Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik

Guy Mayger leads race 5 during the Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik © Eddy Boon, Robert Wit & Doug Latta

Peerke Kortekaas during the Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik © Eddy Boon, Robert Wit & Doug Latta

Lawrence Creaser leads Pete Mitchell during the Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik © Eddy Boon, Robert Wit & Doug Latta

This year 37 Solos made the annual pilgrimage to Medemblik for the Spring Cup, joining our friends from the OK fleet. Not many events can compete with the superb race management combined with the hospitality of the Dutch fleet, as one of our Scottish contingent mentioned any errors on the race course can be overcome when you are enjoying happy hour (read, free beer) in the Café Brakeboer!

Prior to the event there were many questions. With the fleet known for its close tactical racing our pre-event form guide (discussed on the ferry on the way over) suggested at least 15 sailors more than capable of winning races so it was likely to be a close affair. Could Andy "Taxi" Davis be victorious three years in a row or could one of Dutch sailors mount a challenge to retake the trophy. More importantly it looked like the weather forecast would require a sensible level of clothing rather than the emptying/re-use of long forgotten kit of previous years!

Day 1

Competitors were greeted with light and shifty winds. Race 1 suggested that Andy's defence was looking good, taking the win from former winner Pete Mitchell (aka the student). The Dutch challenge looked strong with Peerke Kortekass and Hans Duetz finishing 3rd and 4th. Race 2 was started in a dropping breeze with the focus being on avoiding the significant holes in the breeze. Victory was taken by Pete with Lawrence Creaser in second and Peerke again taking 3rd. Race 3 was abandoned at the windward mark when the breeze completely disappeared. It is hoped that race leader, at the time, Chris Brown can move on from the disappointment in the next 12 months or so.

With day 1 a wrap, Pete took the leader's yellow jersey with Peerke in 2nd and Lawrence in 3rd. Perhaps Andy's triple maybe a challenge?

Day 2

The forecast looked a little more promising on Day 2, the sun was even threatening to make an appearance and a few English roses were seen putting on sun-cream!

Startline during the Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik - photo © Eddy Boon, Robert Wit & Doug Latta

Race 3 was held in a gusty and still shifty Force 2-3 and saw Lawrence making his move to challenge for the event with his first race win at a Solo major with Andy Davis taking 2nd and Matthew Frary looking fast in his new boat taking 3rd. Race 4 saw Lawrence starting to take a grip on the trophy taking a second win with solid tactics and good boatspeed, with Arnd Wolvetang in 2nd and Tom Lonsdale in 3rd. Race 5 started in a decent breeze with Guy Mayger taking an excellent start to finish win with Tom again in the placings in 2nd and Arnd completing a strong performance for the day in 3rd.

Lawrence's excellent day saw him take a 6 point lead into day 3 with Pete and Andy following in 2ND and 3rd. Guy sat in 4th with a very consistent performance after a slightly suspect race 2. Could Lawrence take his 1st major Solo championship or could Pete or Andy make a late challenge?

Day 3

Competitors arrived to the sailing centre to be greeted by the traditional rain and cold that Medemblik typically serves up at this time of year, but it looked like full hiking maybe the order of the day for the two scheduled races so some smiles on the faces of the more generously built competitors!

Race 6 started in a much steadier 12 knots and classic Medemblik chop. Pete seemed to have his game face on after having a disappointing day 2, taking the race win with Lawrence remaining cool, calm and collected taking 2nd place with Tom once again in 3rd.

Gybe mark during the Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik - photo © Eddy Boon, Robert Wit & Doug Latta

Andy Davis finished in 7th and thus, like Manchester City, no treble in 2018, but he's a Liverpool supporter so will be happy with their European adventure so far.

Going into race 7, Lawrence virtually had 2 hands on the trophy, was seen to engage Pete with some match race tactics, but was greeted with quote of the weekend "You have an 8 point lead you numpty" or words to that effect!

Race 7 was led in the early stages by Peerke, but was overtaken by Pete. Could he make a late challenge and snatch the Cup? He was certainly doing all he could. After 3 laps in a nice hiking conditions Pete took the win with Andy in 2nd and Peerke finishing in 3rd. Lawrence kept a cool head as he had all weekend and finished in a comfortable 6th and thus took the Championship.

Another fantastic event was concluded in Holland with Lawrence taking the well-deserved win with the most consistent sailing in the challenging conditions, with Pete followed by Andy. Guy took an excellent 4th and 1st veteran. Peerke showed the strengthening Dutch fleet are right on the pace as did Marleen Gaillard in 11th place, also our leading lady.

Here are a few words from Lawrence explaining how things went from his perspective...

"We had quite a wide range of conditions across the weekend, even within the same race, which meant the results were a real mixed bag in most races. As ever in the Solo fleet one mistake was pretty costly, it was easy to lose 3 or 4 boats (and more) by missing one windshift! Just trying to keep your nose clean and keep your options open with any shifts that could happen was what I was trying to keep in my mind. Consistency was hard to find! A little saying that was passed onto me a while ago often went through my mind during a racing and was never more appropriate than this weekend. STAY IN THE GAME!"

Nice one Lawrence, it seemed to work very well!

(l-r) Andy Davis (3rd), Lawrence Creaser (1st), Pete Mitchell (2nd) in the Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik - photo © Eddy Boon, Robert Wit & Doug Latta

Overall Results: