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Solo Western Series Round 3 at Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club

by Richard Woods and Steve Roberts 2 Jun 2024 21:21 BST 1 June 2024
Solo Western Series at Torpoint Mosquito © Richard Woods

Round 3 of the Solo Western Series headed to Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club, with seven visitors joining the local fleet, so nineteen Solos competed overall.

The forecast wind was for a light NE-NW wind, which was going to make setting even a windward/leeward challenging, as winds from those directions funnel round the town. Fortunately the winds were stronger than forecast - and very gusty, although never over 12 knots - and predominately stayed N-NE.

The course was set along the West Mud shallows, thus trying to keep out of tide and main shipping channel. The first race was set using navigation marks, in part because we didn't want a repeat of last years groundings on West Mud. But once the tide had risen we laid a new lee mark to make a better beat.

As always the Solo starts were "polite" affairs with no boats over early - although some came close. In the first race the channel was the favoured side, as the tide was still flooding. Rob Loader, sailing a borrowed boat, took full advantage and was the only boat to tack onto port. Thus he led for the first lap, but places changed throughout on each lap which meant for a tight finish, and Ron was narrowly beaten into third place by Geoff Holden, first, and visitor Gary Molten second.

The AP was up for 5 minutes while the new mark was laid and the course was now four laps, not three (amid groans from some sailors!). Again a clean start, although no one took advantage of the port bias, all still starting at the committee boat end. This time the visitors knew what to do and soon Paul Kelly had powered into the lead - only to capsize at the windward mark!! Thus allowing Charlie Nunn and the ever present Geoff Holden to pass, with Malcolm Davies, in the second oldest boat in the fleet, in third. Sadly Sal Furness was forced to retire injured, while other capsizes further down the fleet added to the race officers enjoyment.

Feeling sorry for the sailors (and knowing they wanted a burger ashore from TJ's) the RO's set another 3 lapper for the final race. This time several boats, led by Roger Gibb, sailed down the line to the favoured pin end. For by now the tide had turned and staying in the shallows was going to pay.

The visitors made no mistakes and Paul was a comfortable winner with Darren Roach second and local sailor Shaun Welsh, eventually finding his form, third.

It was a wide open event, lots of place changing and some very close finishes, however Geoff Holden was the winner with a first and second - although discarding an 11th. Paul Kelley and Charlie Nunn tied on points for second, with Paul getting the edge as he won the last race.

So ashore for the burgers, drinks and some "basking in the warm sunshine".

Grateful thanks to sponsors GOAT and Dinghy Shack. And of course to the mark layers/safety boat crews and also to the excellent race team of Richard Woods and Dee Casey-Brown (TMSC Commodore).

Overall Results:

PosBoatSail NoHelmR1R2R3Pts
1stRocinante6042Geoff Holden12‑113
2nd 6059Paul Kelly‑5415
3rd 6106Charlie Nunn‑4145
4th 5901Darren Roach‑6527
5th 4654Malcolm Davies‑10358
6th 5893Gary Molten2‑101012
7th 5604Roger Gibb‑96612
8thPink Panther5778Shaun Welsh‑1211314
9thVenom6113Steve Roberts77‑914
10th 6013Kim Furniss‑88715
11thPension Pot5798Rob Loader315‑1618
12th 5905Steve Mitchell‑1712820
13th 5926John Steels119‑1420
14th 5769Martin Ley13‑141225
15th 5731Vernon Perkins‑14131326
16th 5655Sean Biggs15.5‑161530.5
17th 5720Peter Lye‑18171734
18th 5262Sal Furniss15.5(RET)RET35.5
19thRhythm Stick4614Geoff Hall‑19181836

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