CHRISTMAS CRACKER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27th 2008

The cold Northerly breeze, a steady 20 knots with 25+ gusts, did not deter the thirty sailors who turned out to sail, but there were plenty more who were quite happy to watch them from around the chimney!
This race was sailed as an average lap event around a triangular course using Runway, Fishery and Sandy, which means that everybody starts and finishes at the same time and there is not a lot of hanging about. However, the course was still shortened as the wind chill slowed crews responses after the early laps.
First was an RS 200 followed by the Fireball and a Finn from Mengeham, then a Laser and 2 Fifteens. Our one and only Soloist - pictured above - came 7th but seemed to enjoy himself, despite falling in whilst trying to bear off round the windward mark - see following message!.

Barry took several pictures of Nick and remarked to him that his traveler settings seemed to be different on different laps!

Nicks response:
We started with a good flood behind us which was gone by the end. So the sailing wind was less; so the traveler moves. ( Or maybe it got let off during the capsize and I was so cold I did not spot it for a while ) Who knows. The Mengeham Winkle on Sunday was a good sail as well.
Gadds Ted and Robin also supported the Winkle and survived the cold to finish the course

Weekend December 20th - 21st. Barry had flu and Tony said he wasn’t sailing so Ted very kindly sent in some notes
On Saturday Tony did sail, together with David Sayce, Chris Powles and myself. Bill Ingram was down in the morning but only to collect his boat - he was a feeling a bit under the weather. Greg Swift, who now owns Trevor Cartwright's old boat 4401, was there too, but decided that the wind was a bit iffy for his first go in a solo.
The start was from the Club Line to S.W Pilsey(S), Gardner(P), Inflatable near Dip Rythe(P), Treloar(P), Gardner(P), Sandy(P),Gardner(P) and finishing on the Club Line. The finishing order was Chris Powles, David Sayce, Tony Catchpole and myself. At one point I overtook Tony and actually lay 3rd for one and a half legs!
Sunday, and the fleet comprised Tony Catchpole, Nick Rawlings, George Gyngell, David Sayce, Chris Powles, Greg Swift, Robin Gadd and myself.
The course was again from the Club Line, and then to Mill Rythe(P), Fishery(P), Sandhead(P), Sandy(S), Mill Rythe(P), Sandhead(P), Club Line Finish.
Greg Swift, in his first solo race, lived up to his name by starting towards the back and sailing his way up to 2nd on the close reach to Mill Rythe. However, we caught him up a bit by Fishery and he then lost ground on the long run down to Sandhead.
The finishing order was:- Nick Rawlings (by a lot), George Gyngell, Ted Gadd !!!!!!!! (first time ever ahead of Chris, David and Tony - what a way to end the season!), followed by Greg Swift and then  - from a long way back after a capsize on the previous mark - Robin Gadd

OVERALL RESULTS for Autumn Series:-
Saturday:- Chris Powles, David Sayce, Tony, Barry and Ted
Sunday:- Nick, Chris Powles, Tony, David Sayce and  - Ted

Weekend December 13th - 14th  Report very kindly sent in by Tony C
Saturday - A very wet day! Blowing 30-40 knots southerly early on, then dropping to 3-4 knots by midday, so the race officer set a short triangle on the Pilseys to avoid the strong ebb. Five Solos and 1 RS 700 reached the start area, and the wind filled in from the North F 3-4 and was very shifty. Chris Powles led at the first mark followed by Tony C, Ted Gadd and Bill Ingram and it stayed that way through all 5 laps.
Sunday - A much better day with a F 3-4 and 11 Solo starters. The wind shifted at the start to turn the beats into fetches, and it paid to stay low in the strong flood tide to Channel, where Chris Powles led from Barry and Tony. On the long run back David Sayce replaced Barry in second place and then gave chase to Chris, but to no avail. At the end the wind picked up and gave a bit of excitement with some massive waves coming over the top of the Winner bank. Tony just managed to regain third place from George.

Weekend December 6th - 7th was a cold, but sunny weekend with not much wind on Saturday and non on Sunday. Sarah’s husband, Ian, was R.O. so he had a day off on Sunday
Saturday and the wind of F3 dropping to F2 was from the North and very cold. Ian set a course from the Club line up to Channel with the tide. The tricky shifty wind made this an interesting beat and Tim, (still trying out Barry’s 6-year old North sail), followed by Tony, made the best of the shifts. Then it was back on a run against the Tide to Treloar  via Fishery where everyone bunched up. A close reach to Copyhold was followed by a broad one back to Sandy although the fleet had to go rather out to sea  to miss the Winner bank!  A run up the shore with a quick sprint across the tide to Treloar and a final beat back to Sandy made for a very interesting course for the 9 competitors. Tim came home first, Tony dropping to 3rd and David Sayce making it to 2nd place. This puts David  in the lead overall with Tony and then Tim, Chris Powles who was not out this day falling from 1st to 4th.
In the evening, the Solo Christmas Party joined up with the Wayfarers - some members having a foot in each camp - and a good time was had by all. (See new page Xmas  party 08)
Sunday, as mentioned, was abandoned which was a shame as Ian Barnett turned up to sail - it is after all supposed to be an Open Event!
A new fleet member, Mark Allerston is hoping to collect his new Winder before the end of the series and we have also heard that Rob Eastwood will be re-entering the fold with a new Winder to arrive after Christmas, although he still has to keep RS happy by sailing his 200 - albeit at Porchester.
Gerald has a rather good Solo picture on the front page of the main Web site at the moment.

Weekend November 29th - 30th was a perfectly horrible weekend - drab, sunless and only 4’.with the wind in the NE .Never-the-less, 8 Solos - but different ones- went out each day
Saturday. The start was from the Club-to-Calvert line against the tide, with the first mark on the Stocker Bank. The fleet split either side of the tide, with Chris, David Sayce and Tony going the correct side and George, Nathan, Barry and Ted - not. David Colebrook was out for a bit.
Sunday and the start was on the CLE and with the tide. Nick was going faster than anyone else and David Sayce went faster downwind - which ultimately counted - than Chris Powles. The reach back to and around Sandy proved a bit tricky as the water was extremely rough with the wind over a very strong flood.
Tim and Steph Dickinson have sold their small cruiser and bought a much bigger one in which they are planning to circumnavigate the world starting next June. Steph’s Solo is still in the garage but will be looking for a new home after it has received a new coat of varnish. It is, I believe, a composite Lock, No. 4331

Weekend November 22nd - 23rd
Saturday - was not a nice day and only 5 Solos ventured out with one of them - David Colebrook not lasting for very long. It was only a short course with an initial beat up to Channel. Chris Powles arrived first with Barry and Tony getting there together but Tony fumbling the tack around the mark. A run,  2 reaches and back to Sandy and the order was maintained but with larger gaps! Ted gallantly brought up the rear.
Sunday brought the first snows of the season, momentarily, followed by rain, 40 knots and more and more rain
Thursday previous was more of a ‘Solos what Coffee’ in the Bar!

Weekend November 15th - 16th
Saturday, and rather muggy weather for the time of year with a west wind that dropped from 15 to 10 knots over the race and did a couple of tweaks to the south just to make life interesting on the beats. The start, for about 10 Solos, was by Gardener-ish with the first mark short of the trots and a gybe around Sandy - in a major wind shadow which was the downfall of Bob Smith. He rounded the mark, was washed on to it and fell over it. He did, however, sort himself out and finished the race, albeit rather cold.. Nathan, (must remember to present him with his Gerald Bell Trophy)  led from the start, sailing the tricky reach from Sandy correctly, i.e. via Fishery and not over the Winner Bank. Tim was 2nd, followed by David Sayce.
Sunday and the wind was much the same only more so. The course was laid with a black buoy in the trots going starboard-hand with the gybe over the Thorney Bank. The fleet split at the start - going left over the Winner bank and up to the Club Bank paying dramatically as demonstrated by George followed by Ted and Bill Ingram. Nick led the right-hand flock and eventually caught George on the next beat. George, however, was not to be outdone and went back past Nick on the run to win with a very good lead.. There was lots of place changing all down the fleet of 10 boats, but  Tim, trying out Barry’s 6 year old SM8, finished in 3rd place.

Weekend November 8th -9th
Saturday was blowing a gale and
Sunday was not much better . However, several boats went down the beach and even launched but then thought better of it as a huge squall came through. Nick stayed afloat and was joined by Robin Gadd and Chris Powles all of whom set off and disappeared into the distance while everyone else packed up. Chris maneuvered in the starting area and and then came home, but Nick, followed by Robin, completed the course. Hope they didn’t feel too bashed about!

Weekend November 1st - 2nd
Saturday, and about 8 Soloists gathered in the bar, observed the wind and rain from the NE and decided to stay there!
THE PRIZE GIVING  SUPPER in the evening at Seacourt Tennis Club was enjoyed by all. David McGregor very kindly brought all his trophies for us to admire and gave an account of how he came by the Nations Cup and the eight medals for each race that he won in Holland and also the two trophies that he won at the Nationals at Torbay. The Prize giving went ahead in the usual manner with distribution of various bottles  and Nick  prepared to walk home. Last year he had been unable to carry everything on his bike!
Sunday was a glorious day with bright sun and a not too cold wind of 15 knots max from the NE which enticed out 10 boats. The racing was run from the box, the RO ably assisted by George who found it quite convenient to grab his Sunday carvery  and take it up whilst the 700s finished. Nick was first off after the start but being overtaken by Chris Powles,  he promptly fell in  - did a crash tack with the kicker jammed.  He was up and quickly regained his 2nd position.  Running to the finish, David Sayce caught up well passing Chris and the first four boats practically went round Sandy abreast.  But it was David  who crossed the line first  followed by Nick and then Rob Hack leaving Chris in 4th position.

Weekend October 25th- 26th and getting colder
Saturday had 10 starters in the strong winds. Tim and David Sayce had a good battle all round finishing in that order. Chris Powles was 3rd and Tony 4th. Streaky winds on the off-wind legs made it difficult to get the planing right and there were a few wettings - Barry went in at the gybe mark - avoiding Chris who turned up seemingly rather unexpectedly - and Nathan fell in - twice!
Sunday was quite horrible. The NW wind eventually dropped to quite light and after a postponement, 8 starters made it to the line in heavy drizzle which then turned to steady rain. Nick was away from the start but with the fierce tide it was difficult to judge laying the first mark in the trots and several people severely overstood it . Tony was 2nd and Chris Powles 3rd, with some unknown, but rather good person, sailing David Allen’s boat into 4th place

Weekend October 18 -19th and starting to get a bit more Autumnal.
Saturday was, however, quite nice with 10 -12 knots and sometimes less from the SW and right on top of the tide. So it was rather - guess what the tide is doing what first.
It seemed that quite a few of the 20 starters ( more than the rest of the other fleets put together - again) were not sure about the starting time but eventually decided to go as there were no other boats left! This applied to Trevor - not out for a while - but as he went the right way up the first beat, i.e. over the Stocker side, he arrived 2nd at the first mark behind Tony, who had made  a good start.  Good close racing all through the fleet with a few place changes further down resulting in a 3rd for David Sayce and a 4th for Barry. Little bit of planing for the lightweights.
Trolley Dolly back in action before they go off to exotic foreign climes!

Sunday Report from George :-There were not too many takers for the Sunday race , as it did seem a bit breezy. A look at the Cambermet page after the event showed that it was blowing around Force 6 at the start. It certainly felt like it on the hairy run to the start-line near East Head. Nick took an early lead, with George hanging on to his transom towards the windward mark set near Dunes. Chris Powles was third. Nick drew out a 200 yard lead before George rounded the mark, with Chris 20 yards astern of him. George had his own private extra gust, and accelerated away from Chris at this point, getting to within 20 yards of Nick by the wing mark.
Chris caught up the leading pair by the leeward mark, and both he and Nick sailed lower and more out of the tide than George, who lost second place before the windward mark, and then rolled in to windward shortly after rounding, and turned turtle. Initially, George’s thoughts were turning to an early bath, but by the time he recovered Tony Catchpole had only just passed him, and he decided that fourth, or possibly third, was worth fighting for!
Tony decided to wear round at the wing mark, but George gybed inside him and crept ahead. Up at the front the ‘Chris & Nick ding-dong’ battle was warming up. Chris overtook Nick, but thinking the race was being shortened,  tacked for the line and got caught by Nick, who then sailed away for the win after the next lap. Back in third and fourth, Tony had got ahead by tacking over to the East Head shore and led George all the way down the off-wind leg, only to give it away by wearing round again. The thought of yet another lap didn’t thrill either George or Tony, but only George carried on to get third. Ted Gadd found a novel way of depowering in the windy weather, when his mainsail split from luff to leach under the top batten, but he held to the finish. All in all, a good sail in lovely weather, but we could have done with a bit less wind and one lap less too!

From Nick:-Sunday was a bit windy - 14 to 20 knots rising thru the race. Cold as well.
Course was a slog upwind against the tide and then a whiz downwind and do it again ...and again...and again - basically windward leeward.
I led from George G until he fell over at the second windward. Then Chris took over up the next beat but dropped his tiller !! tacking at the gate and let me back in which I held to the end.
Chris was second George was third. Ted burst his mainsail at the first gybe mark but finished. Tony was in third but thought we'd finished a lap early and went home.
Best bit was another slog against the tide to get home as the CB was down by East Head!
 

Weekend October 11 - 12th Gorgeous Indian Summer
Saturday and about 12 knots from the South with lots of sun enticed out 22 starters.  First mark Sandy  and David Sayce arrived first and then led the rest of the way with Barry Blaydes in 2nd place. Grandson Cammy was heard running up and down the beach yelling excitedly ‘Come on Granddad!’, but eventually paused to reflect and question ‘How many Granddads are there out there?’ Keith was 3rd.
Sunday was again warm but with a fluky wind from the east which gradually drifted round towards the South, considerably delaying the start as buoys were shifted by Peter Best and Jerry Hack in the one and only rib on duty! And then, after all that hanging about, we had a general recall as everyone bunched at the pin. More waiting while the RO read the book on what to do next and eventually, probably correctly, started the 700s. Off at last to the first mark which was a mere 2-300 yards away - so major bunching and then to the wing  mark situated about 100 yards off the CB and thus on to the leeward mark down by Channel. In fact the Fifteens spurned this mark and decided to round N Pilsey instead!  Tony judged the tides right this day and kept his lead all the way with various people vying for 2nd place - Barry, Keith, Rob Hack, but Ken Tomlins made it finally with Tim staying 3rd place most of the way round. Further down the fleet a couple of Gadds went up the beat in series and on the last run a triplet of Blaydes went in parallel most of the way, these being some of the most electrifying events of the race apart from the major banging and bumping around the leeward mark first time round. Our latest recruit from the Fifteen fleet, Dave Moody, apparently approached Barry afterwards for guidance on the best way to round marks twelve abreast!