Allen Solo class National Championship and Nation's Cup 2024 at Brightlingsea Sailing Club - Overall
by Will Loy 28 Aug 06:00 BST
22-25 August 2024
My exit from the Brewers Arms B&B was frantic, onlookers may have had the impression that I was doing a runner but then again nothing irregular there. The popular rock band venue's car park had been full on my return the previous evening so I had parked a good 100 yards away and, in an effort to reduce my average steps for the day, now resembled an over-laden Sherpa. This would be the final day of racing, the mood, filled with tension and a heightened sense of anticipation.
The Sun had returned and forecast platforms indicated a nice F3-4 from the West, once again these proved accurate though it would reach F5.
Breakfast was consumed in the same manner of my accommodation transfer and I quickly re-located to the generously long Ribeye, the catering team happy to see me go, given the stench being emitted from my damp, rotten shoes. Fortunately my un-natural foot odour was masked from my Jury/Media team who stood dockside, discarded fish guts providing a worthy camouflage and we set off for the race arena.
With my Nikon P950 biting the dust a few days earlier, competitor Doug Homer had very generously lent me his own treasured camera though I was already concerned about trashing that one too. Steve Watson fumbled with flags and whistles while some other old bloke stood motionless, absorbing the unfolding vista before his eyes, one foot resting on a fishing tackle box.
I was about to suggest that the fishing trip was not due to leave for another hour but fortunately, just when I was about to deliver another one of my famous one-liners he pulled out his camera. Nick Champion, professional photographer for over forty years was on-board and he was not here for the fishing. Icon and personal hero, Nick took my photo back in 1989, the only material proof that I was once under 12 stone and on reflection, the catalyst for my own interest in the visual recording of Solo achievement. I mentioned to Sir Nick that today I would defer the photographic element of my media contributions to him, instead, concentrating my efforts into the Nationals WhatsApp group. Inside my rucksack, the substitute Nikon breathed a sigh of relief, it would soon be reunited with its nimble fingered owner.
In complete contrast to Day 3, conditions were champagne, only the colour of the water spoiling the picture, meanwhile, Nick fiddled with the buttons and dials beneath his 5p clear plastic bag, old school but it has kept his equipment dry from the corrosive element of the sea for decades.
The wind was from around 235 degrees and 12-14 knots I surmised, it's feel against my rugged features stirring fond memories of race days of yesteryear. Shards of silver stood out like diamonds, the azure sky, which yesterday brought nothing to the party now provided a perfect background and Nick clicked away, a faint grin escaping his pursed lips, his finely honed right index finger twitching like a gunfighter in a dastardly ambush. I was busy on my phone, texting the unfolding drama to our followers, most of them competitors so totally pointless but there were some at home, at work or elsewhere, therefore my words, dodgy photos and video commentary would hopefully transport them out into the bay for the last three races of the Championship.
PRO Sarah Conlon stood resolutely aboard the Committee boat, analysing wind and directional data.
Race 7
The Ribeye is equipped with a depth finder and Steve Corby advised me that we were floating just twelve feet above the sea bed, this I ascertained was a good reason for the tint though the local power station's cooling system could also be culpable.
Davenport looked resplendent in the bright yellow leader vest, likewise, Dutchman Pim van Vugt who, coming off the back of two wins on day 3, could make a fortune if he could bottle the confidence surging through his healthy cholesterol free veins.
The first start was recalled, the entire fleet running through the start line in unison, partly due to the tide but also through unbridled enthusiasm. Cumbley had liked the Committee end and was circling around the boat like a shark with a caudal fin malfunction.
The re-start saw plenty of interest and shouting, our position just down from the right hand side of the line providing a great angle for my own verbal commentary but Nick was less enamoured, his face contorted in frustration, the money shot is looking down the line and we were behind it.
Davenport and Vugt were not engaging but had an eye on each other while Cumbley and Davis concentrated on their own technique as the fleet battled the increasing chop.
We powered up to the top mark, my texting becoming increasingly difficult to decode, one could have been forgiven from thinking Chris Brown was on-board, such was the level of Dyslexia.
Charlie Cumbley punched out of the pack with Fergus Barnham and Alex Corby, you could sense the pride in my rib driver's heart as they rounded the top mark, the purchase of the 6 metre East Coast munching Ribeye had been a justifiable purchase after all.
Chris Aston, who would later be awarded BFD, Davenport, Vugt, Paul Davis, Bakker and Taxi followed closely and they set off down the reach, which would be for some, an opportunity to test their righting lines. Cumbley, Barnham Vugt and Davenport rounded the leeward mark and set off upwind, already out of site of the back markers, Corby and Aston following the leaders but struggling to reduce the deficit.
Top mark lap two and Vugt, who took a hitch to the left rounds ahead of Cumbley with Davenport, Barnham and Corby hanging onto their coat-tails and with Gillard and Davis in pursuit.
Aboard our rib, Steve Watson sat idle, though his eyes continued to scan the field of competitors like a Terminator assessing its next target. Nick was clicking away like a happy Hen at feeding time, the spectacle through his Nikon viewfinder too tempting not to capture, I just hope he remembered to insert a memory card.
The positions remained the same, the top three extending while maintaining a Red Arrow precise gap on each other down the final leg to the gun. The reaches had been about as much fun as you can have in a Solo, only a few competitors succumbing to the forces of nature versus skill. Spurs fan Vince Horey living up to his reputation when holding a good position to score another Tottenham own goal.
So Pim continued his assault on the Championship deficit, claiming his third bullet in a row and with two possible races remaining, plenty of water and time on his side, all was to play for.
We took a moment to renew batteries, replace carbohydrates and wipe down sunglass lenses before resuming our position on-station but this time, to the delight and relief of Nick and his bank balance, at the pin end.
Race 8
Sitting just proud of the line, I initiated 'record' on my Samsung S5 and awaited the fleets arrival with Vugt sitting closest to the pin end and Davenport and Cumbley unsighted. Our driver re-positioned soon after the gun, the Dutchman's speed and direction looking slightly alarming through my 5 inch screen but to be fair the Dutchman's demeanour stayed as horizontal as Nick Champion's camera technique. Oliver Turner had fancied a port tack flyer but with starboard tackers head to toe, finding a gap must have been like crossing the M25 in rush hour with a blindfold on. He bailed, tacking behind Pim but with Gillard, Duetz and Horey for company.
Top mark and the left has paid handsomely, though the day boating family who scythed through the middle of the fleet must have learnt some new swear words. Turner was in his element, rounding the top mark with local sailor Paul Birch second. Clearly, the masterplan of donating a barrel of beer to the fleet was finally paying and he set off with cheeky chappy Chris Brown tacking under Vugt and Huisman for third, a manoeuvre deemed ok as the Dutchmen were both well above the lay line. Davis, Horey, Duetz and Frary were next around from Ede, Corby and Hicks, Davenport was sixteenth and Cumbley was still coming upwind.
There was some drama as the sailors, one by one, headed towards a safety rib moored close-by where a crew member held aloft a board of shame. Paul Davis, Martin Honnor deemed BFD.
PRO Sarah had set the sausage as the first lap and today the tricky lumps of water chose Matthew Frary as their unwilling victim. Nature is an energy devoid of compassion, Frary's generous re-gifting of the Milanes Foils rudder he won the previous evening, nothing to the cold hearted God of Water.
Upturned hulls stood out against the yellowy-brown surface, the battlefield dotted with casualties while at the botton mark, Vugt led from Turner and a rampant Cumbley who had demonstrated blistering downwind speed and technique, the North jockey keen to impress upon his rivals that he was better than his scorecard suggested.
Turner would eventually finish seventh but the real tussle was between Vugt and Cumbley, the NED sailor taking a healthy lead as they headed down the final two reaches but with Charlie gaining on every wave.
At the gun it was indeed the flying Dutchman, winning his fourth race in a row but by no more than feet from Cumbley. Menno Huisman pipped Davenport for third, a detail I missed and would prove pivotal with numbers crunched back on-shore.
So, onto the finale, Race 9 was something we did not anticipate after losing Day 1 but with two discards in play, the points tally for this race would provide a glimmer of hope for Pim van Vugt, with four bullets in his pocket and the breeze up at 18-20 knots, athleticism and tactical prowess would be vital.
Race 9
We cruised behind the fleet as they lined up for the finale to this Championship, Nick Champion continuing to focus his lens on transoms, possibly whispering obscenities under his breath. The frustration of poor positioning high on a professional photographers list of no-no's and only trumped by being on-board when Ben Ainslie is swimming your way.
There would again be a number of black flag casualties, Corby and the hapless Paul Davis just two of the victims pulled out at the top mark but Vugt leads with Cumbley much closer this time in second. The sea state and wind speed are full-on, Turner and Davenport pushing their Solo FRP hull integrity to it's limit and they round three and four with the unlucky Corby BFD. HD Sails Davis, Barnham and Hicks inherit a place each as the rest of the competitors pull control lines and muscles in an effort to keep their Solos flat.
Cumbley is in the lead at the bottom of the run but Vugt takes it back by the top, his hitch to the left proving the right choice of tactic, the speeds being equal of all the top boys.
Davenport is third and though the leaders are as unsure of the overall standings as we are, arithmetic would not be at the top of the agenda right now.
Top of the final beat and Davenport tacks and nearly loses it, costing him a few seconds when he may have been up to second, Vugt and Cumbley round the top mark with hardly anything in it.
The wave patterns and height are keeping everyone on their toes but at the front the duel is about to finish, Cumbley gaining the inside line and advantage to take the win.
Davenport is a comfortable third from Barnham, Davis and Gillard.
After much head scratching and finger counting, Pim van Vugt wins the Allen 2024 Solo National Championship and Nation's Cup after an incredible final two day 1-1-1-1-2, beating Davenport (3-4-3) on count-back with Cumbley third after a very successful final day 2-2-1.
After some deliberation the NSCA Committee took the decision to award both titles to Pim, our sister association in the Netherlands has, for many years, awarded their Dutch Championship to a UK representative so it is only right to do so here.
Brightlingsea Sailing Club must be awarded the best club of the year for their efforts in providing exceptional friendliness, race management, catering services and shore side launch and recovery organisation.
Huge thanks to all our sponsors, Allen, HD Sails, CFbyLandL, Shock Sailing, P&B, Milanes Foils, Noble Marine, KLG, North Sails, Impact Marine, Musto, CB Coverstore and Lifejacket Skin Care.
Thanks to Steve Corby, the Jury/Media Rib Driver/Owner, Steve Watson, Judge and special guest star Nick Champion.
Next stop is the Solo Inland Championship in just under two weeks, Grafham Water will be our hosts.
If the International element of the Solo Class has wet your appetite then the Dutch Championship (ONK) takes place Sep 19-22 on the IJsellmeer at Muiden.
See you on the water and look out for the WhatsApp group for almost live media.