Harken Solo End of Season Championships at Oxford Sailing Club

Rigging up ahead of the Harken Solo End of Season Championshop at Oxford © Will Loy

Andy Davis during the Harken Solo End of Season Championshop at Oxford © Will Loy

Mike Sims during the Harken Solo End of Season Championshop at Oxford © Will Loy

A star studded field of 60 Solo sailors contested the final "major" of the season, fittingly at the Harken End of Season Championship. Oxford Sailing Club provided the venue and with inclemently mild temperatures, 8-12mph from the west and rain from above, racing commenced. Pro Peter Bickerton had warned the fleet that he was having none of the nonsense that plagued day 1 of the Inlands. On that occasion the recall flag was hoisted more times than Ben Ainslie has gold medals, such was the enthusiasm of the sailors. Peter went for the old fashioned one minute round the ends rule, hoping this would give some of the punchier sailors a 'get out of jail 'option rather than bring the whole fleet back. There was some initial confusion when the 4 minute flag was hoisted before the 5 minute one, looks of consternation and bewilderment were two a penny, but normal service was soon resumed following a hasty abandonment.

I looked on from the bow of the goose spattered committee boat with an air of nervous anticipation. I need not have worried, the fleet nailed the start, just one offender who may or may not have gone round the end to exonerate himself, that was for the race team to sort. There was some port bias but the PRO anticipated the wind swinging around to the north, which it did (at half past five). At the top mark it was P&B's Olly Wells, from Rooster Sails Steve Cockerill, Chris Brown, National Champion Charlie Cumbley 4th, Dave Mitchell and Mike Sims. Current Super Series leader Andy Davis (HD Sails) was 9th with work to do. The fleet stretched out down the two short reaches, the leaders able to sink low and extend but Cumbley was sucked into the 54 boat shadow and was lucky to round the bottom mark with the loss of only a few positions. There was variance in wind speed and direction and at the top mark Cockerill had taken a slim lead over Wells with Brown holding 3rd in his brand new Winder, Mitchell and Sims. The run was tricky with patches of pressure and the comfortable/uncomfortable presence of Class umpire Steve Watson depending on how far you wanted to push the envelope. Inside the whistle the pea sat idle, much to the relief of the sailors. The third beat was pivitol with a big shift to the left and Davis sniffed it out to round with a slender lead over Cockerill. In third spot was Ewan Birkin-Walls who was also on fire from Wells, Sims, Kevin Gibb and Cumbley. The last lap was largely uneventful, the forecast 14-21mph a million miles away from the real time 8mph.

Davis took the race 1 win from Cockerill and Walls and has found himself in a rich reign of form since the removal of his 'Prodder" (can I say that)?

The fleet filed to shore for lunch and following some fine quiche and chips made their way out again for two back to back races. The breeze had increased to a nice 10-12mph and to my own personal relief the rain had stopped. I stepped pensively onto the committee boat and took up my precarious perch amid the goose poo, how proud my Dad would be.

The wind was not playing ball and after two failed attempts and some animated reactions to the heavily port biased line the fleet finally got away. Unfortunately there were some black flag casualties including Ian Hopwood who must have been using a nearby sheep as his transit. The left end paid and it was Davis who led in to the top mark from Sims and Cockerill. Welsh wizard Bob Taylor had been granted a pass for the day and was in fourth, the rain must have followed him from Cardiff. Tim Lewis and Hopwood rounded but were soon advised of their timing issues and withdrew. The fleet were fully powered up apart from part time Finn sailor Paul Childs who really wanted it to blow. I look forward to seeing him getting down to a Solo fighting weight of 75-95kgs to take these guys on at Pwllheli next summer in the 2016 Nationals. Davis continued to lead from Sims and Taylor broke into the heady heights of third for a time but Steve Cockerill is no pushover and re-took third by the gun with Cumbley completing the top five.

Charlie Cumbley during the Harken Solo End of Season Championshop at Oxford - photo © Will Loy

The rain increased and somewhat quelled the wind strength but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the fleet who had several attempts at it before finally starting cleanly. Peter Bickerton was seen huddled on the deck of the luxurious committee boat, surreptitiously smoking a roll up like a school kid hiding behind the bike shed. Small consolation for the days chores but enjoyable none the less.

I had retired to the clubhouse so asked race 3 winner Mike Sims to provide a brief explanation of his win.

"I started 1 boat down from the pin end of the start line which was the favoured end, I had a good start which meant as soon as the 1st shift came I was able to tack and clear the fleet. At the top of the 1st beat there was more pressure on the left which favoured those on that side of the course which enabled Chris Brown to round just ahead of me. On the 1st reach I took the lead and although the top three boats of myself, Chris Brown and Steve Denison were never far separated I led for the rest of the race. The race was shortened after 2 laps as the wind had started to more right as forecast."

Phil King had a stormer to finish fourth and Vince Horey completed the top five.

So Andy Davis collected the Harken EOS title to add to his other major wins, a great year for this sublimely talented sailor. Mike Sims was a very gallant second with surprise entrant Steve Cockerill third. Chris Brown continued his fine form ahead of Winder jockey Steve Denison who had been yellow flagged in race 2. At the time I noted that Steve was sailing down the run with almost no board down which meant the boat was rocking uncontrollably. I did question the whistle and Steve Watson, our class umpire explained that you have to sail the boat in a seaman like way which includes making sure the boat is stable. It is also worth noting that those sailors that have been penalised have been very open to umpiring and the self improvement and education it provides. Many thanks to the race team, headed by Peter Bickerton and to Bob Ashby who had organised the event. Some beautifully engraved crystal and wine, chocolates and mugs were provided for the top five and the Vet/Grand Master/Septimus winners. Steve Cockerill, Phi King and Brian Fisher were the respective champions.

The Danny Butler Trophy (Veteran Series) 50-59

Mike Wilkie has kindly organised perpetual trophies for the Vet and Grand Master Series and Peter Fryer compiled the results over the year.

Dave Mitchell took the Vet title, this timeless sailor keeps on going at the very top level, no doubt urged on by his talented son Pete, call sign "Maverick". I will expand on the naming of the trophies at a later date.

Richard Lovett Trophy 60-69

Brian Holland won the Grand master Series, closely followed by John Webster.

North Sails Super Series

Ten 'major' events down and it is Andy Davis that closed the National Solo 2015 calendar with another win to claim the inaugural North Sails Super Series title. Andy has sailed supremely well this year and his wins at the Springs, Welsh, Scottish, and Inlands and EOS as well as seconds at the National Championship and the Winters are quite an achievement. Mike Sims finishes second overall with a strong finish to the season with third at the Nationals, third at the Inlands and now second at the EOS to go with his fourth at the Springs. Pete Mitchell takes third with the win at the Winters, second at the Southerns and fourth at the Springs his best results. With over 270 sailors competing in the ten events and an average of 51.5 per event, it has been a great success. Some big players just fell short of the qualifying criteria, Cumbley and Tunnicliffe to name just two.

North Sails have kindly offered to continue to be our title sponsor for 2016 and their generosity is very well appreciated by all of the NSCA members and committee.

The prize giving was a blur of raffle ticket numbers, smiling faces and laughing and crying. Well, not everyone could win. Harken, who had sponsored the EOS provided a big box of goodies including wet bags, rucksacks and sweat shirts. There were also loads of 'bags for life' carriers with Harken emblazoned on them, the must have in the shopping mall darling. Thank you Harken. The main Super Series draw was dramatic. Anticipation and excitement with a daub of greed of was etched on the qualifiers (38) faces as the first name was revealed. The winner would collect a brand new North SK2, still to be cut from the new 2016 laminate. Graham Wilson was the lucky winner and there after followed the prizes of a lovely Phil Milanes Rudder Blade which went to Andrew Wilde, a beautiful Winder Boats Rudder Stock and Carbon Tiller which was gratefully accepted by Dave Mitchell, some super Rooster Supertherm Sailing Apparel, two gorgeously constructed C2 Carbon Nitesticks, one of which went to Kevin Gibb, two stunning Ronstan Clear Start Watches, one of which was won by Steve Denison, a Creation Covers Undercover which was won by Davis who ironically works in the same premises as Creation's Chris Gould, two £50 discount vouchers from our class sponsor Noble Marine and a new SuperSpar Boom, won by John Webster. Some of the winners names has eluded me but you get the gist. Many prizes, so thanks to ALL our suppliers.