National Solo 2009





























Solo Fleet Captain - Adrian Griffin (4587)

The Salcombe Solo Fleet now numbers 40 - see link at bottom of this page for an up to date list.

OPEN MEETINGS - 2009

Spring Open - May 23rd, 24th & 25th - see link at the bottom of this page for advertisement

Regatta Week - August 2nd to 7th 

Solo Fleet Dinner - Thursday 6th August in the Chart Room - dress formal, Pink Tie

Autumn Open - October 10th & 11th

 

This year's unchallenged entry for 'Quote of the Year'  -  "The top batten was too tight and wouldn't go through on the tack, so I was forced to pump"  P.  Hammond 

Walking Wounded

Two items of medical news to report in December, both fortunately look set to have a happy ending.  Chris Spencer-Chapman has not been seen on the water for some weeks now and I can report that this is due to some severely strained ligaments in his right shoulder following an accident on his motorbike.  They both came off, but the bike came off worse than Chris did & to Sue's relief is now in the knackers yard, which is where Chris will be if he is not fit enough to crew Geoff Gilson's Yawl in the Commissioning Race next March.

Rob Hyde, who's profession has done so much to further the cause of puerile cockney rhyming slang jokes, has recently had to give up the use of his right hand following surgery on his shoulder.  Having spent a night at the Nuffield, my informant tells me that he is now coming to terms with doing everything with his left hand for the time being.  Having long since perfected the art of using a mouse left-handed, no doubt Rob will quickly adapt to his new circumstances. 

We wish Rob & Chris both a speedy recovery.

National Championships 2009

Odd couple, Alister Morley & Peter Hammond opted out of their home regatta and went north to this year's championships hosted by East Lothian Yacht Club.  Despite his promising form at Weymouth, Alister was unable to repeat his dominance over reigning national champion Charlie Cumbley, but still posted a very creditable 9th overall in a top ten leader board which reads like a Who's Who in dinghy sailing today.  Alister, who's meals were prepared by Peter - see photo opposite - earned his first ever black flag on the last day, but with characteristic modesty put his performance down to a bout of 'holiday tummy'.  Peter Hammond won the Plate Series, he's not quite sure how or why, but was pleased that his trophy was bigger than Alister's.

 

Photos of racing on 15th August available - here 

Membership news

Welcome to two new members, Stephen Page who bought Miles Thomas's Winder while Miles was down here for the Regatta.  Stephen made his debut retirement on 22nd August.  Also welcome to Jonty White who has bought Martin Ley's wooden Gosling and intends to start racing in the autumn.  Meanwhile the Fleet bade farewell to Peter Edwards at the end of Regatta week. Peter is leaving Salcombe to get married & settle down in Kent & intends to continue racing at Bewl Valley

1st July - New Gosling nearly ready

Peter Hammond's new Gosling will be coming to Salcombe in the next week or so.  Its a composite FRP, Epoxy, ply similar to Gordon Barclay's new boat featured in the summer edition of the Solo Association magazine.  It will combine the optimum weight distribution & stiffness of a modern FRP hull with the classic looks of a 'proper' wooden Solo.  See photo opposite

The updated fleet list below also includes a 'new' Speed Solo for Harold Cranch which had its debut on 4th July, after Harold was tempted to upgrade following an outing in Rob Hyde's boat a few weeks earlier.  Also welcome to Mike Hicks (4922) who is making the transition from the Yawl fleet into competitive racing.

Alister Morley wins Pre-Championships week-end at at Weymouth - 20/21 June 

Alister Morley gave a convincing demonstration of his mastery of this class by taking on some of the best Solo helms in the country and showing them all how it should be done.  After a hesitant start, Alister's 3 wins and 2 second places left him 3 points clear of runner up, reigning National Champion Charlie Cumbley after six races, over two days, in perfect conditions.

Five members of the Salcombe fleet took part in the event. Full results at the bottom of the page

For Photographs on the Fotoboat Website, follow the link - Photos 

And the tributes keep coming in:

  • Alister's achievement in winning ahead of Charlie Cumbley is really quite special. He was mega consistent off the start line and equally so up the first beat where going the right way with super boat speed was essential. Alister had all these things right ! These performances were delivered under pressure as well, having totally cocked up his first race.  I doubt there is anyone faster than Alister in the country in force three to four upwind and certainly not with his level of consistency. Impressive..............Peter Hammond.
  • "He wouldn't have won if I'd been there!......."...C. Cleaves
  • "...........you were too mean to pay the entry fee, you tight Sod!".....M. Bell
  • "Not for me thanks, I've got the car..".....G. Gilson
  • " I was late for the start of the first race"........A. Morley
  • etc.  etc.

Captain's Innings 

Salcombe Festival pursuit race Sunday 14th June - with a 16 strong entry list including international yachtsmen and some of Salcombe's finest helms, it was left to one solitary Solo to break the Yawl's stranglehold on this event. For once, Windguru got it very wrong and by 10 am the predicted overcast, airless conditions were replaced by blue skies and a strengthening sea breeze which reached a steady 10 knots by the time the Toppers came under starter's orders at 12:30. 13 minutes later the Fleet Captain gave chase in his Solo working the strong tides and windshifts to full advantage to maintain almost all of the six minute advantage over the Yawl Blue fleet for the duration of the race. Despite a strong callenge in the leading red fleet Yawl, Dan Bridger was only able to pull back about half of the 10 minute handicap to claim second place behind the unchallenged Solo. 

And the tributes keep on coming in:

  • " I couldn't believe how far in front you were"..   K. Musto
  • "....you were awesome!"....  T. Law
  • " You wouldn't have won if I'd been there!..."....    C. Cleaves
  • "...........you were too mean to pay the entry fee, you tight Sod!"...   M. Bell
  • "..just a half of Doom, please"...   G. Gilson
  • "1155?  oops, I think I used 1255"...   J. Murrell
  • "I thought the race started at 2 o'clock"...  A. Morley
  • "What have you been up to?  I've been ringing you for the last two hours..." K.Woodley

 

Racing 30th May

There was a brief period of panic on Smalls Cove shortly after 1 pm on Saturday when someone spotted Alister Morley rowing across the estuary and simultaneousy 15 members of the fleet looked in disbelief at their watches, fearful that the 5 minute klaxon was about to go off.  Alister explained that his uncharacteristically early arrival was due to nothing other than the hope that the fine weather would bring with it some nubile sunbathers.  Alister went on to win the race, while Paul Ellis struggled to find form with his new SM8.  Ed Stephens left Liz on the Salcombe side with her digital camera  and the results, including some excellent videos are available below:

For photos & videos follow the link - photos

 

Spring Open Meeting - May 2009

As the sun rose over Salcombe estuary in a cloudless sky, trees swayed gently in the rapidly freshening wind and the sight of gusts darting across the surface of the water promised a good days sailing ahead.  ......Brilliant, if you were one of the tourists who, on this Tuesday morning, planned to stay in town for the week, but not much good for the very strong entry of 47  competitors who'd  packed up their Solos the night before at the end of a frustrating bank holiday week-end of airless sunshine and strong spring tides.

Saturday afternoon - Race 1           

Following a general recall and a half hour delay as the Yawl and handicap fleets worked through their allotted start times, the fleet got under way in a light Force 2 breeze to beat up to Snapes Point before bearing away into the bag.  Alister Morley took an immediate lead, chased closely by Simon Corper with Paul Rayson & Godfrey Clark following.  The leaders remained in this order as they gybed at Gerston, whereupon Clark, in the livery of his new sponsors www.comparethemeerkat.com, climbed over the leading three.  Meanwhile the chasing pack had worked right out to the east shore in an attempt to avoid the strong flood tide, with Simon Yates even passing east of the Saltstone before the whole group caught up as everyone was becalmed at Halwell Point.  Paul Ellis slipped past the weed to extend his lead past the Egremont but a group of Yawls could be seen with wind on the west shore and Clark was first to luff across the tide to lead the group at Snapes before another scrummage ensued to find wind and keep moving.  Ellis, Rayson & Clark crossed to the Portlemouth shore and looked set for the top points but Morley & Peter Hammond had worked up the town shore and snatched the top spots by a few yards from the other three as they crossed the line.

Final positions were Morley, Hammond, Ellis, Rayson, Clark

Sunday morning - Race 2

With light airs and strong tides, the race officer set a course to Saltstone and thereafter in the main estuary from Blackstone, Crossways &  Blackstone.  Alister Morley took an immediate lead which he never relinquished, despite the efforts of Chris Cleaves, Tim Law and Mark Maskell.  Cleaves came off worst of the chasing bunch to finish fourth in front of Simon Corper.

Sunday afternoon - Race 3

This was a gloriously sunny afternoon, but with only the lightest of winds in the estuary the race officer set a short beat to Crossways followed by a course out to sea round the mark at Gara.  This gave competitors a brief period of relief from the doldrums, in the form of a strong sea breeze.  The start brought an evenly contested beat with Ellis the only clear leader on the run back down the Portlemouth shore, which saw much gybing amongst the leaders as they sought to avoid the strong spring tide & moored boats.  Ellis had a useful lead at the Blackstone, chased by Mark Lee & Godfrey Clark, but the fleet met a new breeze and started beating out past Sunny Cove to the Bar, where all wind disappeared. Wind could be seen out at sea and it was Mike Hicks who short tacked along the rocks and was first to pick up the sea-breeze, followed by Clark and Ellis, who each extended a good lead out to sea.  Meanwhile, others were not so lucky as the light winds periodically died away positions were won and lost as the tide overcame the wind.  Simon Yates solved the problem by standing on a partially submerged rock to wait for wind before continuing on his way.  On the long run back into the estuary, Clark passed Hicks as the wind bent round the hill to become another beat to Crossways.  The final turn at 2 (Millbay) became desperate as the leaders were each held by the tide and unable to round the mark and finish the race.  Clark's lead was lost and Ellis thought he had the race sewn up until he hit the mark and his resultant penalty restored Clark's lead for the win.  Final placings were Godfrey Clark, Paul Ellis, Ian Barnett, Simon (Yotter) Yates, Michael Hicks.

Monday morning - Race 4

The forecast change in the weather brought dark skies and the threat of occasional rain, but no sign of any wind as the Thermos flasks were out in force on an otherwise deserted Smalls Cove.  The only movement on the water was the sight of Yawls drifting on the tide and picking up bouys to wait for the promised winds.  As the planned start time of 11 am passed and the postponement flag hung limp atop the cross trees on the watch house, even Alister Morley was in time for the delayed start.  But it was not to be, as the wind filled in briefly and the Yawls sailed off their moorings, the race officer abandoned racing for the day.  A decision vindicated within less than an hour, as the Solo fleet sank their first round of free beer, generously sponsored by Barney Greenhill, the town was bathed in sunlight but there was not a breath of wind on the water.

At the prizegiving, the sponsors award for the competitor who achieved the highest score without retirement was presented to Ed Stephens ( Salcombe) a recent convert from Lasers, who is campaigning his first full season in Solos.

Results:

  • First - Alister Morley 4747
  • Second - Godfrey Clark - 4120
  • Third - Paul Ellis - 4830
  • Fourth - Peter Hammond - 4940
  • Fifth - Paul Rayson - 4718

Dramatic Mud Rescue 

Andrew Borne swam out to rescue this unfortunate individual who lost control & capsized within feet of the slipway at Batson recently, burying his mast in the mud in the process.  The large crowd of Solo helms looked on in amazement (or was it amusement?) & held their breath during a frantic few moments when it was unclear whether or not a camera could be found in time to record the event.  If you want to see more, check out the videos.

 

Charlie Cumbley Masterclass 

Our thanks to Charlie Cumbley who came to Salcombe and gave a very interesting presentation on behalf of North Sails on 13th March.  Having been persuaded to stay overnight with Scud & Wendy, the following morning Charlie gave a large crowd in the boat park at Batson a masterclass in rigging & tuning a Solo.  Sadly Charlie turned down the invitation to borrow a boat and compete in the afternoon race, but he has promised to return with his own boat, later this summer.

Cleaves & Morley head to head at Commissioning Race - Saturday 7th March

Chris Cleaves & Alister Morley came out of Batson creek fighting last Saturday afternoon, each vying hard with the other to claim first scalp of the season.  Morley was quick off the mark and was soon to take a bath under the watchouse, but it was too late as Cleaves had already revealed the underside of his brand new Winder on the Portlemouth side to claim first capsize of the season.  There was a race later which was won by Paul Ellis.

We have also had a note from Bas Edmonds at RYA Technical suggesting that the Solo handicap is incorrect and that for 2009 we should be sailing off 1055, the Commissioning Race results reflect this.

Advertisement - a message from Scud

Our 'local friendly chandlery' now has in stock, for the benefit of their single-handed friends, a number of Proctor Cumulus masts as well as a large selection of other equipment - usual terms.

 

For those of you who want to carry on racing through the winter, please note the following:

  • The Starcross Steamer is being held on Sunday 18th January - follow the link - Steamer
  • John Davey has advised that we are always welcome to race at Teignmouth (Coombe Cellars) for details of their race programme follow the link - TEIGNMOUTH

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