National Solo Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club - Preview
by Will Loy 6 Apr 2016 18:33 BST
9 April 2016
Noble Marine Solo Winter Championship © Will Loy
This Saturday April 9th, Draycote Water will host the National Solo Spring Championship. With a good looking forecast and a fleet gagging to get back out onto the water following the successful Noble Marine Winters, we expect entries to surpass the 52 that made it to Chew Valley just three weeks ago.
Andy Davis, having just secured the GP14 World title as crew for Shane MacCarthy in Barbados may not be home in time to defend the title he won last year and this leaves the door wide open. Tom Lonsdale, a surprise second in 2015 may be up for the challenge but my money will be on Charlie Cumbley. The reigning National and Nation's Cup champion is set to feature at the top of the OK fleet this season but may have one last fling in the Solo before setting sail for Europe and a more than possible World Championship in Quiberon. That event starts as our own championship ends in Pwllheli, a bit of a stretch to get from North Wales to the south of France, even by Charlie's standards.
Andy Tunnicliffe usually attends but he too is returning from Barbados where he and Ian Dobson finished second. Even if these guys make it back in time the after affects of free rum for ten days may well see them unfit for action. Mike Sims, no doubt inwardly reeling from the broken tiller joint at the Winters will be in bounce back mode as well as high mode/deep mode and as ever, fast mode.
Draycote Water is home to a very strong fleet and if there was a team trophy it would go to the likes of Chris Brown, Nigel Davies and Richard Pye every time. That is not to say they match race, just they each seek individual glory far too much to give way to one another. Andrew Wilde, a rejuvenated Ian Hopwood (no longer the capsize king) and Dave Mitchell are all up for the good fight and not forgetting Pete Mitchell who is a real danger and will be looking to take over as North Sails number 1 jockey. John Webster, just 70 but as keen as gunfighter with a new colt counted two fifths at the Winters so do not rule out some bullets this time.
While Andy Davis may not be flying the flag for HD there are a few who will be looking to add to the HD glory machine. Steve Ede is a model of consistency, Kevin Gibb also can blow hot but when he is cold it is ugly. He likes this track so I predict top ten for both of them. Olly Wells will be out in his new P&B works Solo and is no stranger to the podium. I could name twenty possible winners and get it wrong, that is how tight National Solo Class racing is. It would be remiss not to also mention Steve Denison, Winder jockey and well capable of cleaning up if he is on the premises at the top mark.
Throughout the fleet there will be tussles and competition renewed and as this event forms Act 2 of the North Sails Super Series, 4 events will qualify the entrants to win a new North SK2 at the EOS in October. More events will provide more chances to win.
There is a great forecast of 12-15mph with sunshine, the race team are prepped and there is plenty of water. Check out the event info at www.solosailing.org.uk or look for us on Facebook.
Steve Watson, our Class on-the-water jury will be on hand to ensure fair play and I will be out on the water starting my campaign to be race ready for the Nationals. I will have cameras on the water to capture the action so get your boat on the trailer and come and join the action.
We have also just learned that Jim Gates, for a long time our Chief Measurer has passed away. Jim was one of a handful of people who have shaped the N.S.C.A and his services to the Class for over 40 years have assisted in providing fair play on the water for hundreds of Solo sailors. From all the Solo sailors, R.I.P Jim.