Selden Solo National Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Day 4

Mike Barnes blasts Top Drive up the beat on day 4 of the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island © Will Loy

I woke just before my alarm, fumbling with the device to disable it before it disturbed the neighbours. The sound of feet sloshing through wet gravel confirmed that we were well into school summertime. The overnight showers had abated, the morning sunshine quickly drying wetsuits which hung from spars like dead bodies to ward off strangers, the stench not dissimilar to rotting carcasses.

Following yet another breakfast fit for Kings/Queens/Other and impromptu interviews with some of the more athletic competitors, I headed for the Jury/Media/Safety rib, kit bag bursting with enough tuck shop goodies to embarrass any competent shop lifter. Steve was already at base camp and the accent was getting easier every day now we knew which face to climb.

The breeze out in the bay was already punchy with the wind direction more southerly, the influence from the IOW was negated, hence bigger waves and hopefully a more consistent wind angle.

The Solent chop caught a few sailors out and one got into difficulty in the race area so a delay was inevitable. Ian Hopwood did his best to provide shadow so the stricken sailor could right his Solo which was very noble but alas, the mast was lodged in the soft sand that sits just 18 feet below. taking the initiative, Hoppy deliberately capsized and righted his own craft to display how to do it, he had years of experience at doing that but unfortunately the other Solo was already heading off to Hayling beach, still inverted. The rescue teams extracted the casualty and we moved into the start sequence.

Launching on day 4 of the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Will Loy

Race 7 Wind at 230 and 14-18 knots

There was a port line bias but with the right side favoured by the fleet, the indication was that the tide was coming in so keeping out of it was advantageous. The first two attempts were recalled, four BFD's under the black flag and and some more would succumb to the retched flag in the third start which was successful. Flower and Mike Barnes made great starts on the boat but that was the closest Barnes ever got to the leader as he powered through waves with the minimum of effort. If ever the saying "flat is fast" rung true, it was being displayed by the youthful Flower and he was first to the windward mark with Martin Frary second. Davenport though, got into difficulty at the mark allowing Lovering, Cumbley and Hicks and four more through while he inspected the big black inflatable buoy. Likewise, Nunn had misjudged the tide and did some turns after rounding in the top five. The run was a play zone for those blessed with the skill to surf the waves while to others it must have looked like an ice field but in defence of the fleet, capsizes were few.

The subsequent beat saw Flower consolidate his lead, despite a broken kicker, his arms will be an inch longer today no doubt. Cumbley was charging, sniffing the loose exotic fibres in the air ahead of him and sensing an opportunity to reduce his deficit on the event leader, he set off on the long two reaches in pursuit. Frary, Davenport and Lovering followed, these five had powered away from the pack with impunity, adrenalin pumping, eyes sore from the brine that relentlessly bombarded their bodies.

Cumbley, Morgan and Flower duel in race 7 on day 4 of the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Will Loy

At the gun Cumbley had blasted through the leaders defence, Flower's leach profile just giving away lengths with every wave as the boom kicked high into the sky like a jury rig on a stricken yacht. Frary, Davenport and Lovering completed the top five and with another race scheduled, there would be some tired limbs in the evening.

Steve powered through the wave patterns while I sneaked a Murray Mint from my Aquamarine high top, the wrapping beginning to adhere to the sweetie goodness that lay within. My colleague, hearing a crackle, turned his head slightly, still focused on the walls of water and I instantly froze. This silence obviously quelled any concern he had that he was missing out, his focus returning to piloting while the sweet returned to my pocket, still partly clothed for now.

Race 8 230 degrees 14-20 knots

PRO Mark Wood once again set a pin bias and the fleet spread down it, like a pack of cards laid along the arm of a magician. Flower and the other main players were still at the committee end and Davenport was seen dipping starboard tack transoms just to hit the right.

Half way up the beat Cumbley looked like he had the lead but Flower seemed to have more height and with the tide still in play the order around mark 1 was Flower, Cumbley, Davenport with Frary, Davis and Morgan next. Unfortunately Morgan would be UFD which is always a bitch when you are doing well. By the top of lap 2 Davenport had passed Cumbley, youth and height two qualities that most of us no longer possess and the final lap so no change with Flower, Davenport, Cumbley, Frary and Lovering completing an unsurprising top five. A big shout out to Tim Law who finished with a brace of sixes after his DSQ yesterday, that is bounce-back-ability.

Jon Gay ahead of Guy Mayger on day 4 of the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Will Loy

So, with 4 races remaining, Flower is leading the event, four race wins and a 4 point gap to Davenport with one race win and he is just one point ahead of Cumbley and they are well ahead of Lovering, Frary who is our leading veteran, Morgan, Law who is our leading GM, Brown, Gullan and Hopwood. Mike Barnes is our leading Septimus in 59th and is also our first wooden Solo and Amanda Henderson is our leading lady in 79th.

Results after Day 4: