National Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

National Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at the WPNSA © Will Loy

After so many weeks of sailing in light wind events, as the fleet gathered in Weymouth, faces looked elated at the prospect of the forecast 16-18 knot breeze forecast in the next major event in the North Sails sponsored NSCA Super Series. With the National Championships now only 5 weeks away, this event was sure to give us some good clues as to who the likely leaders would be, and no shortage of talented sailors turned up to demonstrate their credentials.

WPNSA Chief Exec Peter Allam quoting from Will Loy's Y&Y event preview report, prepared competitors for some 'epic racing' with 'on point' race management. This proved to be accurate on both counts, and PRO Bryan Drake and his team did a stunning job in providing some great racing – and doubtless for them some good spectator sport also!

With memories of the YouTube video we will all have watched of the Irish Sailing Commentator for the Laser racing at the 2012 Olympics ringing in the competitors minds, the 'Olympic Horn' blared out bang on time at 11.55 signalling the 5 minute gun.

As Portland Bill sank ever deeper into the mist and nearly disappeared altogether, the fleet elected to head left towards the murky land mass in the hope of picking up the renowned header on the approach in to the shore, and the resultant lift up to the windward mark. The SW wind although steadyish in direction, was a solid 18 knots with gusts up to around 23 knots. Cliff Crawshaw hit the middle of the line and tacked short of the left group and rounded 1st quickly followed by Ian Hopwood, Jack Hopkins, Tim Law and Pete Mitchell. Jack Hopkins got in front on the run, only to head to the finish line a lap early, which allowed Cliff Crawshaw and Mitchell through.... The rest of the fleet were wearing the brown trousers off the wind blinded by the walls of spray off the bows of their bucking steeds as gusts got stronger and stronger down the reaches, and clinging on upwind with leg muscles screaming 'no more!'.

With a target time of 45 minutes for the racing, the first race tested competitors with the mid fleet finishing in around 70 minutes. Only 2 more races to complete we told ourselves, and steeled our already weary muscles for the onslaught of race 2.

Although still grey, the mist cleared to allow competitors their first clear view of the Bill, and with the wind increasing yet more, with a steady 23 knots now gusting up to around 28 knots, race two got underway. The left hand side of the beat was still favoured and Richard Lovering got a great start and was untouched from there. Fergus Barnham, Tim Law & Chris Brown rounded next. Chris Brown took some damage at the gybe mark which later revealed a water-logged front tank, putting him back for the rest of the day. Pete Mitchell was further back at the windward mark, but made gains downwind to finish 4th.

Course Safety lead Alun Morgan and his team were kept busy in attendance to an increasing number of capsizes, not to mention the start of gear failure amongst the fleet, two halyards, one toe strap fixing point, one centre plate crack, and after a few collisions a few leaks..... these were testing conditions indeed.

The start of race 3 saw a reluctant emergence of the sun, but for those like myself who were convinced she wouldn't show her pretty face and omitted to wear sunglasses (or goggles) the force of spray barging it's way into the very socket of your eyeballs meant the remaining sailors who made it around the course had eyes reminiscent of an early horror movie (and in my own case the onset of temporary loss of vision). Wind direction remained pretty much the same as race 2, but now the breeze was not howling, but screaming with gusts recorded at 37 knots on the racecourse. Leaders Lovering, Law and Pete Mitchell tacked at the gybe mark while Dave Mitchell threw in a big gybe to take a well deserved 2nd. For the rest of us, the Irish commentator might have warned 'No you fool, don't gybe as it will end in tears' as numerous boats capsized or chose to wear round. For your correspondent, having the best race of the day and vying for 8th with Lawrence Creaser and having successfully navigated the first gybe mark, my race effectively came to an end on the next run, capsizing on the gybe and kissing the result goodbye and having to slog around another lap in 21st.

After a night's restless sleep, as twitching limbs recalled the torture they had been subjected to, competitors assembled for Race 4, which got underway on Sunday morning in a somewhat more moderate breeze. Ian Hopwood stormed to the front and rounded 1st, followed by Tim Law and Pete Mitchell. Richard Lovering went for a swim at the leeward mark, leaving the regatta wide open and having to claw his way back up to 8th. Law managed to get through Hopwood on the final beat, but Hopwood was able to sail underneath Law on the penultimate reach to get back into the lead! Law and Pete Mitchell followed closely behind.

Race 5, Richard Lovering got another great start and lead from start to finish. This time, Chris Brown made an appearance back at the front of the fleet, only to capsize at the gybe mark behind Pete Mitchell whilst in 4th! Tim Law and Pete Mitchell fought hard on the run, with Pete Mitchell choosing the wrong side towards to the leeward mark which allowed Law to take 2nd.

In Race 6, now with a heavily depleted fleet, Jack Hopkins and Richard Lovering rounded the top mark together, followed closely by David Mitchell, Ian Hopwood and Nigel Davis. Jack Hopkins managed to get underneath Lovering on the reach which lead to a tight battle on the final beat to the finish but with Lovering adding his 4th race win of the weekend to take a stunning win overall. Cliff Crawshaw had a good final beat to come through from the right and take 4th. This left Tim Law in 2nd overall, Pete Mitchell in 3rd, Jack Hopkins in 4th and Dave Mitchell in 5th.

Richard Lovering wins the National Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at the WPNSA - photo © Nigel Davies

WPNSA now look forward to welcoming the fleet for next year's Nigel Pusinelli and National Championship, while the fleet look forward to their flight to the sun and more epic racing at Riva del Garda for the Magic Marine Nations Cup in final preparations for the Magic Marine National Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club.

Overall Results: