HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Helensburgh Sailing Club

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Helensburgh © James Miller

Helensburgh on the West coast was the venue for the fourth of the HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers events of the season.

The forecast had been for a moderate easterly but as I drove along the seafront towards the club, glancing at some keelboats already racing it was clear there was more wind than forecast. Everyone was ready in good time so there was plenty of time to chat in the warm sunshine before launching. The noise of flogging sails as we rigged confirmed the strength of the wind! It was hot ashore and a spray top and wetsuit seemed excessive, at least until the first spray hit us on the reach out to the start.

We were sharing the windward/leeward course with some Blazes, and they were off first giving us a look at the line. The OOD was club commodore James Miller who gave us three excellent races with no hanging around. The tide was flooding and a long port tack to leebow the tide and get to shallower water seemed the way to go. The leaders in this race were Tony King and Charlie Brecknell who loves a good blow. Third was Kenny Manderson from the home club sailing a borrowed Solo for the very first time. Next was Richard Bolton, again in a borrowed boat. These four were close and a good distance in front of the rest. There was good racing throughout the fleet, especially down the first run. By sailing as low as you could on starboard you could round the right hand side of the gate without a gybe - a good move with sustained winds of F4/5. However the tide was pushing boats towards the mark and so you had to sail ever lower. Your scribe was struck a glancing blow on the head by a boom near the mark but since he was already by the lee had no time to spare to see who the culprit was!

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Helensburgh - photo © Roddy Mackenzie

For the second race it was clear that there was a port bias on the line. Tony King and Ross Watson lined up for a port tack start but only Tony made it work. He blasted out to the lay line and rounded the mark with a good lead. Job done. Charlie Brecknell was further back but his windward speed pulled him through second as the race progressed. The consistently fast Richard Bolton was third. The wind shifts meant that there were places to be made by using the shifts and a number of boats came into the windward mark on a port tack lift.

For the third race the port bias was still there but with a little less wind. Ross Watson started at the pin and a header meant he held a slight lead over Charlie and Tony as the fleet sailed to the lay line to the windward mark. Down the run Tony pulled through to lead and the three boats all went for the left side of the gate. Charlie was in the lee of Ross as they left the gate mark but when a gust came he just powered through. Down the next run the three were again very close and it remained that way up the beat. Down the third run Ross decided to give the fleet some entertainment and rolled in to windward, discovering in the process that the water was shallower than his mast. Tony got past Charlie on the last run followed by Robert Taylor, who had been consistently fast all afternoon, for a deserved third place.

Tony King had shown his mastery of the conditions and was the deserved winner of the HD Sails Travellers. Next was Charlie Brecknell who as usual enjoyed the fresh breeze and was always fast to windward. Kenny Manderson did very well to come third in what was his first sail in a Solo. He enjoyed the sailing though did admit that sailing a Solo in 20 knots is harder on the legs than his usual 5o5! After packing up we sat in the sun enjoying a cool beer as the results were sorted. At the prize-giving the OOD apologised for not being able to set longer beats which prompted much laughter.

Everyone enjoyed a great day on the water and the excellent organisation and hospitality of Helensburgh Sailing Club. The Scottish Solo fleet will certainly be back but in the meantime we look forward to the HD Sails Scottish Solo Championship at St Andrews SC on July 1-2. This promises to be a great event on the excellent sailing waters just off the beach. The heavily subsidised entry is only £5 and we expect a good turnout.

Overall Results: