34th Bloody Mary - The view from the Dugout

by Mike Wilkie on 10 Jan 2007 The leading eight positions in the 34th Bloody Mary sailed last Saturday at the Queen Mary SC were taken by dinghy classes that all rank in the over 50 club. Graham Cam was the winner in a National 12, with another N12 in second, helm Caroline Martin. Third and fourth places went to the Solos of Chris Brown and Vanda Young. The Merlin Rocket of Stu Bitherell rounded out the leading five.

Solo helm Mike Wilkie was attending his 20th Bloody Mary, either sailing or as a spectator. This is his report of the 34th Bloody Mary from the North West Surrey Bowl, from deep in his dugout - with a slight Solo bias!

I did sail my Solo years ago when it had the world record for dinghies - 560 or was it 580? - doesn’t really matter, it was lots of boats. Other entries that year were Mike Barnes and Will Loy.

Mike Barnes was top Solo, I came 34th and most of the Solo sailors finished in the first 100. We all would have done much better, but with the size of the field they would pass you in packs of 15 to 20 at any one time, so with about 8 minutes to go, we all got passed. A great day out that it was, and it was sunny

The weather was not looking good: rain, rain and more rain, but the wind - 1- 2 if you were lucky, and very, very unstable - was just right for the intrepid Solo sailors, seven in all.

Meanwhile, back at the Surrey Bowl, the jolly Soloists got themselves on the water and got ready for their start, which was 16 minutes after the first start, the Toppers.

As with other Bloody Mary’s, as you get ready for your off, the faster boats always seem to be to windward of the start line just to make your start a bit more interesting - blanketing your wind, always seem to happen year in year out, must drop a line to Queen Mary just to see it they can protect the early starters.

Solos away on their start, Ian, Chris and Vanda got away well. Up to the first turn on the course, it was very much cat and mouse, Ian was first to the first turn, around the bund they went, out of sight a bit like going round the other side the moon. Ian pulls away slightly, only slightly, Vanda passes Chris, second turn Ian still holds the Solo lead - I retreat to the Bar.

Vanda comes back around the bund in the lead, Chris following close, very close. By this time the wind had done a Mary Poppins a few times, Ian had slipped back, and it was game-on between Vanda, and Chris. Chris gets past Vanda. Vanda gets past Chris (this is the last lap).

Couldn’t see much of the first part of the second lap very misty, and lots of old faces in the Bar - Dick Batt and co - however at one time it did come across on the PA that Chris was leading the race. I couldn’t see - too much mist.

The run for home was now on. Vanda came back from the bund with about twenty minutes to go and with a lead over Chris, but with the last but one turn Vanda was looking good for third place with the Nat 12 not going to be caught, when Chris rounded and went amazingly high – so high that the chap on the PA came across and said Solo 4727 was going the wrong way - and Vanda will rue the day that Chris did what he did because Chris rounded a cats whisker in front of her, time was running out for our Top Lady Soloist!

Well done to all, and four Solos in the first fifteen (of 196 boats entered). Great job!

Bloody Mary Leading positions:

1 Camm, Graham National 12 3492
2 Martin, Caroline National 12 3455
3 Brown, Chris Solo 4727
4 Young, Vanda Solo 4620
5 Bithell, Stu Merlin Rocket 3678
6 Herbert, Neville Albacore 6825
7 Instone, Richard GP14 13913
8 Cage, Rob Firefly 18
9 Millward, Val 2.4m 58
10 Houston, Ian Solo 4525
11 Hunter, Martin Thames A Rater 14
12 Ball, Mike Solo 4714
13 Cumley, Steve Lark 2496
14 Cook, Peter Firefly 2898
15 Moore, Kevin Topaz Magno 2850
16 Catt, Chris RS200 1031
17 Carveth, Geoff RS200 751
18 Stiles, Matthew National 12 3143
19 Eyncon, Jim Europe 373
20 Winder, David Merlin Rocket 3662
21 Gregson, Sarah Byte CII 2616
22 Kirk, Philip Enterprise 22975
23 Biggs, Matt Merlin Rocket 3665
24 Davis, Andy Merlin Rocket 3684
25 Salmon, Duncan Merlin Rocket 3644
26 Blake, Simon Merlin Rocket 3640
27 Gilbert, Roger Merlin Rocket 3656
28 Lewns, Chris Merlin Rocket 3666
29 McGregor, David Finn 2
30 Wilkins, David National 12 3481
31 Orman, Nick Phantom 1247
32 Craig, Nick RS400 1237
33 Dobrijevic, Dave Merlin Rocket 3681
34 Lewis, Jonathan Lark 2356
35 Gillow, Simon RS200 1147
36 Zilvold, Rien Merlin Rocket 3649
37 Vines, Jeremy National 18 375
38 Partington, Andy International 14 1503
39 Bone, Richard RS400 1236
40 Blake, Patrick Merlin Rocket 3676

And the Solo Results :- 3rd Chris Brown, 4th Vanda Young, 10th Ian Houston, 12th Mike Ball, 56th Jonathan Jowett, (DNF) Solo 4354,4610.

Event website: http://www.queenmary.org.uk