Please select your home edition
Edition
Melges 15

HD Sails Scottish Solos Travellers at Helensburgh Sailing Club

by David Parkin 15 Sep 2019 06:59 BST 7 September 2019
Scottish Solo travellers at Helensburgh © David Parkin

The latest round of the HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers was held at Helensburgh on September 7th. This also incorporated the Ben Ledi trophy which is effectively the champion of Scotland and allows no discards!

14 boats arrived from all over Scotland to find sun and a light breeze. The race officer took us down the Gareloch but then brought us back up the loch where there was more wind, but close to the shipping channel. Somehow he managed to get 3 races in with little delay despite a wind that swung nearly 90 degrees during the afternoon. We also had a nuclear submarine going past to contend with.

With the tide flooding the decision up the beats was to go left and avoid the worst of the tide or go right for more breeze, it was never the same each lap. The wind was patchy all afternoon but never really disappeared.

Stuart Gibson from CCC Bardowie seemed to have no problems with this and comfortably won all 3 races. Allan Jeffrey from the home club was second with a 3, 2, 4 and Robert Signer third. Unusually the lack of discard for the Ben Ledi made little difference with the top two being the same, but Malcolm Worsens from Royal Tay being third.

At the prize giving HD sails t shirts were given to the top three as well as the usual prizes. Many thanks to all at HSC for putting on a great day.

The final event and AGM is at Loch Ard SC on October 5th.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2R3Pts
15613Sturart GibsonCCC1112
25269Alan JeffreyHelensburgh SC3245
34856Robert SignerLoch Ard / CCC12426
44502Malcolm WorsleyRoyal Tay4336
55801Willie ToddLargs25107
65841Ross WtasonLoch Tummel67511
75858Patrick Burnsrya512712
85604John ColegraveASYC99615
95627David ParkinASYC106915
104790Alastair WyperCCC88816
114297Graeme Busby 711DNC1518
125787Nigel OrkneyLargo Bay13101222
134808Tim FlatmanHelensburgh SC11131122
144558Bruce BirrelHelensburgh SC14DNC151327

Related Articles

Solos at Leigh-on-Sea
Racing the day after the Vintage Championship Six visiting soloists were greeted at Leigh on arrival with no water and a cool nor'eastery breeze bought on by a sun hidden under some high cloud. But as the morning heat increased so did the light breeze and the tide. Posted on 17 Jul
Solo Northern Championship at Hollingworth
Yorkshire's very own Lake Como Low clouds and gusty winds greeted Solo sailors at Yorkshire's very own Lake Como - Hollingworth Lake. Fresh from his top ten Europeans (Nations Cup) was Steve Dennison in a borrowed Winder Demo boat and borrowed sailing gear. Posted on 16 Jul
Solo Vintage Championship
Leigh on Sea Sailing Club turned on the Essex magic Leigh on Sea Sailing Club turned on the Essex magic for the Vintage Championship, supplying champagne conditions which even Lake Como would have struggled to match, North Berwick, venue for the Solo National Championship in three weeks take note! Posted on 15 Jul
Solo Western Series at Porthpean
Impeccable organisation on and off the water by the team of volunteers On Sunday 6th July Porthpean Sailing Club held its first Solo open meeting as part of a doubleheader with Torpoint Mosquito. Both events are part of the Western series sponsored by P&B and Dinghy Shack. Posted on 9 Jul
Solo Vintage Championship preview
Leigh-on-Sea has the biggest fleet in the world Leigh on Sea Sailing Club is home to the largest fleet of Vintage Solos in the World and on Sat 12th July will host the seventh running of the Vintage Championship. Posted on 8 Jul
Dell Quay Centenary Solo Open
The wind blew, the sun shone and the seals watched The clouds cleared and the sun shone for Dell Quay's breezy Centenary National Solo Open on 28 June 2025. As the 25 boat fleet crossed the start line a curious seal took in the stunning sight from the windward mark. Posted on 7 Jul
HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Venachar
A seriously breezy event amongst the beautiful Trossachs hills In the lead-up to this event in the HD Sails Scottish travellers series I was worried that sailing on an inland loch amongst the beautiful Trossachs hills in mid-summer meant that we would struggle with light and shifty winds from every direction. Posted on 1 Jul
Solos at Chipstead
20+ knots blowing down the lake for the Southern Series and Thames Series event Four races took place over the day with clear blue skies, in, gusty, shifty wind conditions 20+ knots blowing down the lake. Posted on 30 Jun
Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 4
The final day of racing at Circolo Vela Bellano So, to the final day of racing and there would be three races planned before a prize-giving reception which would be held at the Palasole Pavilion later this evening. Posted on 25 Jun
Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3
Social evening proves universally popular with every seat taken Before I get into the action from day 3, first a quick recap on the previous evening's Italian themed Solo social which took place in the shaded area of the nearby Palasole Pavilion. This must have been a popular choice as every seat was taken. Posted on 25 Jun