Rooster Solo National Championship 2021 - Day 4

Launching on day 4 of the Rooster Solo National Championship © Will Loy

Wednesday, and with another high carb/high fat/high cholesterol breakfast just over my belt I set off for Mounts Bay SC, my expectations of a pulsating day's racing, given my intake were... high.

Two RIB transfers and we were blasting out to the race area, just south of Penzance. There was some initial drama, my triple salchow with pike into 'Deep Sea' (or rescue boat 1 as they say), did alarm the team, but once recovered from the bottom of the RIB I soon convinced them I meant it.

The breeze was a healthy 9-10 knots and holding at around 110 with a slight swell and some kickers to negotiate. The August sunshine beat down on us and jury man Steve Watson was quick to apply sunscreen to the appropriate areas of his lily white skin. I did explain that there was a lady on board but to no avail. Fortunately she averted her gaze out to sea while the real men aboard stood defiant against the harmful rays.

Doug Latta in Solo 6000 leads the fleet on day 4 of the Rooster Solo National Championship - photo © Will Loy

Race 8 and Olli Davenport would be pathfinder, a pretty handy sailor, you would think that the fleet would let him do the hard work for a few minutes before they passed behind him. There was though, still a considerable number of competitors who decided left was the way to go and Paul Ellis was so enthusiastic that he started early.

Just winding back a few minutes, the first start was aborted as there were a number of competitors hindering the pathfinder. There were also a few Solos on the course side as the start gun fired and they would be OCS but I am unsure if they could be reinstated for the second start.

We motored up the right of the course, noting that Doug Latta and a few others, including the pathfinder had a pretty hot angle on port as the main body of the fleet went left on starboard. By the top mark it was indeed Doug Latta who claimed the bragging rights in the bar, rounding with a healthy lead over the fleet. Olli Davenport rounded second from Geoff Holden and Jarvis Simpson who was suitably chuffed.

The top guys had something to find, Davis was in the low teens but had actually recovered from deep after bailing out from the left early. Likewise, Tom Gillard was twenty something and with Paul Ellis unknowingly OCS, the championship was being blown wide open.

Latta continued to impress, Solo 6000, still the newest Solo in the fleet and it must be three years old now, and led into the bottom mark from Davenport. There was a blur of boats as they rounded the gate marks, Holden, Simpson and Davis were able to stay ahead of the wind shadow that was sucking the life out of anything in front of it.

Gillard was improving too and was in the top ten with one lap to go. The right seemed favoured once more and Latta just managed to hold Davenport off as they reached the top but as they both rounded, Davenport caught a ripper of a wave which catapulted him inside of the ex president and the deal a was sealed. Davis shortened the distance between him and the top two but had to settle for a three to add to his impressively consistent scorecard. Jarvis Simpson held his nerve and took fourth ahead of fast finishing Gillard.

We then sat and awaited the start sequence for Race 9 with the wind holding at around 8-10 knots. I ferreted around in my kit bag for nourishment, pulling out a distorted pack of almond fingers and a bottle of Lucozade Energy; calorie intake is so important in a long Championship.

I was transferred to the guard boat for the start of race 9, I do feel there was some malice from my crew as I had after all, scoffed the cakes with no thought for their diminishing waistlines. There would be good opportunity for close up and personal photos as the fleet crossed behind us so there was some justification in their thought process, I just felt walking the plank across was a step too far.

PRO Peter Jelliss stood forward on the bridge, his eyes fixed on the thin thread of wool atop a stick he held up to the breeze. Without everting his gaze he ordered the relevant wind strength and direction from his infantry men and processed the information, only a faint murmur escaping his lips indicating life.

"The wind's playing silly buggers" were his first words and, with hindsight we should have taken that as gospel and all gone home, but instead we sat, contemplating our life decisions as the minutes ticked by.

Red Admirals flicked past us, making their way no doubt to the Butterfly Mecca that is The Gardens of St Michael's Mount. I wondered at their beauty and skill and resolve in flying into the North Easterly breeze when it would have been far easier to have planed South West but then again the next stop would have been Mexico.

After two hours and the knowledge that the wind was indeed playing silly buggers the fleet were sent home. An added sweetener for the competitors was the 400 metre hike up the soft sandy beach.

So with eight races completed (on paper and subject to any legal complications) Andy Davis leads the Championship with Tom Gillard his nearest rival. The forecasts are mixed but the gossip is it may get lighter over the next two days.

Today's racing is sponsored generously by P&B and Powerworks EVC so there will be plenty of prizes on offer to some lucky competitors tonight.

Adrian Giffin on day 4 of the Rooster Solo National Championship - photo © Will Loy

Results after day 4:

Day 4 of the Rooster Solo National Championship - photo © Will Loy