Solo Interactive
Area Series Conclusions Super Series Winner ONK at Muiden Nigel Pusinelli Trophy EOS
Deck Cam Special Lake Como Info Nation’s Cup North Berwick Info Nationals
Editorial Will Loy
Blimey, here we are near the very end of another Solo season, a new Nation’s Cup and National Champion and the first Dutchman since Mark Tigchelaar won at Medemblik in 1990. Pim van Vugt ’s Olympic background in 49ers provided a perfect platform for his assault on the pinnacle of Solo excellence and has possibly opened the flood gates for other elite sailors to come and have a go. Personally I believe that the very best sailors participation in our Class raises the standard of the fleet, that said, there is no way some of our guys will adhere to a no alcohol ban and as for balanced diets, forget it.
We should not forget that Oliver Davenport was leading going into the final day and only lost on countback, certainly his name will feature on the silverware very soon. To back up my theory on fleet improvement, the Dutch looked very strong at ONK where Pim won but Saskia Arnold took him to task when the physicality was not required. The social side was on-point of course and bodes well for the 2025 Nation’s Cup, Lake Como where the Dutch will host. I received a generous donation from the Nederlandse Class towards the repair of my camera and am now obliged to provide media coverage as a thank you, sneaky.
North Berwick is the venue for our National Championship and I can testify that the air is clear, the water is cold and the welcome is warm so please do pencil this prestigious event into your calendar. We have made it a week long regatta given the distance required to travel and it is worth every mile.
I have just received some sad news that Roy Barnes, father of ex Class President Mike has passed away. Those that do remember him will recollect that he was a long time Solo enthusiast, racing out of Hayling Island for many years and was one of the most cheerful and positive men you could meet. I remember fondly when he lent his Lovett 3252 to Geoff Carveth for the 1989 Worlds which he won..Roy said it had never gone that fast for him. Deepest sympathy from all that knew him.
Congratulations to Andy Carter who qualified for the North Sails Super Series draw and collected a large voucher towards a new North P4. I understand Andy has already been in touch with Charlie.
I would love to see the major events draw in the numbers we hit pre-pandemic but with club racing participation at an all time high and fuel costs prohibitive, I think the only answer would be to streamline our major events to the Nationals, Nation’s Cup and Inlands. This sounds like a step backwards and probably an unpopular opinion but I remember racing against 100+ Solos in the 90s at Rutland and it was epic. That said, I was near the front.
I have just acquired Solo 4145 which was in a pretty poor condition for a wooden Solo only 27 years old. Fortunately, the Thresher which Tony originally built for himself had a generous layer of epoxy, so it is still as strong as it was in 1997 apart from some impact damage. The Gaboon decks are not really to my taste so I am going down the white route and with a couple of tweaks, I hope to take it to the Vintage Champs at Leigh on Sea in 2025. Not only are these older Solos great value, the variety of hull shapes provide much more choice than a W1, 1a, W2, GOAT or P+B/JP. Come to think of it, most bases are covered! It was great to see Chris Mayhew win the final race at the EOS and feature too at the Pusinelli in his 2009 John Poulson built 4921. That said, Chris did win the Optimist National Championship so he is a handy sailor.
Enjoy the festivities and then begin your campaign for 2025, whether it is losing weight or purchasing a new Solo.
Cherry-pick the events you want to do and clear the dates with your partner before booking your accommodation, ferry or plane. Hopefully I will see you there and make you famous.
Still my favourite pic of all time. Cumbley tearing it up at Weymouth 2019.
Strictly Solo
See what happens next HERE
The location is Salcombe and Mr Fells is about to lead into mark 1 and from there it will pretty much be a cake walk for ‘talented Tim’. One final beat to the iconic start/finish line and the win will be in the bag (though they didn’t go in there).
Only Tim Law thinks otherwise, nipping at the leader’s heels like a tenacious Terrier.
President’s Report
Dear Solo sailors,
In the blink of an eye the 2024 Solo season has come to an end, sadly.
Looking at the Super Series, a total of 362 (55 NED) competitors took part across the 8, plus 1 Area, qualifying events. Once again, our little boat continues to offer some of the best racing within the UK.
Our Super Series champion for 2024 was Oliver Davenport, who really is mister consistent when it comes to racing at the major events throughout the season.
Quietly spoken, I have no problem with that, Olly is a credit to the class being generous with his advice and being one of our mainstay coaches, particularly for the Midlands area. Always worth asking him for go-faster hints and tips on how to improve your Solo sailing.
If you’re interesting in getting a closer look at Olly’s boat, I’m pleased to say that 6110 will be one of the boats on the Solo stand at the 2025 Dinghy Show with her helmsman in close attendance to answer your questions.
Since I last wrote we’ve also had the Nigel Pusinelli at Salcombe and the End of Seasons at Draycote.
As Mr Loy will report elsewhere in this edition, the Pusinelli turned out to be a one day event as the Sunday was blown out by some hefty breeze, unfortunately. But that didn’t stop Tim Law putting on an excellent performance, winning the two racings held on the famous Ria on the Saturday. A couple of boats may have been a little quicker upwind, but Tim masterfully controlled his competitors, shadowing and corralling as he needed. This, of course, comes as no surprise to those of us who’ve raced against Tim over many years.
A bit about Oliver Davenport HERE
At the End of Season championship we were once again given light winds to contend with, similar to 2023. Having checked with a local expert (let’s call him Mr Brown) on how to best negotiate his home lake, I then proceeded to totally ignored his advice and was lucky enough to come away with the win. After a slightly quiet year on the results front, I was very pleased to pick this one up.
I also particularly enjoyed class Vice President, Paul Davies, picking up the win in the first race of the day.
What with other Committee members, Steve Ede and Nigel Davies, also collecting wins throughout 2025, maybe getting involved the class association will also boost your results? We have a couple of vacant positions, so please feel free to get in touch.
One person who has stepped forward is Fraser Hayden. He has kindly been helping behind the scenes with some of the results. Fraser’s first bit of handy work was to sort out the Sea Series results and I’m delighted to announce that our series winner is Jarvis Simpson! As one of the folks who helped make our Brightlingsea Nationals such a success, I’ll hopefully get the chance to present Jarvis with his trophy at the Dinghy Show. With the End of Season event completed we were able to verify those who qualified for the North Sails (series sponsors) £500 vouchers. I was delighted when Andy Carter’s name came out of the hats and I know he has already been in touch with our friends at North Sails to discuss a lovely new sail for the 2025 season. Congratulations Andy!
Whilst the official Solo class events are done for the year, I particularly enjoy the later stages of the year and the club winter series. This a great time to try new things, play with you rig setting a or maybe try some different techniques without the pressure of open meeting or nationals event results to be worrying about. Maybe some of your local hotspots are now back to club racing and this offers a great chance to line up against them and make some gains.
For those interested in learning more about fleet dynamics, I can highly recommend looking up the International One Metre class World Championship videos here, https://www.youtube.com/ @IOMWorlds24
Of course, we’re all far to young to be racing such things ;-) but the cameras afford an excellent perspective on how fleet racing operates, something that is very hard to appreciate from our hiking position on the gunwale of a Solo. Entertaining and educational as well.
Looking ahead, 2025 is going to be another action-packed year. Two major highlights are the Nations Cup at Lake Como, 21st - 25th June, followed by National Championships at North Berwick, 3rd – 8th August. Further information is included in this edition of Solo Interactive and further details will followBoth will be awesome events with North Berwick named as the best UK venue by one of your committee members, so I’m particularly looking forward to racing there and enjoying the Scottish hospitality.
Our Dutch friends are firming up the last of the arrangements with the club at Lake Como and we’ll advise you on that as soon as we get it.
Don’t forget the Dinghy Show 22nd - 23rd February at Farnborough, then the first two big Super Series events are the Winter champs at Rutland 8th March and the Springs at Whitstable 27th April.
For those who might be racing at any of the major winter Sail Juice events, I wish you good luck and represent the class well.
Sail fast, sail smart.
Guy 5691
Southern Area Report
For those that don’t know me, I’m Maria Franco, part of Littleton SC and I take the opportunity to say hello again to everyone in the Southern Area, as I have recently step up to support you all to keep an active calendar of events throughout next year for you.
This year 143 sailors have taken part in at least one of the 10 events of the series, however only 6 completed the 4 events to qualify. We had our last event of the year at Papercourt, a great host to close the series but unfortunately with almost no wind we only had 1 race during the day. With the final results updated while enjoying some nice cake the club had for us, we were ready for the prize giving; please join me to congratulate the 2024 Southern Area winners: Alex Butler, HISC (1st), Ian Barnett, Chichester SC (2nd) and Patrick Ward, Chipstead SC (3rd).
You can access the full results HERE.
Maria Elvira Franco in action. Photo: Champion
One of my goals is to learn form you what can we do to encourage more of you to be even more active to join as many events of the series as possible, so please do share your feedback or ideas about what we could do better that would encourage more of you to join more of the events during the year. Many thanks for the active participation of each one of you who make the effort to travel and to the clubs and volunteers who stepped up to host the events, keeping our class active and interesting.
For the 2025 series, we have almost completed the calendar with a number of events confirmed so far, if your club wants to host an event, please do get in touch ASAP so I can check if we can add you in. Please keep an eye on the Events page at the NSCA website to see the list of confirmed events, but so far we have some pencilled in -still subject to change!: Spinnaker (12-April), Fresham Pond (11May), Hayling Island (17 & 18 -May), Southern Area Champs – Lymington (31-May & 1-June), Chipstead SC (14-June), Dell Quay (28-June), Felpham SC (5-July); and with exact dates TBC we also have: Hill Head, Littleton and Papercourt.
One thing I’d like to do more during 2025 is to offer more NSCA sponsored training days. Traditionally we do one the day before the Area Champs (on a Friday) but really looking to have more option throughout the year, maybe 2 or 3 more taking place on a Saturday or Sunday, either linked to an open event taking place during the weekend, or as a stand alone event. Please reach out to me if your club would consider hosting a training day, this training days would be open for any NSCA member to join, so it’s not just aimed for the sailors of the club who host the training, and the NSCA training days are aimed for any levels of expertise: from those who are not very experienced sailors, like me, and could benefit of all the tips and tricks to get better, to those who are very experienced sailors who want to fine tune specific things to continue to improve.
Remember as a NSCA member, your £25 annual fee offers many benefits: in addition to having access to discounts with several sailing partners and insurance, you have the opportunity to take part on the National Super Series events, and you can access free training days not just in your area, but any training day organised by any area nationally if it works for you. To join just complete the form online at https://www.solosailing.org.uk/membership
Warm regards,
Maria Elvira Franco
Solo 5675
Contact me for hosting events, or training day or to share any feedback at: MariaE_Franco@yahoo.com
Alex rounds the bottom mark at Brightlingsea
We have reached the end of the 2024 Midlands Area Series, sponsored by Allen and CB Trailer and Covers Solo Specialist Store, with the last event at Staunton Harold SC unfortunately cancelled. Congratulations to the 2024 Midlands Series winners: Martin Honnor, Ogston (1st), Chris Brown, Draycote, (2nd) and Jamie Cuxson, Shustoke (3rd). Outside the top 3 , prizes for various categories where also given, well done to: Neil Wilkinson, Andy Bownes, Mike Cossy and Maria Franco. For those who qualified we had raffle prizes from our sponsor CB Trailer and Covers Solo Specialist Store with Neil Wilkinson being the lucky winner of an undercover and Andy Bownes a tshirt. ! Special shout out to Shustoke Sailing Club for being the largest group taking part throughout the series: 11 sailors, with 5 qualifying! And very important, massive thanks to our sponsors Allen Sailing, CB Trailer and Covers Solo Specialist store and National Solo Class Association
Photo during Midlands Series prize giving at Staunton Harold SC.
Final Results HERE
Our last event at Staunton Harold had to be cancelled as there was no wind at all, so the races to qualify was adjusted to 4 to align to the lower number of races in the series.
I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you who took part in the series, 74 sailors (10 qualified). The success of the series comes from the active participation of each one of you, thank you also to all the clubs and volunteers that step up to organise the events. Remember to support the sponsors who get involved with the series and who provide us with generous gift that we have shared throughout the series.
We had the opportunity to host 2 NSCA sponsored days this year, one in Northampton and one in Notts County; however, this is something that we would like to do more of. If your club is interested on hosting a sponsored training day next year do get in touch.
For next year we wanted to try new venues, so have created the “Big Lakes” mini-series , there will be 4 big lakes you can take part and 3 to qualify. If you join any of the big lakes series events they will count also towards the Midland Area Series, please visit the Events calendar in the NSCA website. We want to thank Allen Sailing and CB Trailer and Covers Solo Specialist store, who will be sponsoring the Midlands area again next year!
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope to see you all next year.
PS Note from Maria: I very much enjoyed being the Midlands area rep, it gave me the opportunity to get to know many more of you and I have learned a lot about running events , how the class works behind the scenes and many tips on how to improve my sailing offered by many of you – thank you! Hope to see you around on the National Super Series events. You have now Joanathan Swain as your area rep, a much more experienced sailor, that with the support of each one of you, he will continue to facilitate keeping the class active in the Midlands area.
Warm regards,
Jonathan Swain and Maria Elvira Franco
Allen’s Simon Potts in the Solo Demo Solo 6029 blasts down the run in good company with Paul Davis 5914, Simon Derham 5393, Guy Mayger 5691 and Tom Gillard 6021
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2025 Nationals at North Berwick
Ross Watson
East Lothian Yacht Club, the hosts for the 2025 Nationals from August 3 to 8, have a long history of hosting championships with the first taking place in this spectacular location in 1965. Nowadays they host one Nationals virtually every year. In the last three years they have hosted the RS400’s, RS200’s and some of the RS Aero fleets. The Solo’s have of course been here before the last time being in 2015 with Covid sadly meaning the cancellation of the planned 2020 event. The club are booked up for the next few years already because classes want to come back.
A key reason for classes coming to North Berwick is the sailing water. Situated at the mouth of the Firth of Forth there are plenty of days with great wind and wave conditions. After a strong wind from East or West a swell can persist for a few days although this is more noticeable near the shore. At the same time there is remarkably little tidal effect where the championship courses are laid. Next year we will also be sailing on neaps with high water mid morning on the first day advancing to mid afternoon on the last day. The club use two areas to sail for championships, either to the West or the East of Craigleith which is the small island 800m north of the beach. If the East course is used the furthest point of the course from the beach could be 2000m which can be a long beat back in a westerly wind if the course finishes at the leeward mark. Contrary to rumour we will NOT be sailing as far as the Bass Rock! For those not sailing you can walk along the coastal path and get a decent view of the racing on the East course. The westerly course area is a bit closer, especially if the finishing line is close to Craigleith. One feature of sailing on the east coast with an onshore wind is the haar, or sea mist. This is more prevalent in May and June but can still come later in the year. To make up for the 2020 Nationals being cancelled the Solo’s came to North Berwick for the Pusinelli trophy in 2021 and the haar came in thick as we came ashore on the Sunday. On the water you should definitely watch the gannets. Watching a flock of these big birds diving vertically from 50m into a shoal of fish is quite spectacular. The dolphins can come remarkably close as they pass through the sailing area and I recently watched a seal surface 2m from another boat.
The standard of race management is very good and the team are not afraid of racing in strong winds. Many of the team on the committee and mark boats have been doing this for a good number of years. I was ARO for part of the Aero championships this year and was impressed with the accuracy of the course laying. The club have four RIB’s and are able to borrow more for events. The daily briefing for the rescue and mark boats is extensive. The Race Control office is situated in the club race box and keep in contact with the committee boat and beachmaster all the time. Sadly the committee boat does not have an anchor winch and one of my jobs as ARO was to haul it up, luckily the bottom is sand and only 15m deep. There will be no problem with whatever courses the class indicates it prefers. One feature at the Aero nationals this year was that on one day the last race was a coastal one using islands as marks. After a short beat there was a reach to Craigleith as a mark of the course then a run down to Fidra (rumoured to be the inspiration of Treasure Island) and a beat back up close to the rocks before a short reach back ashore.
As well as the sailing waters and race team North Berwick has the facilities of a popular but not crowded seaside resort. At the RS200 championships last year I was surprised how quiet the club changing rooms were. The reason is that most of the holiday accommodation is very close to the dinghy park and many sailors got changed beforehand. There are plenty of places to eat and I can recommend fish and chips in the Ship Inn washed down with a pint of Jarl! The food at the Herring Bone, which is only 100m from the dinghy park, is excellent. The competition on the putting green, which is literally right beside the dinghy park will likely be serious.
Nigel Davies, Brownie, Hoppy, Maverick, Innes, Tunni, Bonner, Cumbley, Taxi and Big Dave Mitchell. All totally knackered after a tough but exhilarating day.
The dinghy park is on the west beach with space for over 100 boats on the grass. Note that I have already discussed with the beachmaster that my boat will be closest to the slipway. There is a single short slip down to the beach where there is ample space to rig up. A big easterly storm last year badly damaged the harbour wall and washed a way a lot of sand from the beach, leaving a drop at the end of the slipway. The sand has however now returned so no worries on that score at the moment. Launching is very sheltered in any wind from apart from East to North East. In a strong easterly wind it might be too rough to sail out, but there are few of those in August.
Now despite sailing here most weeks for the last few years I don’t really have any tips about which way to go as the club sailing takes place just off the harbour and far from the championship courses. The last time I sailed on the East course was at the Pusinelli trophy and my sailing was mostly slow going the wrong way. In an easterly it usually pays to go right if the course is set closer to the shore but watch the shifts as the left sometimes works. In a westerly it seemed to pay to go inshore watching the RS200’s.
The clubhouse is situated in a lovely red sandstone building right on the harbour. You need to walk along the beach to get between the clubhouse and the dinghy park. The bar will certainly be open every night but having chatted to the Commodore a couple of years ago I think the Solo fleet will need to go some to spend more than the Merlin Rockets did when they came here! The class committee will shortly start discussions on the details for next years event. Given the demand for holiday accommodation it pays to book early.
Check out some action highlights from the 2015 Nationals and Nation’s Cup HERE
NSCA Western Series 2024 Report Vernon Perkins
With the completion of the combined Salcombe YC Open/ Nigel Pusinelli it completes a very hectic 3 weeks capping off a fantastic 2024 series, sponsored by Goat Marine and Dinghy Shack. The last few weeks started at the South Cerney Open a joint Western and Midland event, won by Chris Brown. Followed the following weekend with the rearranged TATA Steel Open and Welsh Champs, again won by Chris Brown. Then a week later to the picturesque Salcombe YC Open for the final event, which sadly Chris did not attend.
It has resulted in the series that started in May and included 10 events being won by Chris Brown, Draycote, a huge congratulations to Chris. Some have asked if this is allowed as he is not domicile in the Western area, trying every tactic to change the results, but after 5 x 1st place results his win in the series is hugely deserved. Good job Martin Honnor does not travel this far south!
Second in the series goes to Charlie Nunn, Torpoint Mosquito and Porthpean, and third to Malcolm Davies, Teign Corinthian YC (TCYC).
10 helms qualified for a series result with 5 to count and 128 helms having taken part through the year. Two of us completed all 10 events, Charlie Nunn and me, Vernon Perkins, but we need to get more to travel and qualify. Torpoint Mosquito were the Team of the year with 4 members in the 10 qualifiers. Full results on the NSCA website.
Highlight of the year was the success of the Weekend Warrior event, Starcross and Dittisham on the same weekend, very well attended and in addition to the two open results prizes for the weekend combined results from our sponsors Dinghy Shack. Next year we have provisionally organised two Weekend Warrior weekends at Torpoint and Porthpean (new venue), and a second at Dittisham and TCYC. With TCYC providing boat storage for the Nigel Pusinelli at Royal Torquay YC the following weekend, a good opportunity for a South Devon holiday. Obviously, the final calendar to be agreed and published, but well underway and providing something for everyone.
We must thank our Series Sponsors, GOAT Marine and Dinghy Shack who have supported us fantastically through 2024. Great news, both GOAT and Dinghy Shack have already confirmed continuation of their support of the series through 2025. To return the support please visit their websites for products and deals etc.
Looking forward to a well-earned break over the Christmas period before the travelling starts again in 2025. Look forward to seeing you on the water.
Pic: Tim Hampton
Charlie Nunn putting the GOAT Solo through its paces at the Pusinelli Trophy.
The story of the 2024 Northern Series Justine Davenport
Sponsored by Winder Boats and Impact Marine
The first of 10 events in the series took us to East Lancashire, the home of Burwain Sailing Club. Light winds were the order of the day and with one win a piece for I Armstrong and A Carter it was a winner-takes-all last race, which was taken by Carter affording him the first victory of the season, followed by Armstrong and David Winder coming in third.
Round two was the Northern Area Championships at Ogston Sailing club in Derbyshire. Close racing was seen throughout the two-day event with 5 points separating the top six, with home sailor M Honnor taking the victory, Chris Gillard taking second and I Armstrong in third. One of the highlights of the weekend was the evening dinner provided by NSCA, which was greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all.
The next event of the series took us to Bassenthwaite Sailing Club in the North of the Lake District, again light winds prevailed. Armstrong took the win from Reekie on count back, due to Armstrong winning the last race. 3rd was S Dennison.
Next was a visit to Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club near Grassington in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. This was another two-day event. Unlike the early season events, this time we had wind. A small but competitive fleet enjoyed the racing on Grimwith Reservoir. Here our sponsor D Winder took the win followed by Martin Honnor and Tim Sadler. An evening BBQ was enjoyed on the sun terrace and the free camping was appreciated by many.
The halfway point of the series took us to the coast – West Kirby Sailing Club on the Wirral. An event to be sailed on the tidal waters of the Dee estuary. Here Armstrong mastered the conditions to win all three races, followed by A Carter and Philip Barnes.
So, after five events Armstrong led the way followed by fellow Northern Rep Justine Davenport and A Carter in third.
The sixth event was held by Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club in decent conditions with variable wind strengths. Again as with other events in the Northern Series, close, tight racing could be found throughout the fleet. The win was taken by Honnor followed by Armstrong and Steve Denison.
Round 7 was an event at Carsington Sailing Club, jointly held with the Midland Area. Short, sharp races were to be had, with N Davies keeping his wits about him to take the win with S Denison second and Chris Brown third.
The eighth event was at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club. Held in windy conditions with the wind in an unfavourable direction making it trickier than usual to read the wind patterns. Here P Barnes and A Carter fought hard throughout the four races with Barnes coming out on top to take the win from Carter, with S Denison in third.
The penultimate event took us to Cheshire and Budworth Sailing Club. Here it proved a pleasant surprise to have windy conditions. The last 10 years had always been a light event, sometimes not even happening due to no wind! Here keeping your head out of the boat was definitely essential in order to avoid the big gusts which were coming from a southerly direction. Here C Gillard definitely kept his head out of the boat taking the win from Armstrong (the capsize king that day) with Ted Garner in third.
The final event was held at Elton Sailing Club in Bury. Here home sailor D Neild, used his local knowledge from to take the win from A Carter, with S Denison in third.
With all the results in from across the series it was clear with consistent sailing, Armstrong was crowned the Northern Area Champion for 2024.
Across the series 23 sailors sailed 2 or more events and overall 10 did 5 events to qualify.
West Kirby Ogston
Innes was first on the water at the Nationals, Brightlingsea, fetching out of the river before bearing off onto a screamer of a reach.
DECK CAM
Guy Mayger tackles the enigma that is Salcombe and provides some tips.
Join him on the water HERE
Scottish Area Report 2024
Sponsored by HD Sails
Ross Watson
The Scottish Solo fleet were once again pleased to benefit from the sponsorship of HD Sails, to the extent that by the end of the season most of the fleet had gained either a branded T-shirt or racing flag.
We began the season as we had ended the previous year with an event cancelled due to weather. We habitually start the season at Bardowie, a very small loch near Glasgow which is home to a good fleet of Solo’s. This year we sat around in the pleasant sunshine waiting for wind. It was one of those days when you arrive and think there is no chance of sailing. And so it proved. Some sailors didn’t bother to rig up. I compromised by rigging the mast but leaving the undercover on. So, no sailing but there was plenty of time for tea and chat outside the clubhouse.
Three weeks later it was time for the long drive North to Chanonry which is close to Inverness. It is a long way to go for a days sailing and meant an early start. The drive up the A9 in mid May was beautiful and surprisingly quiet. On arrival the sunshine was blazing and the sky blue but the water was glassy calm. Were we about to have another cancellation? Robert Taylor, who was brought up only yards from the club, was confident that the wind would arrive, and it did. We had a steady force 2/3 all day. The sailing water at Chanonry in an easterly wind, which we had, is excellent. The nearby spit means that the water is flat and tidal influence tiny. This meant very close racing all afternoon throughout the fleet which included five local boats. Willie Todd had a slight edge upwind however and won all three races to lift the Ben Ledi trophy for which all races count. The excellent sailing and the welcome we received together with good race management certainly made the journey worthwhile. This was almost certainly the furthest North the Solo fleet has ventured for a travellers event and we will certainly be back in the future. This was also the last event for David Parkin who has been part of the Scottish Solo fleet for many years and he received a round of applause at the prizegiving. We do miss him but his memory is ensured as Tony King bought his boat.
The next event was Helensburgh on the west coast. The forecast was for plenty of wind and so it proved. The strength of the gusts as we launched was a deterrent to some and in the event only half the fleet launched. The sailing area is over a mile away from the club and the sail downwind was a good indicator of what the day was to bring. After blasting downwind to the start I had already decided that one race would be enough and there was definitely no gybing. In the event I managed two races and a few gybes. Of course the tough conditions were going to suit some sailors especially Charlie Brecknell who revels in a breeze. Today was no exception and he won every race. It was a hard day for everyone, not helped by the long beat back to the launching area. Five tough sailors did however complete every race and well done to them.
The next event in early July was at Loch Lomond. For this event our races were part of the Saturday sailing rather than as part of the annual regatta later in the season. Turnout is inevitably a bit lower in July but the boats that did attend had three races in a shifty westerly wind. With two first places Keith Milroy won the event followed by Stuart Gibson.
We then had a break of six weeks in the HD Sails Scottish travellers series before the final four events took place over a period of six weeks. The season began again in mid August at Newburgh which is a small club on the banks of the river Tay where sailing time is heavily restricted by the tide. This means finding a Saturday with high water around 3pm can be surprisingly tricky. Some years we have started as early as 11am. It is often the first event in the diary. The sailing area is small and the big mudbank in the middle of the river gives interesting tactical options and a hazard as the tide ebbs. Racing here is always tight and you can never relax. It is certainly an acquired taste, some sailors love
the challenge, others don’t! This year as always the racing was tight with Ross Watson just getting the better of Malcolm Worsley a few yards from the finish of the last race to win the trophy.
Two weeks later we had the Scottish Championships at Largo Bay. This club is renowned for good sea sailing and plenty of waves. It did not disappoint. We had six excellent races in winds from 12 to 25 knots from the east. The waves, especially on the windier first day were amazing, especially down the first reach where they were coming from astern. Sailing four, and on one occasion six, abreast in big wind and waves was a great experience, albeit the gybe mark approached rapidly. Going upwind on port tack and sailing directly into the waves was the price we paid for the surfing. This was a weekend where it did not pay to be in second place with five different sailors capsizing whilst in this position. Keith Milroy was in fine form despite arriving late and not reading the sailing instructions which slowed him in the first race. He was the deserved winner with a string of first places. He was followed by Tony King and Ross Watson.
Next up was Loch Tummel, set in the lovely Perthshire countryside. Given how variable the wind was and how viscous some of the gusts were there was no time for admiring the scenery. We had three races with the third being the toughest with the wind at its strongest. As well as the wind we had to watch out for RS200’s calling for water at the leeward mark as we approached on a tight reach. One sailor left his wind indicator in the mud but did not do well enough to win an HD branded one! There was plenty of capsizing throughout the fleet.
The season ended two weeks later at Dalgety Bay which is situated on the North side of the Firth of Forth opposite Edinburgh. The winner of the HD Sails travellers Series was yet to be determined but a couple of the leading contenders were unable to sail meaning they would not have enough events to count. The Solo’s were sailing as part of the club’s autumn regatta and we found that starting three minutes behind a big fleet of Lasers meant that keeping your wind clear on the beat was at times the most important tactic. Tony King was the master of the light wind and flat water with two first places, finishing ahead of Ross Watson. That second place was enough for Ross Watson to win the overall travellers series for 2024, but it could have been very different if Willie Todd, who came second, had not capsized in one race at Dalgety Bay and Tony King had a better result at Helensburgh.
Preparations for the 2025 HD Sails Scottish travellers series are well underway with most of the dates already in the diary. The most important date for us next season is of course the National Championships at North Berwick from August 3 to 8. As many of you will know this is an excellent venue for a National Championship with great sea sailing and surprisingly little tide. There is plenty of accommodation within walking distance of the club. The Scottish Solo sailors, and the club, will give everyone a warm welcome! If anyone wants some early practise the Scottish Solo championship will also be at North Berwick on June 7 and 8.
We are grateful for the support we receive from our long time sponsors HD Sails, who unsurprisingly have a big share of the sails used within the fleet and rumour has it that there will be some new HD users next season!
The Dalgety Bay podium shot.
Huge thanks to Andy Davis at HD Sails for his continued support of the Scottish fleet
The Loch Tummel Podium shot
What a backdrop, Largo Bay at its best.
Pic: Calum Gibb
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Extensively tested throughout 2023 , we are now offering our well proven 7L design manufactured in Dimension Polyant PXB 05. This Polyester fibre laminate cloth has performed brilliantly in 2023 including 4th at the Solo National Championships, recently followed up with 3rd at the 2024 season opening Solo Winter Championship
Richard Lovering launches his Hyde powered Solo over another Hayling Bay wave in 2023.
ONK 24
THE REPORT
Will Loy
Day 1
The race briefing took place in the very sumptuous Royal Netherlands Yacht Club with a backdrop of a Castle straight out of Disneyland and with the Royal Dutch barge moored directly behind us, they certainly have some style.
PRO Niels de Vries delivered the necessary information as we sipped Cappuccinos, the warm September sunshine a surprise bonus for an Autumn event.
Launching was from just inside the mouth of the IJsselmeer, the short wooden platforms giving way to surprisingly deep water as I would find out when attempting to mount my Media rib. Fortunately my misfortune was only witnessed by the Harbourmaster who may well have been slightly disturbed by my infirmity but gave me the keys to the safety rib anyway.
I had coerced one of the UK sailors friends to drive and she turned up just as I was emptying the last few litres of IJsellmeer from my leggings, a great way to to start the day.
We motored out of the canal, admiring the flotilla of Dutch barges and day cruisers, Muiden is, I would suggest, not dissimilar to Lymington in the UK, plenty of money, a racing pedigree and a nice place to show off your wealth.
The IJsselmeer is shallow and the short chop and muddy looking water not much different from Brightlingsea, no wonder the Dutch felt quite at home when they visited us back in August. Moving forward, if we are to unsettle the Dutch I reckon the UK Association need to cherry-pick future Championship locations with crystal clear water and huge swells, Felpham, Mumbles and Pevensey Bay come to mind.
GPS co-ordinates were fed into the MarkBots and they split off like a group of UFO’s trying to avoid detection before resuming their flight pattern in the race arena. I had considered hacking into the inflatable robots software, manipulating the mark positions closer to my boys would have been advantageous but morally wrong on day one.
Race 1
Breeze holding at around 8-12 knots, pin end favoured and at the top mark after 15 minutes of hiking, Pim van Vugt led in from the left with Jelmer Kuipers, Jan Pieter Bramm, Paul Davis and the distinctive blue hull of Martijn Kuitert rounding out the top five. The fleet enjoyed the short 15 metre reach to the spreader mark before going into the bare-away for the leeward leg. Other notables with work to do were Menno Huisman (8th) and Ted Bakker (10th) while Eddy Boon in the Miles built ‘Bungler’ (same paint job but not the Lovett) was right in the mix in 11th, just ahead of the UK’s Chris Bunn, Nigel Davies was 15th and Chris Brown 21st.
We prepared to motor down to the leeward gate so I could continue to update the WhatsApp group followers, the NSCA are trialing this method of on-water media and it’s simplicity and almost live updates seem to be gaining traction amongst family members and sailors unable to attend. I am sure there are also a few bitter and twisted followers, keen to see their mates do badly too. Anyway, just as my driver prepared to ‘power on’ we were hailed by a nearby safety rib who had identified that we were a buoyancy aid short and after apologising profusely we managed to borrow one from the Committee boat. This was a big relief as neither of us knew the way back.
Having missed the gate positions after lap one we decided to hold position at the bottom of the course, this way we would also stay away from the guys who had told us off, it was also not long before the leaders joined us. Pim looked imperious, balancing his Solo rig above the chop while steering aggressively in and out of the bigger waves. Jelmer likewise, looked strong and these two had a huge lead on the pack, led by Chris Bunn from Menno and Koen van Esch. Silver triangles glinted in the Autumn sunshine and with a temperature of 22 degrees, sailing on the IJsselmeer had never been so good. Paul Davis and Hans Duetz were next and also enjoying the conditions, the UK sailor’s stocky stance a stark contrast to the lanky frame of the Dutch helmsman but they both do the same job, keeping their Solos flat and driving.
We blasted up to the finish which, refreshingly and harping back to the 1980’s would be at the end of the long beat and it was no surprise that Vugt and Kuipers held with Davis picking Huisman’s pocket on the line for third and Bunn rounding out the top five. The finish line was pretty intense as Solos converged at different angles, the language is unprintable as I cannot spell it.
Race 2
The breeze seemed to drop down to around 8 knots for the start sequence but increased to 12 knots by the gun with Vugt, Bakker and Duetz liking the pin end, unfortunately it was recalled. The second attempt was also recalled, this time, Bramm, Rien Hoogeveen and Gilles de Combe nailed the pin, unlucky guys!
Third time lucky with Roel Bakker nailing the Committee boat end with Roeloff den Herder and Chris Brown all holding nice clear lanes, Vugt and Duetz were further down the line but punching forward, the bow profiles, so iconically Jack Holt could only be Solos, just a shame he didn’t make them pointy. The Ijsselmeer chopping machine was on maximum, hulls see-sawing through the waves like bucking broncos with their riders hanging on for their lives and once again Vugt was first to the top mark with a good lead over Huisman and he was well ahead of den Herder and a swath of starboard lay liners. My driver had positioned me perfectly behind the spreader mark and I clicked away on my brother-in-laws Nikon D3200 like the SD card was loaded with a limitless supply of gigabytes. Only after midnight when I was editing the images did I regret my propensity to hit the shutter button.
Top mark second time and Vugt and Huisman are gone with van Esch, Simon van Rees and Duetz rounding out the top five with the UK’s Brown, Bunn and Davis just outside the top ten.
The final run was a balance of centreboard position versus instability, some got it wrong and although the water was a lovely temperature, swimming is never quick.
The final beat to the line saw some questionable tactical choices and had me questioning my own basic knowledge of port and starboard, Bunn would later win a protest against him which would result in Ted Bakker and van Rees disqualified and give him fourth.
Paul Davis blasts through the finish line.
Dutch Class Chairman Paul de Gues gets the better of one of the Kuiper brothers..
The fleet are spread down the line like Marmalade down the length of a knife, a few golden threads standing out against the silver shards of black dyed technora and Bas de Regt nails the Committee end with the 55 kg Saskia Arnold to leeward, hiking harder than everyone to maximise the lift off her centreboard. Bas tacks off early, hooking into a nice right hander further up the beat and he would lead into the top mark with van Esch, Jelmer Kuipers, Paul Davis and Brown completing the top five but with Huisman and van Vugt breathing down their necks. Breeze is up to 14-16 knots and the fleet blast along the short reach to the spreader with little time to release kicking straps, never mind taking a breath of oxygen.
The run saw more capsize practice but with only a few casualties, testament to the high level of skill displayed by nearly all of the fleet. Davis is in eleventh with Bunn back in the low twenties and work to do.
Kuipers led into the gate from van Vugt who was once again displaying the downwind speed which saw him claim the UK National and Nation’s Cup titles only a few weeks earlier with de Regt holding onto third.
Solo mast rake was on full throttle, centreboards raised slightly to balance the centre of effort, cunningham controls flattening the entry of the sail and mainsheet tension manipulating the leach profile to maximise VMG.
Kuipers is still leading at the top mark second lap but Vugt is within three boat lengths and after one more downwind he would take the lead and hold for his third bullet of the day. Kuipers was a comfortable second with Huisman judging his starboard tack into the line perfectly to pip van Esch with Bas de Regt doing likewise to Chris Brown.
Close racing throughout the fleet is standard practice in the Solo Class and no quarter was taken or given as sailors blasted into the short finish line, crash tacking and ducking in the last second scramble to gain even a single place.
Once ashore I was able to procure some interviews with the main players, only distracted from my task by the sound of a bang and a splash, Browny misjudging the short distance from his Solo to the platform, Canal 2, Brits 0.
Friday would be ‘Happy Hour’ and we were all treated to cold beers and the Dutch delicacy, ‘Bitterballen’, deep fried meatballs with a core temperature equal to the centre of the Earth itself. If only we had not ordered 24 of them just 15 minutes earlier.
The forecast for the weekend was not promising for the heavier boned amongst the fleet but would present opportunities for the lighter helms and those with the patience of a driving instructor.
Elaine Turner hiking hard in the Djistra built Solo
Day 2
I was joined on the media rib by driver Barbara Schappers and photographer Maarten van den Broek, and after exchanging kisses and handshakes we set off from the dock with Maarten vigorously wiping his face with the back of his shirt sleeve. The journey out to the race area was far smoother than the day before, the wind was around 4 knots, wind turbine propellers rotating gently in the morning sunshine. The competitors lined up evenly along the start line but with just 10 seconds to go the start was aborted, I don’t think the fleet were premature so a wind shift could have been to blame.
After sometime we were back into sequence and for some variety and against the wishes of our photographer, we motored down to the pin end so to look directly into the sunlight. Huisman, Ted Bakker and Jelmer Kuipers were closest to the pin and with a large gap back to the majority of the fleet, could obviously see a left shift that they could not. No matter because this start was recalled. Finally, after some reconfiguration of the course marks we were away, under a black flack and with no casualties. I would normally now go into further details but with the breeze fluctuating between 5 knots and 2 knots, and after a painful 45 minutes, the PRO abandoned the race. Safe to say, Jan Pieter Braam, who had picked up a huge left shift to round first was disappointed but took the decision in the same manner that epitomises the Dutch attitude to life. I decided to avoid Davis who was fifth at the time.
Race 4
Saskia timed her run to the Committee end perfectly with Simon van Rees just below, the breeze was soft and those that struggled to match height with speed would find the race almost as challenging as it is for me to make it sound exciting.
Brown and Davis found nice lanes out of the melee, no wonder they looked good, both BFD but at the top after a tense beat, Saskia Arnold rounded the big yellow robotic mark in first place with Leo Meijaard on her transom. Kuipers, Brown and yellow rash vest event leader Vugt were next around from Bas de Regt and van Rees who were displaying good speed and with the run awaiting, speed and clear air were going to be the priorities.
Try as he liked, Vugt could not break through the Arnold defence, even at times sitting right against the bulkhead to minimise his wetted surface area and only moving back to roll into a tack. I moved around the rib with the grace of a Hippo in a bouncy castle, the inflatable tubes distorting alarmingly under my weight and my crew members choosing to look away in embarrassment.
The last beat saw Pim throw in tack after tack but Saskia Arnold was unflappable, almost fully hiked at times and with hardly any of the hull in the water, unbeatable in sub 6 knots. The breeze was building in streaks across the course with a slight right hand wind bend, courtesy of the nearby Pampus Island and those hooking into that would benefit. Jelmer Kuipers, Roel den Herder and Roelof Kuipers completed the top five with the UK’s Bunn and Davies, 11th and 14th.
Saskia Arnold, what a talent.
Chris Bunn concentrates on feathering his Solo through the chop.
Race 5 6 knots
The fleet lined up for what would be the last race of the day, my voice though, had decided to fail during Race 4 and while I continued to provide audio commentary to my Whatsapp posts, the tone my vocal cords produced, lurched from Barry White to Sid James with no warning.
Pin end favoured and Ted Bakker nails it with Kuipers, Huisman, Duetz and de Regt all with the same idea. Former Class Chairman Norbert Zonnerveld found a slot between these guys, always nice to show the young guns we are not too old. Pim has popped out a third of the way back and Saskia is mid line and already looking strong but team UK must be at the Committee end?
Top mark and it’s Saskia from Pim and these two are already safe for the podium with current Class Chairman Paul de Geus, Braam, Bunn and Duetz completing the top six. Nigel Davies is second best Brit with Brown and Davis struggling in the fickle breeze.
The race was a battle across the course and in the mind and with the breeze increasing slightly, 2 laps and a final beat saw Pim van Vugt power through to his fourth bullet from Saskia Arnold with Chris Bunn, who had hooked into that Pampus Island lift third from Paul de Geus and Jelmer Kuipers.
The Dutch Solo Class dinner is always a ‘not to be missed’ social event, mainly because the cost is included in the entry fee but also because no one does it with such panache.
Paul de Geus’s delivery was as smooth as the rich gravy that accompanied the large meatball and pork loin, the boiled potatoes and apple sauce standard Captain’s Diner sides, I anticipate KFC bargain buckets and Happy Meals if Browny ever makes President of the UK Class.
Our Vice President Paul Davis kindly delivered a short speech from myself as outgoing media officer and he also presented the Dutch Class with a memento congratulating them on their recent success at Brightlingsea. In a tactical move that I did not see coming, the Dutch presented me with some cash to put towards the repair of my recently broken camera. I am now obliged to cover the 2025 Nation’s Cup in Italy. Sneaky but very much appreciate the love.
As with the UK, a prize draw took place and suspiciously the UK participants all won! Thanks to the Dutch team for this splendid evening.
‘Menno’
style. Flat, fast and high.
Day 3
With a forecast lighter than day 2, we all wondered if there would be any racing but after an hours postponement the PRO dropped the AP and the fleet launched into the teeth of a force 1. Sadly, self preservation prevented me from joining the media rib, with no voice and a cough that brought back memories of Covid, I think the team on-board would have abandoned me on the Island.
Fortunately, the Dutch had brought in the professionals and I don’t mean Bodie and Doyle. WatersportTV.nl have been producing videos since 2017 and their drone whizzed around above our heads before heading off for the race arena. While the footage is not riveting, watching the fleet line up and seeing the congestion at mark rounding is always intriguing, just a shame they were not there Friday.
So, to summarise Day 3, the PRO miraculously managed to complete 2 races, the first, Race 6, was won by Saskia Arnold from Pim van Vugt and with Nigel Davies third which moved him ahead of Brown and Davis overall. Braam Chris Bunn was 13th but this would be a keeper in the overall standings. Race 7 was held in similar conditions to the previous one, I would have thrown my toys out but respect to the competitors for their skill and patience. This race was won by Roelof Kuipers with Braam second, brother Jelmer third and with Pim and Saskia completed the top five.
The UK team frantically loaded the three Solos and we quickly exited the club, unfortunately our schedule had not factored in the prize giving, maybe a reflection on how they thought they would do. To celebrate their Champion, the winner is thrown into the murky green waters of the IJsselmeer and as Chris Brown had already sampled that twice in two days, there was not much point in hanging around anyway.
Pim van Vugt, now well practiced in speeches, thanked the club and organisers, also heaping praise to the Nederlandse Solo Class for the continued development of the Association there, with the Nation’s Cup on Lake Como next year, anticipation is already high. Kuipers, Huisman and Braam filled the top five with the UK’s Chris Bunn, exceptional in fourth overall.
Thanks to the Dutch for making the event so special.
Pim van Vugt checks the wind direction as he blasts to another win.
Jelmer Kuipers finished runner-up to Pim van Vugt at the Dutch Open Championship.
Check out his style HERE
The Solos sit patiently while their owners apply deep heat, consume carbs and squeeze into their neoprene in readiness for the days racing.
Below, Dave Winders’ grey Mk 2 makes a fashion statement with its contrasting red foils.
1st National Championship 2024
1st Nation’s Cup 2024
1st ONK 2024
THE NIGEL PUSINELLI TROPHY
THE REPORT Will Loy
Sponsored by Salcombe Brewery GOAT Marine Western Area Series
36 competitors descended from various parts of the UK to contest the re-arranged Nigel Pusinelli Trophy, 11 were official visitors but a good proportion of the home fleet live in Surrey so we’re able to tie in a trip to the second home for the weekend. Everyone had seemed surprised with the selection of this magical, mystical hamlet, none more than the Salcombe sailors themselves so the visiting rookies were in for a ‘treat’.
The estuary is renowned for its complex tidal flow and wind vagaries and much has been written in an attempt to prepare the first time sailor for what they are about to experience. Ordinarily my advice would be to follow a local but putting your trust in McGregor, Fleet Captain Griffin or even local hero ‘Chubby’ Cleaves can sometimes be like following a blind man with a bad case of amnesia.
My journey from Brixham is one of the shorter and prettier trips, taking in the Dartmouth ferry, Slapton Sands and Kingsbridge and with a light breeze and welcome sunshine, only my un-operational Volvo V70 window mechanism tainted my demeanour. I took a moment to share my own thoughts on the event and possible winner with my wife as we negotiated the narrow Devon B roads, the entry list was loaded with some heavy hitters, Salcombe, a bit like Hayling Island is peppered with superstars and with the likes of Law, Fells and Turner in the field, the visitors would have their work cut out. My mobile bleeped, indicating that my long distance WhatsApp call to Australia had been cut off, pretty sure it was a signal loss.
Class President Guy Mayger had pursuaded his good lady that a ten hour round trip from Bognor for the weekend would be fun, the fact that the day 2 forecast indicated Hurricane proportion winds and rain was possibly omitted from the chat but the promise of a nice B+B with parking obviously sealed the deal. Charlie Nunn arrived with the GOAT Solo and Chris Mayhew had made the trip from the East Coast with his 15 year old wooden JP Solo, surely he got lost? Salcombe is under the jurisdiction of South Hams and they must have clearly had a good deal on yellow paint, it was hard to find an inch of tarmac untouched and they even put two lines down just to be safe. I followed a Merlin being trailed down to the water and was fortunate to find a space in the dinghy park, the normal carpark now home to a large fleet of keelboats for the Winter. I told my Samsung S5 to wake up and after a few minutes it agreed to open and accept the Ringo Car park app, without this you are buggered. I had a few words with the device, again threatening an upgrade before powering it off and headed for the briefing.
Ian ‘Skud’ Stewart would be the Day 1 PRO and, keen to keep things simple, set a windward-leeward course with the top mark near Blackstone which is towards the mouth and mark 3 which was about ten feet from sitting in a foot of water, given the spring tide which was well on the way out towards Ireland. Adrian Griffin offered out A5 glossy brochures of the river and it’s mark positions which must have cost a fortune and if Carlsberg did course maps…
Two races were planned with the first warning signal at 12.55pm giving me ample time to yomp to the yacht club via the pasty shop to take on supplies, the staff remained calm, pointing me to the nearest defibrillator instillation but only after taking payment for the reassuringly expensive savouries.
Race 1
The fleet assembled beneath the start line and with the length of line reduced by a good 75 feet the sailors weaved from left to right like caged tigers preparing to pounce. Clean start bar Will Henderson who had to go back, meanwhile Tim Fells nailed the pin end from Cleaves and Aplin in his distinctive Ferrari red hull while those on the right were searching for pressure, Turner, Bird and Mayger tacking back towards the Salcombe side. Tim Law had started on the right but now in good pressure, worked his Winder/North powered Solo into first place at Blackstone with Jamie Greenhill, Fells, Turner and Robin Hodges in close behind. The run down to the bottom of the course required the concentration of an Air Traffic Controller with a migraine, swathes of Solos ten abreast and on opposite tacks converging between a myriad of moored vessels, Cranford Smith paying special attention to fuel barge avoidance. Law advanced from Greenhill and Fells who had both sunk deep with Mayger, Turner and Bird moving up inside the top six and they had a lovely gap back to the other thirty Solos that all seemed to want to round the mark together. Cleaves and Nunn must have been relieved to round just ahead of that bun fight.
The leading group squirted out up the second beat, staying in the tide and good pressure pivotal but with the tide about to turn, race two would be a whole different tactical task. The breeze softened and the locals were really displaying the finesse required to master the estuary, positioning their Solos into the beneficial tidal eddies and hooking their rigs into irrational wind bends that only years of suffering and misfortune can teach.
Race 2
The tide was now supposed to be least influential and this probably accounted for the over-zealous attitude on the start line, general recall. The fleet once again jostled for position, the silver shards of Technora, illuminated by the welcome October sunshine, weaved left and right like a school of Mackerel disrupted by a hungry Seal. Roger Gibb had been isolated from the pack and clearly alarmed, ventured over the line early before going back to the safe side. Too late, BFD, which was a shame as he would feature near the front of the fleet at the top mark before being pulled out by my driver. I know the look a Gibb gives you when you give him bad news and it is something you don’t forget.
Turner, Simon ‘Yachty’ Yates, Fells and Dave Winder were closest to the pin end and with the Spring tide already on the way in, tacking along the bank was going to be paramount.
Tim Law had taken a more conservative approach which is not a big stretch for him and this tactic caused all sorts of antics as those tacking out to avoid foil damage shouted for room. They were already thirty feet off the beach so had to tack back, giving him a nice advantage. Fells had worked the right of the beat and at the top, which sounds like it was simple but it was not, rounded first from Law with Henderson, Nunn and Turner completing the top five.
The breeze was holding at 8-10 knots, 12 knots in some places and 4 knots a few feet either side, the fleet providing an impressive wind shadow which, like a self combusting star, would pull in anything too close.
Fells and Law were well outside that magnetic influence and proceeded to sail their own little race, though that would be an insult to the gravitas of any victory in this fabled bit of Devon. Even now, a songsmith somewhere in Portlemouth will be penning a ballad which will, one day be sung by kids as they play with their makeshift toy Solos by the water’s edge.
The leaders close tacked up the shore, even a few metres too far and the tide would kill your speed, Henderson and Nunn were in their own battle, as were Turner and McGregor, weaving in and out of the moorings like kids playing hide and seek with the rest of the fleet following suit. Law took the lead near to the rocks but tacked off and surrendered it back to Fells, later, Michael Hicks would get just a little too close to the granite and there is only one winner out of that.
The final run saw a gybing duel near the bottom but Fells held strong to round just ahead with only the beat back to the line required. Now Tim Law has been around a few years and his determined spirit is right out of Zulu, you could probably blow one of his legs off and he would still hike out hard with the other one so this race was not over. a Dozen perfect roll tacks later and he took the lead, Fells just falling foul of the tide by a few inches. The final few tacks saw slam dunks from Law, everyone now knows what wind disruption from the boat in front looks like and I could almost see the ticker tape hitting Fells in the face. To rub salt into the wound and like a Buffalo slowly dropping to the ground from a snippers bullet, he tacked and capsized, only just managing to recover as Henderson and Turner approached. McGregor was fifth which will give him some respect in the sumptuous clubhouse bar but probably no free kebab and ex Enterprise legend Nigel Bird was sixth.
Unfortunately racing on Sunday was abandoned which was a shame as my cameras were fully charged and ready to go. My repaired Nikon P950 was especially disappointed, it really wanted to show the difference between it and the Nikon 4200. Fortunately it will have an opportunity at the EOS in November at Draycote Water.
Special mentions to Chris Mayhew, who travelled an insane amount of miles and finished fifth overall in his wooden JP, Dave Winder who continues to provide the class with his awesome Solo hulls and comes and mixes it with the fleet and Fleet Captain Adrian Griffin who selflessly supports ‘Team Salcombe’ from deep in the pack, only very occasionally allowing us a glimpse of his real talent.
The podium was expected but no less impressive, Oliver Turner in third, overflowing with the sort of enthusiasm we usually witness in a US Presidential Election Rally, he has that sort of ‘Payne’ presence. I wonder if he should have a DNA test?
Tim Fells in second, I would say sure footed and composed but two swims in two races suggests 10 knots is his max wind range, Sunday would have been great footage. Some sailors look awkward in a Solo but he makes it look sporty.
So the Nigel Pusinelli Trophy winner is Tim Law, clinical, determined, hungry and fierce but not in a gay way, if Carlsberg had to produce a Champion it would probably be Tim Law.
Well done to all the competitors, race teams and shore side catering and thanks to Salcombe Brewery and Goat Marine for supporting the class.
Dave Winder 6093 in a strong position and racing a strong coloured works boat.
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▪ Suits inland water as it tacks quicker and is more forgiving
▪ Carries more weight
THE EOS 2024
End of Season Championship
Report by Will Loy
It was a relief to be released from the seemingly infinite production of apple donuts, the bright red numerals on the face of my digital alarm clock burning the numbers four, four and five into the very backs of my retinae. I usually start work at 3 a.m. on a Saturday so the lie-in was very welcome. I eased my body into the reassuringly soft inner texture of my Aqua Marine salopettes, the breathable fabric and perfectly contoured panels would easily handle the four hour trip and time saved now would present an opportunity for the consumption of a bacon and sausage bap. Draycote Water Sailing Club is run professionally and the catering is exceptional.
I entered the club’s postcode into my Samsung S5 map app and awaited the ETA and navigation info, the five minute wait allowing my Volvo V70 ample time to do it’s on-board flight checks before we set off for Warwickshire.
This event would be the last in a very long season and the lower attendance I would say is a direct result of the compressed calendar rather than a forecast of light winds. On the plus side, falling just two days after Halloween, my car was packed with sweets, I promised my wife that I would wash the eggs off the front door on my return.
The 200 mile journey gave me plenty of time to mull over Solo related topics, how to increase participation and ultimately larger turnouts at our three biggest events of the year taking up at least 30 minutes of my commute before I came up with an idea. Now, I have never been short of these but 99% are rightly classified as folly so I put that one in my brain’s storage facility and unwrapped a Drumstick.
The night sky receded leaving a slab of concrete grey, pockets of mist sticking to the lower levels of the Somerset landscape and the trees that lined the M5, still fully canvassed, stood lifeless. The forecast had suggested a light 5-9 knots and fortunately, on arrival, the reservoir surface, other than a slither to leeward of the dam wall vindicated the weather apps prediction.
The boat park was as busy as an F1 paddock as participants unwrapped their state of art racing machines, meanwhile, near the water’s edge sat a racing green Winder. To be honest I assumed it had been adapted as a prop for the Halloween festivities but owner Jeremy Atkins proudly confirmed that the spider webs were actually real. I noted that this hull was the 200th built by Dave and the team and despite the horror show of cosmetic gelcoat chips and smears, it remains structurally perfect.
PRO Matt Rowley delivered a short concise briefing, with the forecast indicating a reduction in wind strength as the day progressed, a windward/leeward course and immediate use of the U flag would be implemented.
Jeremy’s Winder, complete with cobwebs
Nigel Davies and Andrew Wilde discuss the decline of Chris Brown’s performance in 2024
Race 1
Pre launch interviews and deck cam instillations complete, I shuffled to the pontoon, the narrow unstable platform providing me with an experience which would prepare me for Squid Games should I ever be invited. Once safely aboard the Safety/Media rib, and only after rib driver Rob had delivered his highly impressive powerboat safety talk did we ‘power on’ to the race arena. I unsheathed my excited Nikon P950, the new lens unit extending slightly, only when it processed the bleak conditions did it recede back into its housing. Today would not be a money shot sort of day.
Into sequence and with a generously long line, the fleet of 30 Solos spread down it, albeit with a good percentage close to the Committee boat. Jonny Coate shuts the door on Chris Bunn and looks like he has won the right side with Atkins on his transom and Davenport to leeward while Chris Mayhew has started down towards the pin with Phil Sturmer and Class President Guy Mayger.
Half way up the first beat and Coate and Davenport are bows forward in the middle of the course while Paul Davis and Charlie Nunn are behind but to windward as the breeze holds at 5 knots. The top mark is not far from the shadow of the clubhouse, Davenport and Coate, both in Winders, finding the right shifts to round with a healthy lead while behind, the wind shifts further left, suffocating those who were on the right hand lay line. Davis in the Boatyard at Beer Solo and Nunn in the GOAT Solo are next around with Mike Dray squeezing in behind Shustoke’s Harry Marlow and Steve Ede. The fleet choose left or right as they head downwind, the leaders though are far enough ahead to take a more direct route, leaning their Solos over to windward and sitting well forward to minimise hull displacement. Coate takes the lead and rounds the right hand gate while Davenport, taking a leaf from the AC 37 book of tactics splits to provide some separation. Dray, who sunk deep has had a blinder and rounds third from Davis and Nunn with Marlow, Bunn and Barnham keeping them honest. Coate extends up the second beat, footing off to the left of the coarse while the muscle density Davenport utilises in stronger winds is useless in sub 5 knots, instead he searches for height.
Top mark and Coate is clear from Davenport but behind, Andy Carter has shown some impressive speed, rounding ahead of Davis and Barnham with Dray, Ede and Nunn your top eight.
We motored down to the finish line and awaited the leaders who, incidentally were both chosen as deck cam jockeys along with Nigel Davies, well, two out of three is not bad.
The finishing order e chopped the top mark roundings and I instructed my driver to pull along side to Coate for his victorious interview. WhatsApp followers and half of Ireland would be pouring pints of Guiness and breaking loaves of Soda bread in celebration.
It was then a bit embarrassing to find that the top three finishers were in fact UFD. Later investigations and confirmation on the black board revealed that there were eight casualties, Davenport admitting that it was either pull the trigger with the others or get relegated to the second row. Therefore, it was a slightly surprised Paul Davis that took the bullet from Dray and Ede, the Lymington based sailor who is north of 90kg doing exceptionally well against sailors a good deal lighter. What a great design the Jack Holt built Solo is.
The PRO was keen to get race 2 underway but the mark laying team towards the top end of the course relaid the info that the breeze was down to under 4 knots, smoke rising almost vertically from behind the clubhouse confirming their observations while I wondered for a moment if my car was ok. A solitary 470 with support rib sat idle near the dam wall, that is the sort of dedication Olympians have to commit to, I wonder if it was Tom and Rachael?
Twenty minutes passed before the mixed two person dinghy accelerated forward, too far away to hear the Dacron crack but breeze on! A hint of burning leaves confirmed the wind was heading this way and also that my V70 was still operational so I cracked open a Mars bar and readied my Samsung for Race 2.
Paul Davies looking pretty smug after his R1 bullet
Race 2
The breeze is barely that, 3-4 knots and sailors heel their Solos to leeward to fill sails before bringing them up level on the gun, Davis, Davenport, Brown and Andy Bownes choosing the Committee end but Nunn is shut out and has to bail out. The left of the course holds the best of the breeze while the right has gone light, leaving Davenport almost becalmed. Fortunately the breeze returns and he rounds first from Chris Bunn who had a tardy start but went the right way second with Ede, Sturmer and Bownes completing the top five. Mayger would round in eleventh, Carter 12 with race 1 winner Davis 15th.
Davenport extended down the fickle run to the gate, the fleet spreading across the reservoir like they had been fired from a Blunderbuss. You know it is light when sailors venture forward of the thwart to hold the boom out, a feat of extreme athleticism I stopped doing two decades ago.
Top mark second lap and with the breeze holding across the course but fluctuating in strength, there was still plenty of opportunity to progress forward. Davenport has a 30 second lead from Mayger who has turned on the Nitrous with Ede in third. Carter must have followed Mayger and he is fourth from Richard Instone as they edge towards the finish line.
Davenport crosses the line, his face expressing some nervousness but this turns to a smile with the sound of the gun echoing across the water. Mayger, Ede, Carter and a fast finishing Andrew Wilde in the Demo Solo complete the top five.
So, with one race to go and the breeze indicating it would happen, the fleet lined up with Ede leading with a solid 3-3 from Mayger 10-2 and Davis 1-12 while Davenport has a bullet and his discard.
My driver had been instructed to collect hot food and drink from the pontoon so gunned the bright orange rotomoulded rib up to the top of the reservoir but only after first warning me, he goes top of my Christmas list.
Davenport checks out his lead in Race 2
Jonny Coate may have been BFD in Race 1 but his light wind technique is sublime nonetheless. Event Video HERE
Race 3
Davis is closest to the Committee boat with Coate and Jonathan Swain making life uncomfortable just to leeward and Davenport is below them, possibly keen to ensure he is not visible to the PRO. Nunn is down at the pin end, numbers that far away are now illegible but the duck egg blue hull stands out like a Cuckoo in a nest of Starlings, not sure if that is a good thing though? I also just about make out the varnished Sapele veneer of Mayhew’s John Poulson built hull, circa 2009 and he looks bow forward on the right hand starters.
Top mark and it is a PRO’s wet dream, Bunn leads in from the right with Barnham right on his transom who came from the left. Local Robin Warren is next from Mayhew with Russell Short and Davis completing the top six. Davenport in 12th has work to do as does Mayger in14th.
The wind is lighter now and the sailors are being tested both physically and mentally, I would have gone mental two races earlier but the fleet are made of stern stuff and at the bottom gate Bunn still leads from Barnham with Warren, Swain and Coate taking the left gate and Mayhew and Mayger opting for the right gate. This tactic clearly paid and by the top of lap two, Chris Mayhew, former Optimist National Champion, albeit thirty five years ago took the lead and held for the win from Mayger and Barnham with Bunn and Short completing the top five.
So, after numbers were crunched our 2024 EOS Champion would be Solo Class President Guy Mayger 2-2 with Steve Ede second 3-3 and Chris Mayhew third 6-1. Race one and two winners Davis and Davenport carried a heavy second race score to finish outside the top five which is unusual but sums up the difficulty of the conditions.
Guy thanked the race team for some impeccable management and the shore side team for their excellent catering.
This event also served as the final event in the North Sails Super Series which was successfully defended by Oliver Davenport with Steve Ede and Guy Mayger completing the podium. There were twenty qualifiers and the draw for a huge discount voucher on a new North sail was won by a delighted Andy Carter.
President Guy Mayger receives his winning trophy from Vice President Paul Davies
Join the Committee and you can win things too.
Congratulations to Super Series qualifier and Draw Winner Andy Carter. A BIG Thank You to North Sails for their continued support.
The magic ingredient that is designed into all the Super Spars mast tubes is the magnesium content. It gives controlled bend and recovery response for differing weight of crew, wind strengths or gusty conditions, allowing the leech of the sail to be more positive.
2024
1st/2nd Noble Marine Winters
North Sails Spring Champs
Podium Lockout
1st, 2nd, 3rd Super Series
Lake Como
Get a feel for the venue HERE
Nederlandse Soloklasse Organisa0e
Early informa0on sheet Na0ons cup 2025
NSO will organize this fantas0c event in coopera0on with:
Here is some preliminary informa0on, detailed and final informa0on will be made available in November 2024 on a web page of Vela Bellano, on the NSO and NSCA websites, as well as in print.
Rega%a venue
The event will take place from 21-25 of June 2025 in Bellano, lake Como, at the CIRCOLO VELA BELLANO.
Address: Viale Tommaso Grossi - 23822 Bellano (LC) Italy
Website: www.velabellano.it
E-mail: info@velabellano.it Race office: +39 0341-810305
Race/Event General Program
Saturday 21th June
Sunday 22st June
Monday 23rd June
Tuesday 24th June
Wednesday 25th June
Welcome and Registra0on
Target 2 races
Target 3 races
Target 3 races
Target 2 races
Thursday 26th June Departure all par0cipants
Hospitality
Race office will be open from 9.00am
Opening ceremony, beer party
Beer at CVB bar
Beer and Italian dinner for sailors and guests
Beer at CVB bar
Prize giving Dinner- Prosecco toast
Hospitality at CVB will be granted star0ng from 20th June 0ll 26th June 2025 when all boat and suppor0ng ribs shall leave the Club area. Before 20th June or a`er 26th June 2025 each par0cipant must agree with the Race Office the space reserva0on and a daily fee of 30€ will be required.
IMPORTANT NOTE: on Thursday mornings due to the weekly market, boat and ribs can not access by road the club 0ll 2PM.
Accommoda=on
A broad list of possibili0es will be available on the event website. For early bookers, we recommend to search on booking.com or Airbnb Bellano itself has no camping sites, in Dervio and Colico, North of Bellano, 3 camping sites are available.
Travel
The best way to travel from the UK will be presented on the event website.
695 miles to Lake Como
Further information to follow in the New Year
The Amazing Solo Committee
Have a Fabulous Christmas and best Wishes for the New Year