Soling Nationals at Royal Northumberland Yacht Club
by Jez Watson, Race Officer 24 Jul 2007 10:56 BST
13-15 July 2007
This year the Soling class held their Nationals at the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club. Solings arrived from all over Britain, including entries from Lochaber and Blackwood and Fleetwood Yacht Clubs. The weather proved frustrating with racing on Saturday abandoned due to strong winds. Five races were managed with two on Friday evening and three on Sunday morning.
Derek Priestley and his crew on Mr Crusty went on to win the five race series and become national champions. Consistent sailing was the key and with 4 out of five bullets they had an excellent series.
Friday evening saw a good 15 – 17 knot southerly breeze. Two short windward/leeward races were set back to back. The racing was close with crowded mark roundings. The first saw the Royal Northumberland entry Supero with Ken Murray, Phil Murray and Tony Freeth close behind the eventual winner. The second race saw the Argentinian Matias Collins taking second place.
Saturday saw in excess of 30 Knots of wind and the racing was eventually abandoned at 3.30pm.
Sundays racing saw extremely light winds. The first race was finished frustratingly early because of disappearing winds. The second started in about 5-8 knots of breeze. Half way through the wind shifted 30 degrees, but the race committee worked hard moving marks to make sure the race could continue. Matias Collins went on to take only bullet away from the Priestley crew.
All agreed that it was a good weekend despite challenging weather. Some of the sailors now travel to Norway for the Soling Europeans.
Overall Results: (Click here to fill in Gear Guide information)
| Pos | Sail No | Boat Name | Helm | Crew | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | GBR 169 | Mr Crusty | Derek Priestley | George Barker & Gary Adams | Blackpool and Fleetwood YC | 4 |
| 2nd | USA 807 | | Matias Collins | Alwx Holl & Greg Hall | CNSI | 10 |
| 3rd | GBR 96 | Supero | Ken Murray | Tony Freeth & Phil Murray | Royal Northumberland YC | 10 |
| 4th | GBR 157 | Just Gonnie No | Iain Loudon | Lome Irving & Rob Hielkema | Lochaber YC | 13 |
| 5th | GBR 161 | Solaris | Hamish Loudon | Bas Fountain & Mike Smith | Lochaber YC | 15 |