Solo class prepares for the culmination of a Season Of Determination

Harry Lucas © Will Loy

Paul Davis © Will Loy

We are just one week away from the culmination of a Season Of Determination (SOD), commitment and injury prevention, twenty three qualifiers holding four scores are already assured of their lucky ticket in the prize draw for a huge discount on a new North sail while a further twenty can add their names to the President's hat of destiny if they post a score at the End of Season showdown (EOS).

NSCA President Paul Davis has promised to once again preside over the Prize Giving dressed as a Tom Hardy character though the Mad Max mouth guard could prove problematic given his propensity for public speaking.

Harry Lucas still holds a slim advantage over his nearest rivals, only HISC based Alex Butler and Oliver Davenport can pip the Northampton based sailor, Butler needing a second while Oliver's recent win at the Midland Championship, Grafham Water gives him three bullets and a podium will be enough to snatch it at the death.

All eyes will be on the weather platforms as the days countdown to Saturday November 14th, no wind and Lucas seals a season of triumphs with a sweet looking trophy which will look good in his rear view mirror as he goes home though I am sure he would prefer to win by knockout. If the wind blows across Draycote (the platform guru is currently indicating that pressure will arrive towards the end of the weekend but it always comes early) then he may want to consider some match racing tactics, taking Davenport down the fleet is easier to type than to actually do but it would make great entertainment, I would suggest his Dad Dave stands next to the club defibrillator.

Should Davenport get the chance to stretch his torso over the side and foot-off then that will be that, there is no shame in second place other than the personal hell and life-long torture failure inflicts. Oliver is developing into one of the Solo greats and his performances in any sort of fresh breeze have been blistering in speed and calm in execution. Maybe it is a generational thing and while I do not advocate alcoholism I still merit the ability to perform while totally hammered and if he is to reach the bar set by Geoff Carveth, Martin Payne, Ian Walters, Jim Hunt and Andy Davis then he needs to drop the Shandy.

I am only joking though and the modern Solo sailors are athletes, the raked rig demanding either a high level of agility or a helmet, the centreboard capping necessitating hip and knee mobility beyond ninety degrees and the 70 kg hulls demanding the stamina of a three Peaks runner post race.

It would be rude not to mention some of the other notable prospects and Chris Brown (North Sails F4 power unit) has nothing to lose in fourth, even a bullet will not improve his overall position but that makes him dangerous for the event win while North Sails Super Series sponsor have activated Tom Gillard (North aramid), his mission, should he choose, to take the win and move him into the top three, possibly taking away some of the glory from Harry in the HD powered Winder or Davenport in the Davenport Sails powered Solo. Butler favours the North Sails P4 power unit so expect them to play nicely should they both contest the lead.

Guy Mayger in his Boatyard at Beer, HD powered Solo (Nation's Cup Champion) and Andrew Wilde (North P3, Inland Champion) can still have a say in the race to the podium which, as I write this is getting very crowded while Mike Barnes (Beckett, HD Maxx) in the Vintage category will be chuffed if he can improve on his best result of fourteenth. First Lady is Maria E. Franco (North L3) who has the ability to better her sixteenth, she could move up three or four places if she can drop the thirty she is currently counting so there is a target.

Harken are our event sponsor and a huger thank you in advance for your support of the Solo in this spectacular 70th Anniversary year.

North Sails have been the Super Series sponsor since it's inception and we thank you, remembering the delight on those lucky buggers who won a new North sail still warms my cockles.

Draycote Water is a fabulous venue (Inland Championship venue 2027) and the race team are always on-point (commentator's curse) so why not hitch up your Solo one more time this season for the final event of 2026.

Enter now and be part of the story.

www.solosailing.org.uk