Solo National Championship Day 4

P+B Solo National Championship Day 4

The final day of this magnificent Solo Championship dawned hot and sunny, just a thin line of cirrus nimbus spoiling an otherwise deep blue stratosphere. Torbados had already delivered some fabulous weather and the forecast was for 10-14 knots from due south, though there was a short delay with the competitors held ashore until the RO was happy.

The points were tight between the top three challengers, Davenport having a four point advantage over Cumbley and five over Butler but with an eight as a second discard against the North Jockey’s four, he was vulnerable to attack.

I gently lowered myself into the media rib, a crowd were already gathered close to the marina and although tempted to launch myself aboard like any seasoned deck hand, the ignominy of failure and subsequent exposure on the social platforms was too big a risk. How I yearn for the days when you could do stupid stuff and not get caught.

Barry lit up the BYC four stroke lean fuel outboard, engaged the gear stick and piloted us out of the harbour entrance, wildly rotating the steering wheel in an effort to keep it straight. Brixham Yacht Club and RTYC regularly assist each other with rib sharing at events such as these and I can only assume there is a long standing, light hearted spat between the two clubs.

We pottered to the race arena with plenty of time to reflect on the eight races already completed, with five different winners and three possible Champions, this was one of the tightest majors in years.

The wind was expected to track right throughout the the day and was currently at 090 but by the time the fleet were on station it had gone around to 155 with a wind strength of 6 knots. Bob did not need an invite and soon initiated the start sequence for race 9.

I powered up the Mini 3 and console for the second time in one day, the first had almost resulted in its loss, the small handle on the undercarriage triggering the sensor and inhibiting the downward motion of the drone. Only after enforcing a landing did it make a gentle descent down towards the water where my outstretched hand was waiting.

Barry positioned us just back from the Committee boat and the drone took off for the two main players in this decisive race, their sails easily identifiable on the small high resolution screen though my eye balls were still on stalks.

Cumbley was already hunting Davenport and the two weaved in and out of parked Solos, dancing like a couple of pigeons about to mate, both with eyes only for each other as their minds searched through the memory vaults for the book of racing rules. My drone handling skills were being put through their paces and after two failed attempts with the same tactics implemented, we finally had a successful start under a black flag on the third attempt, Cumbley a few boats up on Davenport as they headed up the left of the course with Gibson BFD at the far end of the line. The Scots have a strong squad this week and he and Kev Gibb were in a battle for bragging rites between their respective clans.

I would normally have asked my media driver to power us up the very centre of the course to reach the windward mark before the fleet but the cumulative effect of a semi-submerged rib and motor no longer fit for purpose meant we had to hold station behind the gate marks, negating any chance to take some stills with the P950. I got a few expletives out of the way while Barry, still reeling from the kisses I had planted on his sweaty forehead for the part he played in saving the drone, pretended to look at his phone.

Top mark and Charlie Maunder, leads from a group which includes Mayger and Cumbley but the radio transmission is inaudible from this far down the course. I understand from my source at the weather mark (thanks Chubby) that at some point during the first beat, Cumbley had Davenport in an Ainslie death lock which would have made for great footage. Cumbley’s Graphite grey, hybrid cross cut-radial panelled aramid rag looks ahead of the Davenport gold leaf sail and gybes over to ensure he stays between the mark and the opponent as the fleet soak down the course to the gate in this windward/leeward race of two laps.

Butler, who has been left to his own devices takes full advantage, rounding the gate to take him up the left of the course with a gaggle including Mayger and Lee following while Maunder and Wilde head up the right of the course. Cumbley is in the late teens with Davenport deep in the twenties so part one of the North Sails maestro’s masterplan was looking good. Cumbley heads right, the wind due to track in that direction while Davenport rolls the dice and heads left.

Looking over his shoulder, Cumbley initially tacks to loose cover but soon flips back onto port with the compass numbers or promise of an increase in pressure, too good to ignore.

Unbelievably, Davenport is ahead at the top mark but still deep in the pack and he would eventually place thirteenth at the gun with Cumbley twenty-second. Butler had already crossed the line and took his first bullet of the week with Mayger a valiant second, his best result of the series. Mark Lee, Race 2 winner Ian Barnett and Chris White completed a podium which fully reflects the wide demographic of the class, Barnett and Lee the old boys but still full of talent and hunger. Special mention to Harry Marlow who recorded a seventh in one of the ldest Winders here this week, pipping fellow youth sailor Harry Lucas who is a real prospect for the near future.

The breeze had built to between 10-14 knots, the Sun beating down on the athletes and their race machines, only the two Davis builds shone brighter, the choice of brilliant white on the decks a bold choice. Hyland in particular had already suffered third degree burns from his new build and a condition similar to snow blindness was taking effect on his twinkly blue eyes. Conversely, Paul Davis was still as pale as a milk bottle but by now his supply of skin protection, usually put aside for event prizes was getting low.

Alex Butler was now the event leader by two points on 18 with a five as a potentially usable discard from Davenport and Cumbley who were tied so it would be a final race, three horse race for the line.

Race 10

I launched the drone and picked a position just back from the Committee boat which gave a perfect view of the start line. The majority of the fleet soaking down to the favoured outer end while Butler favours the Committee end, just managing to tack out to the right, Cameron Norris wants to do likewise but has to tack back under Dave Winder in his distinctive grey gel coated, logo emblazoned works boat. Mayger, Maunder, Marlow and White have also managed to get across the starboard tackers while further down the line Cumbley has Davenport a few boats to leeward, normally a controlling position but with the breeze building, Davenport has unbelievable speed and worryingly for those who started towards the Committee end, they are both on port and lifting.

Top mark and Davenport leads around the big orange inflatable with Cumbley no more than a few lengths back, Gibb, Gibson and Chris Brown completing the top five. I launched the Mini 3 and tasked it with gaining intel on the two leaders as they diced with the future of the Championship trophy like two kittens with a mouse, just catching the Cumbley move which took him high before rolling into a gybe and the lead. The two were well ahead of third placed Gibson who was clearly incentivised from his R9 BFD and they headed way right, Cumbley eventually deciding that  enough was enough, tacking onto starboard and providing Davenport with a tiny doorway of opportunity. The lad held for some seconds before tacking onto a lift that had promised to materialise all day and with the temporary weather mark now to the right of the course, he rounded with Cumbley thirty seconds in arrears. Gibson had Gibb breathing down his neck, the journey back to the land of the brave giving them plenty of time to savour moments like these.

White, Brown and Mayger are next with Harry Lucas and Butler completing the top nine.

Ordinarily we would have followed the leaders down to the finish but the Suzuki was coughing and spluttering with every fine adjustment of the throttle, the strong smell of unburnt fuel confirming that it was knackered. Likewise, the water ingress and subsequent ballast movement resulted in an alarming angle of pitch with any incremental throttle movement so we plodded towards the harbour with a queue of tired Solo sailors already gathering at the green flag, a few safety ribs guarding the entrance.

Once ashore and after kicking the rib, shaking my driver’s hand and kicking it again I headed for the boat park to obtain interviews. Approaching Charlie Cumbley first I kept my mouth shut and let him explain how the race unfolded, too many times have I congratulated or commiserated with the podium, only to get it wrong.

Cumbley had made remarkable in-roads into Davenport’s lead and the two were virtually overlapped at the gun, the Davenport Sails jockey and reigning Solo National Champion defending the inside line to the final mark and therefore the title. Charlie Cumbley would finish just one point in arrears with Alex Butler a point behind in third. Andrew Wilde was just off the podium in fourth with Chris White fifth.

2026 Solo National Champion Oliver Davenport

2nd Charlie Cumbley

3rd Alex Butler

4th Andrew Wilde

5th Chris White

6th 1st Veteran Chris Brown

7th (1st under 25) Harry Lucas

8th (1st grand Master) Ian Barnett

9th Mark Lee

10th (1st Plate Series) Spod Olive

26th (1st Lady) Elaine Turner NED

44th (1st Septimus) John Steels

46th (1st Wooden Build) Mike Barnes

Wetherall Cup (team) HISC

Guy Mayger

Alex Butler

Mark Murley-Hughes

Huge thanks to Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Bob Penfold and his teams on and off the water delivered an exemplary Championship, one which will be warmly remembered. Praise to the trolley crews who volunteered to assist with the launch and recovery of 75 Solos with the Sun beating down throughout the event.

Thanks to P+B who provided an array of prizes for the competitors and special mention to Darren and the galley team who’s service was first class. Thanks from me go to NSCA Jury Steve Watson who always provides fair play on the water and to my Media driver Barry who should be rightly proud of his PB2 certificate. No thanks to whoever lent out our rib, it was only the NSCA drone that saved my Championship coverage.

Class President Guy Mayger now hands the reigns of power to Paul Davis and the first event under his officialdom is the 70th Anniversary Solo Inland Championship at Grafham Water 5-6 September, generously sponsored by CB Dinghy Chandlery. As part of the event we are organising a separate start and course for the vintage and less experienced competitors, running alongside the standard fleet so do visit the Solo site and book your place, both at the event and the special dinner planned for the evening of the 5th of September at the Wheatsheaf pub.

All members will shortly receive an updated email with all the relevant info. Numbers are limited to 80 boats for the regatta.

Don’t sail alone, Sail Solo.

https://youtu.be/PSX70TN_KH4