HD Sails Scottish Solo Championships at East Lothian Yacht Club

HD Sails Scottish Solo Championships at East Lothian © Steve Fraser

The HD sails Scottish Solo championship was held as part of the North Berwick regatta on June 7/8. It was an opportunity to sail on the same waters where the Solo National Championships will be held in early August.

The grassy area just above the beach is used for a dinghy park for big events by the club. Your scribe used the advantage of living locally to get his boat in the prime spot right beside the beachmasters tent! It was a good spot for the HD banner as well. The forecast for Saturday looked a bit iffy. A light westerly expected to turn round to the east about midday, when we would be launching.

The wind did move round to the east but it was light and with big dark clouds just behind the town all the fleets were held ashore. This gave a chance to chat to all our friends in the other classes, ask why they were not sailing a Solo and gaze at the complexity of the I14 rudder systems.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Championships at East Lothian - photo © Steve Fraser

The go-ahead to launch came as the breeze was a bit more consistent and the well organised trolley team had a busy few minutes as 100 boats rushed to launch. As we sailed out however it became clear that the breeze was dying. The run down to the west course area where the Solo's were sailing was very slow. There was no sign of any dolphins, let alone the pod of orcas seen a few days before, to liven the journey.

Once at the course area it looked pretty hopeless but the breeze did turn back to the west and was that a dark line on the water? It was, and after getting the course laid the start sequence began. The gap between classes was only two minutes so not much time to watch the early starts and check line bias. With the start delayed an hour the tide had turned and it seemed going left would pay. The Solos were third start but a few boats seemed to think we were starting after the Enterprises and had clearly not watched the flags - your scribe among them!

Kevan Gibb started at the pin end went inshore and lead throughout the race. The first mark gave plenty of drama. Robert Taylor was loudly insistent on his rights on the inside, Malcolm Worsley hit the mark and Ross Watson had to gybe round for another attempt. At the finish Kevan was the winner from Willie Todd and Patrick Burns.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Championships at East Lothian - photo © Steve Fraser

For the second race everyone had worked out it paid to go left. Willie Todd lined up early as usual to claim the pin end but when Ross contested this they both ended up over early. Kevan made no mistake and again went left and was able to point very high. This time the small gap to the big fleet of Lasers in front became an issue as the Solo's soon caught the back markers forcing many of us to tack to the right to get clear wind.

Having a Laser inside you at the windward mark was also to be avoided as whilst the Solos were bearing off onto a run the Laser's next leg was a reach!

Once again Kevan led the race throughout. On the second round the wind started to build and the toestraps were called into use. As we approached the second windward mark Willie, Malcom, Stuart and Ross were overlapped with Willie inside. The next leg was a fast reach as the wind strengthened to force 4 but as we approached the gybe mark there was a capsized Laser to contend with. Willie had plenty room to gybe but Malcolm barely had enough room which brought Ross close enough to be able to pass him on the run.

The forecast for Sunday looked much better with a moderate westerly wind, and so it proved. In the changing room the chat was about how tough it was to squeeze into our wetsuits and bend down to get boots on - but we managed. The trolley team excelled themselves on launching, I had not even got my boat into the water before asked a youngster asked if he could take my trolley.

The reach out to the start was short and we had a westerly wind between 12 and 20 knots for three races, perfect conditions. We were starting in the middle of the flood which made going right up the beat more likely. With more wind across the course the Laser fleet were much less of an issue this time.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Championships at East Lothian - photo © Steve Fraser

A new day brought a new leader as Willie started strong with two firsts. He went right up the beats which was the way to go. It was not a one-sided course though as there were plenty of shifts to look out for. In the second race of the day Charlie Brecknell took the lead up the second beat after going up the middle only for Willie to regain the lead on the last run.

After the first two races Willie had taken the overall lead but Charlie Brecknell now came through strongly to take the third race of the day. After three races our legs were hurting but the race officer was determined to get all six scheduled races sailed and so off we went again. A final race meant that it was all to play for between Charlie and Willie. The wind went lighter as this race progressed.

The tide had now turned but it did not pay to go all the way inshore as the wind shifted a little to the right. Charlie Brecknell continued his fine form to take the last race, although even when ashore he was not sure of the final positions.

The results showed that he was the very deserved winner of the HD Sails Scottish Solo Championships after steadily improving over the last few seasons. Second was Willie Todd and third the very consistent Stuart Gibson.

The next event in the HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers is at Loch Venachar on June 28. Conditions will be completely different here with flat water and shifty inland conditions.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Championships at East Lothian - photo © Ross Watson

Overall Results: