National Solo Spring Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club

Close racing at Draycote Water in the Solo Spring Championship © Will Loy

There had been many weather predictions in the run up to the Spring Championship but you can only play the cards you are dealt and at the start gun the 54 competitors who travelled to Draycote Water S.C. were met with a meek 5-7 knots and skies that matched the hair of some of our more distinguished sailors. The day had started with a lengthy race briefing from PRO John Rhodes who, after reading the Y+Y event promo had hastily amended the SI's to include twin leeward marks and a finish line set a third of the way up the beat to maximise final approach tactics.

The mic was then handed to our On Water Jury Steve Watson who outlined some changes to the process the NSCA are trialling for rule 42 infringements. Competitors seen to be in the yellow light area of transgressions would be warned with a red and yellow flag/whistle/identification but would not be required to do turns. Further transgression would result in yellow flag/whistle/identification and turns to exonerate the penalty. There were no transgressors of the yellow flag but one competitor who received a warning whistle felt the need to do turns anyway. I anticipate future race briefings will be listened too intensely. We had also empowered the jury to act as judge and jury for general rule observance with the power to red flag a competitor deemed to have transgressed. The penalty was set at one turn to absolve oneself, or if the competitor wished to contest the penalty then they could do so, but at the risk of DSQ following a hearing.

Chris Brown was next to speak and lifted the now sombre mood by announcing the Wally of the Day, a now regular addition to the Solo class who have as many wallies as the OK fleet from where we got the idea!

Patrick Burns wins Wally of the Day during the Solo Spring Championship - photo © Will Loy

This award is usually handed out following the event for acts of stupidity, as an example, one Salcombe based sailor once drove over his mast in the dinghy park, fortunately we had not acquired the rude boy cap and matching jacket then. For this event, Scotsman Patrick Burns who, had instructed his designated driver (is he banned or just too old to drive) to deliver him from Edinburgh to the venue, mentioned Rutland as the host club and they arrived there instead of Draycote Water. Fortunately they had set out a day early and arrived at the correct venue in time, albeit via Pitsford Reservoir ! A worthy winner and commiserations to Keith Milroy who put the miles in behind the wheel.

So to the racing and, following a brief postponement the fleet filtered out to the race area with the Southerly breeze trying hard to stabilise. The PRO had kindly set the top mark of the windward leeward course just in front of the clubhouse where I was situated with bacon roll and tea. I casually adjusted my tripod to capture the action, the zoom lens extended to maximum, stopwatch synced with the countdown. 3 minutes later, and following an 90 degree shift to the West, I was decamping 300 yards around the reservoir to the new course, which incidentally, had been forecast. With the taste of carbs and calories still fresh in my mouth I readjusted my Fuji S1 and stood ready to capture the action.

Race 1

The first start was recalled and on the restart the 54 competitors were spread evenly along the line, Oliver Davenport just claiming the pin end from Vincenzo Horey, defending champion Tom Lonsdale, Ian Walters and Mike Sims. There were four black flag casualties who would record OCS, the luckless Davenport amongst them. The fleet tacked in unison as the wind veered and freed, John Ball showing some impressive boat speed and on point course choice to round the top mark first in this competitive field. Mark Lee, home fleet sailor Nigel Davies, Mike Sims and Lonsdale were next around from Rich Pepperdine and newcomer James Boyce, son of Andrew who was also racing. The Papercourt sailor had clearly benefitted from the huge fleet racing that is had at the Ripley based club an looked impressive in his first major event in the Solo (he just needs to sort his sail numbers before the next event). Walters rounded in tenth and with the breeze holding at 6 knots, set off in pursuit of the leaders. The twin leeward marks added an extra tactical decision to the mix and Boyce took the lead from Ball, Lonsdale and Sims. The right paid handsomely up the second beat and Walters claimed the lead now from Boyce, Ball and Ian Ingram who had joined the party. The breeze had freshened to the heady heights of 10 knots, the white rolls of wash from bow waves adding a refreshing splash of colour to the dour light source.

54 entries, big fleet racing in the Solo Spring Championship - photo © Will Loy

Sims and Pete Mitchell rounded six and seven with work to do but opportunities a plenty as they worked back downwind.

The four lap race ended with Ball taking the well deserved win from Walters, Pepperdine, Boyce Junior and Sims. Mitchell had misinterpreted the jury boat flag system and did needless turns which cost him some places, the deck an unwilling recipient of his frustration!

Race 2

The wind had gone further right and with the course reconfigured the fleet were released with John Webster nailing the committee end from Sims and Boyce. The right paid once again with Webster leading at the top from Sims, race 1 winner Ball who rounded third from Laurence Creaser who had made the most from the left of the course. Ian Carpenter, Davies, Walters and Grafham Water compatriot Ewan Birkin Walls completed the top eight but the whole fleet were as tightly bunched as Chris Brown's wallet. There were changes a plenty by the top of the second beat, Carpenter and Walters squirting out a small lead over the chasing bunch, Webster the biggest casualty down to a lowly fifth but was soon back up to third after choosing the right of the course and more pressure. Walters moved into the lead up the third beat giving a masterclass in upwind tactics by forcing Carpenter onto the unfavoured tack and then hooking into a personal lift. Sims, Webster and the fast improving Mitchell were next from Davies, Boyce and Walls. There were some big gains to be made at the leeward marks and at the gun it was Walters from Webster, Sims, Walls and Boyce. Carpenter would not be winning the Saturday lottery after finishing ninth.

Race 3

Therefore, with two different winners there was still much to play for though Walters 2-1 was clearly holding the strong hand. Just before the gun the wind swung right and as my readers know, if you are head to wind on the line with the black flag flying and boats to leeward, staying on station is near impossible. Throw in some inexperience and you have a recipe for OCS cake. One recall later and the fleet set off with 14 OCS victims and some title contenders amongst them. Walters, Sims, Pepperdine and Walls regatta was over with faces akin to Rory Mcilroy as he trudged off the 18th green at Augusta, though Walters and Sims at least had two good scores.

John Ball would need to win to take the event but was buried in the middle of the pack, ultimately finishing with a sixteen and 8th overall.

Blast from the past Bob Suggitt nailed the beat to round with a lead as slim as himself, his gold Suggest sail standing out like the Spinnaker Tower on a bleak Solent sky.

Ian Hopwood, a stranger to the front of the fleet in the previous two races was second from Northern Area Rep Philip Barnes, Mitchell, Boyce and Carpenter. The breeze was holding at 6 knots and Hopwood and Mitchell eked out a lead over the chasing pack with Mitchell ultimately taking the bullet which moved into second overall. Hopwood's second was a big improvement on his 50-35 and gives him self believe (not that he needs that) as he continues to race both the Solo and OK. No doubt the big fleet racing that the UK Solo circuit provides will serve him well in the European OK regattas. Philip Barnes took a well deserved third from Bob Suggitt who finished a commendable fifth overall and first Septimus while Stuart Gibson's fifth in race 3 will have given him some satisfaction on his drive back up to the Clyde. Let's hope he did not get directions from Patrick Burns.

So, Ian Walters wins the Spring Championship, and added to his second at the Noble Winters puts him top of the North Sails Super Series. I spent much of the day chatting to Pat, his very spritely mother and she is rightly proud of her son's achievements. Pete Mitchell is a great addition to the Solo Class and we hope he can find time between his university studies to attend more events this year. Mike Sims, third overall is mixing his Solo sailing with a Musto Skiff campaign, the Skiff a tad quicker but the Solo wins on numbers. James Boyce will have made his dad proud and his 4-5-6 scoreline will be gratifying though it appears he is getting worse. Nigel Davies was first Veteran in 7th overall and Northampton S.C. sailor Ian Carpenter was first Grand Master in 9th.

The feedback from competitors was positive to all the changes made, twin leeward marks dissipating any mass brawl at mark roundings, zero R42 transgressors and fairer racing for all.

Thanks to the team at Draycote Water, Steve Watson and team including Blake Latta for the On-Water Jury and special thanks to the competitors who continue to show the UK that dinghy racing lives.

Overall Results: