Selden Solo National Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Day 5

Due to high winds and big seas, racing today (Thursday) has been cancelled. The race team plan to run 3 races on Friday if possible with a start time of 11.00 am.

I took the news with mixed emotions while around me, competitors, faces etched with worry and superficial scars from the first four days breathed a collective sigh of relief. The view of the sand bar was one of fury and malicious intent, to go there would have been folly but bloody good footage. A few of the more business minded competitors slinked off back to the car park to re-fasten spare masts to roof racks while others, sweaty palms still grasping their insurance policies tucked them back in their ODL pouches for another day.

Richard Lovering at full bore in the Hyde Sails/Selden D Winder 2 at the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Will Loy

Mark Wood, our excellent PRO (up to now) had once again made the correct decision although the record of 16 broken masts at Hayling would surely have been easy to beat given the Solos propensity to turn turtle. We had some examples just yesterday and once the mast hits the sand, righting the craft is difficult, especially with the helms weight on the centreboard. Safety is always paramount and with the demographic of the class, generally well over the age of consent, keeping them alive is good for membership numbers.

The lay day gave everyone a chance to rest weary limbs, re-calibrate personal targets and embellish stories they had told on Monday, though memories are short for some so they would have already forgotten the first edition.

Chris Brown sending his North F3/Superspars M2 Winder 2 at the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Will Loy

Steve Watson, our class on the water Jury was quick to seize the opportunity, organising an ad hoc rules clinic in one of the training rooms and once the children were seated, he began, delivering a concise and eloquent description of the rules in play from start to finish. It must have been captivating. To be honest, I was in the bar having a Cappuccino but, having spent a number of years with Steve I can verify that what he said is true and relevant in the racing environment. I can neither confirm or deny that anyone was there but he seemed rather chipper afterwards, even buying me another coffee so at least one student was there or it was the cleaner.

This delay to the Championship has given me time to expand on some of the sponsorship we are enjoying at Hayling Island, SELDEN providing us with a class meal, free beer evening and some goodies, the banners that adorn the boat park are also rather sexy and most importantly, have not blown away.

HD Sails Race Day

Yesterday HD Sails supplied us with so much beer, even I had a couple, one can only assume Andy Davis at HD wanted to inflict as many hangovers as possible. Ian Hopwood's ( Winder 2) assault on the top five would surely have been compromised had we sailed today. The HD Sails/Superspars M2 supporter is doing rather well and sits tenth overall and will really enjoy the final day if the breeze is up. Guy Mayger (Winder 2) is another using the HD Sail/Superspars M2 set up and even with the weight of office on his shoulders, sits eleventh, surely his results will only get worse as the years as President take their pound of flesh. Robert Gullan, (Winder 1) more at home in the stable platform of an RS 800 is ninth, his last five race results all in the top ten which is ominous for the guys in front, confirming that his HD/Selden D+ set-up is also in fast mode. This is confirmed by Martin Frary, (Winder 2) his HD Sails Maxx/ Selden D+ powering him into fifth overall with only one result outside the top ten. So, four sailors in touching distance of the fourth step on the podium, Taxi would have loved it here but you guys are doing him proud. Thank You HD Sails for your support of this event.

Robert Gullan works the HD Sails/Selden D Winder 1 downhill at the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Will Loy

Suntouched provided some additional prizes today and these went to sailors including Maria E Franco Ferro, Steve Ede and Malcolm Buchanan among others. A big Thank You from the NSCA.

Today was listed as being the P&B race day and I had planned to follow the cream of the sail loft's sailors but with Flower, Davenport and Morgan all performing exceptionally, I have been videoing them all week anyway. The P&B Maxx, matched with the Superspars M2 is performing with some impressive results, albeit in the hands of sailors who are both skillful, athletic and race savvy. P+B have been on a development programme for a few years and the culmination of CAD design and driver input is bearing fruit. Davenport uses the Winder 1a while Flower and Morgan have opted for the Winder 2.

Charlie Cumbley drives the Winder 1/North Sails P3/Selden D through the Hayling chop at the Selden Solo Nationals at Hayling Island - photo © Will Loy

Charlie Cumbley, who has been away from the class for a number of years sits in third overall, five off the lead and just one point behind Davenport, the North P3/Selden D+ still pumping out race results mortals can only dream about. Cumbley is campaigning the Winder 1, the flatter section, a departure from his normal MK 2 which is widely accepted as the optimum shape for the slightly heavier helm in an environment of waves but the colour is cool. With two race wins, a second and three 3's, the multiple Champion is still a huge threat to Flower and Davenport. Among the other notable North Sails users are Tim Law and Chris Brown who sit seventh and eighth respectively so a top ten of masts and sails as varied as crisp flavours. Richard Lovering sits fourth, his Hyde/Selden powered Winder 2 keeping him in the game, albeit thirteen points off third but the only sailor to have all his results inside the top ten, there must be a prize for that! I do believe Rich is currently in the boat park fitting a bow sprit, it's tip strong and blunt and angled to strike below the waterline.

Day 6 could be as dramatic as a Christmas edition of Eastenders so I hope to report tomorrow afternoon at the conclusion of this epic battle of man/woman/other for the title of SELDEN Solo National Champion 2023.

Full extended interviews, extra footage and photo links will follow in SoloInteractive Nationals Special, out soon.

Results after Day 5: