Noble Marine Solo class National Championship 2025 at East Lothian Yacht Club - Day 4

With two days lost through strong winds, competitors and race management had been glued to their phones all morning, checking various weather apps for some kind of sign that a window of opportunity would miraculously appear over the east of Scotland. ELYC's anemometer was in it's element, recording more hits than Rod Stewart ever did as sailors poured over the weather data and pie charts in an effort to settle their minds and stomachs, gusts in the 30 knot region did little to calm their nerves.

PRO Robbie Lawson wisely delayed the start time by 1 hour, I assume he did a quick head-count of sailors in the cafe, some still in their pyjamas, others, being hugged by partners who would not let them go. The dinghy park was still largely empty as the 12.15pm release flag was raised but this did at least initialise the uncovering of boats.

I had already been awake for six hours, squeezing every megapixel out of the limited footage I had recorded on day 1 and, after donning my trusty Gill breathable high chested salopettes and my NSCA branded Aquamarine Offshore jacket, shuffled down to the beach to affix transom cams, only stopping for a moment to re-velcro my Jesus creepers. I had already sweet-talked my room mates into providing the platforms for my cameras and as I was also providing the cooked breakfast, they really had nowhere to hide.

Andy Davis was my next target, the multiple National Champion had already been a willing volunteer but that footage was largely unusable, due in part to water ingress but I would ague that he was just going too fast, especially downwind. To address the splashing I therefore fitted a suction mount to his foredeck facing backwards and just hoped he would not try and go backwards quickly. Andy was also second overall and his technique is sublime, assertive and yet smooth, very much like my dating style before I found my soulmate.

The fleet assembled on the beach, the tide still incoming, gusts picking up the fine particles of sand and throwing them in faces without disseminating between good, evil, young or old.

I picked my way past a grannie who stood temporarily blinded and strode on to the pick up point for my ride, if I missed it she would pay.

Owner, Donald and driver Scott had been policing the competitors as they weaved past the rocks which, slightly submerged, lurked like Hippos with nothing better to do. Only once the last competitor was safe did they release 'Sea Fury' from her safety responsibility, she was now ear-marked for media duty and after transfer from the smaller and significantly less buoyant rib did we set off for the race arena.

Race 4

The breeze was brisk, holding at 17-20 knots but with a common burst of something in the mid-twenties. To be honest my anemometer was in the bottom of my dry-bag and the last time I held it aloft in anything over 6 knots it starting chirping like a Cicada. I was also conscious that calling the driver Donald, when his name was Scott was starting to irritate them, a faulty wind reader could have been the catalyst for an immediate transfer back on to a wetter ride.

I took up position on the starboard side, minimising the distance between the pin end buoy and my Samsung A14's camera lens, even with the addition of the DJI gimbal, zooming in would have resulted in footage of the sea and the sky but nothing in between.

Kev Gibb SCO nails the pin end with speed, being first out of the tide his advice to anyone who would listen to him. Unfortunately he would later disclose that he always seemed to end up going right and straight back into it. Jon Gay SCO is on his shoulder with Andy Davis to windward and in a nice lane out to the left. Chris Brown was to windward but pointing higher, the drop in speed a killer in this steep chop and Taxi would eventually tack and easily clear the CB Trailerstore jockey.

Event leader Oliver Davenport, resplendent in his leaders bright yellow rash vest had started poorly but his incredible speed advantage saw him round the top mark within a few lengths of Davis with Paul Davis third, the three podium leaders already extending on the rest of the field. Guy Mayger was on a recovery mission after breaking nearly every bone in his Solos body on day 1 and rounded ahead of Roo Purves and Chris Bunn, racing the newest Winder in the field.

The run was tricky but less destructive than Sunday, the breeze clicking off a whisker, the wave patterns less vengeful and at the bottom it was Davenport who led from the Davis brothers, I was still at the weather mark so can only guess that the remainder of the fleet held position.

We motored at some pace to the gybe mark, even though the fleet still had a beat and reach before they met us, I can only assume these Ribeyes drink less fuel when at full throttle.

Davenport has extended and gybes a full thirty seconds ahead of Andy Davis with Paul Davis a similar distance back. Purves has improved to fourth from Andrew Wilde and class President Mayger who is in his new ship, a Boatyard at Beer circa 2021. Steve Denison is in good shape, hooks into a vein of pressure, gybes and capsizes, all on camera. I apologised to his wife who was watching via the WhatsApp group link.

The last lap is largely uneventful, Davenport consolidating from Andy Davis 3-2-3 with Paul Davis collecting another 3rd to add to his 2-3-5, Roo Purves scores a 4 (34-6-2) from Andy Wilde with Mayger closing out the top six.

Race 5

Breeze down a notch but still a healthy 15-18 knots, the sunshine providing some respite for the competitors, energy bars, fruit and fluid providing the fuel to run their engines.

Pretty much a carbon copy of the previous start, Gibb and Gay at the pin end unmolested, Purves on their shoulder as they power off to the left lay line. Elaine Turner is in a nice spot with Steve Denison on a mission to redeem himself after the earlier swim, Mike Sims also holding a nice line out and with a 4-5-4-7 under his belt, is building a consistent set of counters.

Top mark and no surprises, Davenport leads in and rounds the spreader before his nearest challengers reach the top mark, Andy Davis judging the tack in perfectly while Paul Davis bails and gybes, rounding fourth behind Purves with Brown, Sims and Gay completing the top seven.

The fleet soak down the run, some exponents swerving like snakes in the sand, others happy to hold the rhum line, minimising distance but sacrificing speed.

The triangle is fun but after the life altering experiences of the first day, a bit of a disappointment, certainly the blood-lust on our media rib is waining, casualties at the gybe mark now, like this mornings breakfast, just a fond memory.

Davenport takes the win, his fifth on the trot from a fast finishing Roo Purves with Andy Davis, Paul Davis and Guy Mayger completing the top five.

The PRO gave the fleet a short reprieve before stepping into sequence for the last race of the day, aboard our rib, lunch, which had been handed out before race 5 was now my priority and I quickly devoured the cheesy vegetarian option and a couple of Tunnocks Caramels before initialising my phone and gimbal for the action.

Race 6

Copied and pasted from races 4-5. Gibb and Gay at the pin end along with Brown and Turner, you would think they would try another tactic by now.

Event leader Davenport is down this end with Martin Honnor in his wake, a tough place to live but you know that the P&B jockey is going to foot-off so worth holding your lane. Chris Bunn, Steve Ede and Nigel Davies are higher with Andy Davis, who started mid line, looking for a righty.

Top mark and Davenport leads in from the left with his rivals closer than they have been, the drop in pressure less advantageous for the event leader. Paul Davis is in pursuit with Andy Davis and Roo Purves again snapping at his transom. The reaches had become processional, the pressure drop limiting planing time, it must have felt an age for Purves who usually races a Wasp.

The lead at the bottom mark is 8 seconds but Davenport would expand that to 30 seconds by the top mark, those chasing in from the left getting lifted to a point where they were over-standing, Purves the biggest loser, dropping behind a fast finishing Mike Sims.

So at the gun Davenport takes his sixth win, hugely impressive, the lad has a speed advantage on the field in anything over 8 knots and that makes him hard to beat given the forecast for the next two days. Paul Davis comes in on second overall, held by Andy Davis who finished third from Mike Sims and Roo Purves.

The fight for second is close and very thrilling for me, that said, I don't have much going on in my life so have to grab onto any kind of excitement.

The Solo class is full of history and the Goliaths that made it so are etched into our fables, this one could go down as one of the performances of our generation. I hope I have not over-egged it.

Results after day 4: