Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at the WPNSA - Day 1
by Will Loy 18 Jun 2016 21:38 BST
18-19 June 2016
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is the venue for the Nigel Pusinelli Trophy and 47 Solo sailors have made the journey down to one of England's prettiest locations. The jurassic coastline reaches out east and west, million year old crustaceans coating the beaches. There are also some dinosaurs in the generously large dinghy park but also some younger faces, Jack Hopkins, Anthony Osman and Laurence Creaser to name just three. The racing, despite a very unseasonal 16 degrees and an un-Weymouth like 10 knots was still ferocious, such is one design racing.
Race 1
The PRO set a rather port biased line for race 1 which resulted in a general recall and the hoisting of the black flag. Actually I'am pretty sure that PROs across the UK assume this is our Class flag, such is it's inclusion in our start sequence. The wind was tracking left but the start line and course remained at the same angle which resulted in a massively biased pin end and some last second bail-outs. Mike Sims timed his run to the line perfectly, nailing the pin end and tacking on the gun. Nick Bonner, Cliff Crawshaw and Jack Hopkins were also in the little pocket of glory as the fleet drag raced up to the top mark on port. Sims rounded mark 1 ahead of GP World champion, Shane McCarthy who had made the trip over from Ireland for the event, Jack Hopkins and Andy Fox followed close behind. Foxy, with Mark Lee had spent Friday on the water, under the supervision of coach Charlie Cumbley and the improvement was immediate. Nigel Davies and Tim Law completed the top six. The reaches tested the sailors nerves and slow twitch fibres as the fleet compressed, Davies moved into fourth, Law fifth then Ian Hopwood and Nick Bonner. The breeze had tracked hard left and with the top mark moved 30 degrees to the favoured westerly direction the fleet set off in earnest.
As your reporter I am trying to make the race sound enthralling but even my artist licence has moral boundaries. The fleet completed the sausage, triangle and at the gun it was no surprise that Sims had held on for his first bullet of the event. Hopkins, all 73kg of him passed McCarthy for second and Tim Law snuck through for fourth from Cliff Crawshaw.
Race 2
Another pin end favoured start under the black flag and clean this time. If someone had nailed a transit they could have started ten boat lengths ahead in the middle of the line, such was the sag. Iain McGregor just squeezed past the pin at the gun, while Sims tacked immediately and drove over the majority of the fleet. Graham Williamson, David Greening, Cliff Crawshaw and Dave Mitchell were also in the "start left" camp and this proven game plan would again prove the right decision as the first beat played out.
Sims rounded first, the Carsington sailor was putting the arduous early morning drive behind him and was stamping his authority on the event. Williamson and Andrew Wilde were next around with McCarthy, Greening, Fergus Barnham and Kev Gibb (SCO) completing the top seven.
Again, the reaches were un-entertaining from a spectators viewpoint but I am sure hearts were beating hard on board. Sims maintained his lead with Wilde breaking through Williamson at the bottom of leg three. The last beat was pretty much two tack territory, the fleet heading left towards Portland Bill and tacking on the inevitable header. At the gun the top three remained the same with Greening, Hopkins (who had recovered well) and Barnham completing the top six.
Race 3
The PRO opted for the windward-leeward course for race 3 and this was largely welcomed by the fleet. Reaching legs in 6 knots are only fun if you are in an International Moth or an America's Cup Cat. Pete Mitchell who had been largely anonymous up to now decided that the left would pay and took a narrow lead into the top mark. Pete's mood had swung further than the race 1, leg 2 wind direction. Nick Bonner chuckled as he rounded in second and Mark Lee, Hopkins and Dave Mitchell completed the first five. There was plenty of action at the bottom where the fleet had a choice of leeward marks, pretty much a fifty-fifty split with P.Mitchell and Bonner leading the left while Lee and Hopkins rolled the dice for the right. Sims, who had started near the committee boat and had rounded in the low teens was making good gains on all points of sailing but would not repeat his race 1 and 2 bullets. Mitchell held for a much needed win and will go into tomorrow with race wins on his mind. Mark Lee stamped Cumbley's coaching skills with a second place with Bonner third, Sims fourth and Dave Mitchell fifth.
So with the overnight results in, care of the beautiful and ever-cheerful Sally, Mike Sims sits in top spot with 1-1-4 from the young and highly talented Jack Hopkins, 2-5-6 who would be closer if not for (slightly delayed) turns following a port-starboard incident. Andrew Wilde is third with 12-2-12, Nick Bonner fourth 6-17-3 and Shane McCarthy fifth 3-7-19.
Dave Mitchell is first veteran in 6th 15-12-5, John Dixon first Grand Master 14-26-25 and Vanda Jowett who finished ninth in race 3 is our Lady.
The forecast for tomorrow is for slightly more pressure, in the air and on the sailors.
The Nigel Pusinelli Trophy forms part of the North Sails Super Series with those who qualify in with a chance of winning a brand new North Laminate Mainsail.
The NSCA is sponsored by Noble Marine Insurance who continue to provide unrivalled protection of your boat.