Selden 53rd Solo National Championship & Nation's Cup - Day 1
by Will Loy 3 Aug 2015 11:43 BST
1-7 August 2015
Selden Solo Nationals at North Berwick day 1 © Will Loy
It has been 6 years since the Class last visited the quaint picturesque town of North Berwick but as a Nationals venue it is right up with the best. After the race briefing, ably directed by PRO Ted Hill, the fleet were released onto the water.
Race 1 and the fleet of 70 National Solos were away first time, the light to moderate easterly giving a nice beat towards Bass Rock. The fleet would normally have started the week with a recall but the tide had other ideas and some found themselves well behind the line at the start. Nick Bonner had a blinder at the committee biased end and headed off right with the majority of the fleet following. Cumbley had started slightly late but tracked right, tacked on a perfect layline and led round with Mike Sims a close second. Bonner, Tunnicliffe and Pete Mitchell were also in the hunt and the 65 other competitors filed round in orderly fashion. There was not much action and rule 42 observance was adhered to impeccably. Mitchell moved through to third by mark 3 then took a small hitch up the unfavoured left side to round second, behind Cumbley but ahead of Sims, Tunnicliffe and Andy Davis. The PRO shortened at the leeward mark so this was the finishing order for the top five. One unfortunate Solo had sustained damage in a port /starboard collision and retired to shore to effect repairs.
After a short delay the start sequence for race 2 began but with cloud and warm air filtering from near the harbour entrance the wind was veering hard. The start was recalled as there was too much bias and I doubt there was a single sailor who was surprised. The breeze then swung 75 degrees east and the course was re-laid with the top mark in line with Bass Rock. Local knowledge decreed that id you can smell the Gannet poo then it is a sea breeze that blows. Unfortunately with the wind refusing to settle settle the PRO abandoned racing for the day.
So after 1 race it is the current National Champion Charlie Cumbley that holds a slender lead over stable mate Pete Mitchell with Mike Sims third, Andy Tunnicliffe Fourth and Andy Davis fifth.
Day 2 is promising much more breeze and some swell to make things interesting for both competitors and cameraman.
Pre-Race Interviews with Charlie Cumbley and Robbie Wilson
Pre-Race Interviews with Andy Davis and Pete Mitchell