Harken Solution Nationals at Bala Sailing Club

17 Solutions for the inaugural nationals at Bala © John Hunter

17 Solutions for the inaugural nationals at Bala © John Hunter

A fleet of 17 Solutions, almost half of those built so far turned up to Lake Bala Sailing Club on the 25th and 26th August for their inaugural national championships. With several of the boats having just been delivered, the morning was spent setting rigs and giving tips to the new owners, and those who had managed to beg, borrow and steal boats for the event. With the sun out to play the wind began to build straight down the lake, to a very pleasant Force 3 by the start of the first race.

Race 1 began with Mckee (Hunts) and Pickles (Delph) getting away from the pin end into clear air. The Phantom sailors, Clark (Seafarers) and Worth (Delph) used their extra bulk to get into the leading pack by the windward mark as the breeze continued to build up the first beat. Behind them the pack was tightly packed. Mckee managed to pull away in clear air to an impressive win, leaving a tough battle for second. Clark, the boats designer, thought he had it sewn up, only to be caught on the line by Worth. The biggest smile in the fleet going to Wendy Pipstock (Rudyard Lake) for avoiding last place in her first championship race.

Race 2 began in the same fantastic conditions, but the start became more competitive with 6 boats returning having jumped the gun. This included race one winner Mckee who immediately headed out to the right hand side of the course. Clark went left on a lift and initially looked good, but as the left hand group were forced to tack by the shore it became clear that this was not the place to be. Mckee played the shifts almost to perfection to again lead at the windward mark, constantly keeping an eye on the fleet ahead to predict the fastest path upwind. Ted Cordal (Bosham) came through into second after initially leading the fleet. Again Mckee sailed off into clean air, leaving the battle for second, Pickles eventually overhauling Cordal on the second beat.

The Solutions went alone for race three, the other fleets watching from the shore as the wind rose to Force 5. Worth won the start and led at the first mark, followed by Mckee who had been buried at the start. Mckee used his downwind speed to get past after Worth almost tripped up on the second gybe. Mckee found he should have gone to specsavers, as he headed off to the wrong mark letting Clark and Pickles through. As the wind gained strength Pickles dropped off the pace upwind, and Clark covered well to lead. Mckee got back into second as Worth lost it in the last gybe. Everyone came off the water with huge smiles, with many of the spectators asking for test sails after seeing what these boats can do.

Sunday dawned to lighter weather, and Mckee in a commanding position. Race 4 started with a big left hand shift allowing Pickles to get off into an early lead. Mckee saw that his main rival, Clark had got buried in the pack set off in chase, but Pickles held on by a boat length at the finish. Behind them the lighter helms were begning to show, with Clarke (Gunfleet) and Hoare(Carsington) taking up the next two placings. This left Mckee the champion with a race to spare.

The final race saw Mckee shoot off into a big lead, having got his starting sorted out. A close battle for second between Butler (North Staffs) and Clark, with the rest of the fleet tightly bunched behind. The wind then filled in from behind bunching the fleet. Mckee managed to hold off Butler on the line to take the win. Pickles came through to third to secure second overall, closely followed by Katherine Hayfield in fourth to take the ladies crown.

All the competitors agreed that this was a fantastic event, with many faces in the top positions. Sponsorship from Harken meant that the prizes could be shared throughout the fleet, this has been cemented by the award of the Ted Funnell Memorial Trophy for the mid fleet placed sailor. The fleet would like to thank Ted’s familly who donated the trophy, Ted had one of the first boats on order, but unfortunately passed away before he had a chance to take delivery. Given the number boats still out on test sails, even after the prize giving the class can only grow, and with such a good quality product with bullet proof hulls from Ovingtons there should be an excellent turnout next year.

Overall Results: