors with much to lose or gain it must have felt like the longest run they have ever done. Ted and the team, spotting the elongated faces upped anchor and headed to the top mark for a shortened course finish. Tunnicliffe secured his first win of the week and fourth overall. Chris Brown was 2nd to finish with Andrew Wilde 3rd, Sims 4th and third overall. Charlie Cumbley finished 5th and this was enough to take the title of SELDEN Solo National and Nation's Cup Champion 2015. Andy Davis was second overall and had come incredibly close and the championship could have gone either way. Mike Sims goes into the RS400 Nationals next week with the confidence that he is up with the best. Pete Mitchell completed the top five and is sure to feature at the top of this and other classes very soon. Dave Mitchell in 9th was first Veteran, Nick Rawlings (26th), first Grand Master and Alex Corby (18th) the Junior Champion.

I could mention all 70 competitors but special mention to Katie Masterson in 56th for her skills on 'Big Thursday', Peter Middlemiss who was nearly always last but was full of enthusiasm and to Gerry Goodfellow's new bride who allowed him to race on their honeymoon.

Thanks to Selden for their very generous sponsorship, Noble Marine for continuing their support of the N.S.C.A and special thanks to the race team, headed by Ted Hill who were brilliantly well organized and always eager to please the Class.

Overall Results:
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