Solo Spring Cup at Medemblik - Days 1 & 2

Medemblik is once again the popular venue for the Solo Spring Cup, a regatta of 8 races held over 3 days on the IJsselmeer.

Day 1

Day one and the Solo fleet, made up of 13 UK and 23 Dutch competitors arrived at the start area which was unusually bathed in sunshine with a steady force 2 from the north.

It may be May but this part of the Dutch peninsula is not known for such conditions and the dilemma of wetsuit or drysuit had been discussed at great length in the changing rooms. As the OK fleet were released the breeze built and the building cloud snuffed out the suns' rays and with it, any hope of an easy day on the water.

Race 1 and the IJsselmeer was starting to provide wave patterns akin to a mogul slope which necessitated some pretty violent rudder and body movements to get through, hiking hard and picking the shifts was the key. The gusts grew in strength and provided the lifts, conversely, if you were on the wrong tack you were in a load of hurt. The pin was favoured and Guy Mayger who is quite at home on the salty stuff played the shifts up the left of the course to lead. Felpham is his playground and the tall fella used his downwind speed and upwind leverage to cross the line first, alas to silence. Tom Lonsdale inherited the win which sounds unfair as he undoubtably worked his butt off for it with Andy Tunnicliffe second and Class President Doug Latta third. Shane McCarthy, who had been right up there at mark 1, misinterpreted the bottom mark for the wing mark but managed to claw back up to fifth, just behind leading Dutchman Paul Dijkstra in fourth.

Race 2 and gusts were ripping through the fleet like uncontrollable bulldozers, re-enforcing the decision of some to stay onshore. At this point I must add that I am not at the venue so are reliant on the experiences and any exaggerations that I add are purely for dramatic effect. Shane McCarthy picked his way through the building site with Tom Gillard hiking like a Ninja. Dyneema control lines and muscle fibres were being tested beyond their breaking strains and only the taste of competitiveness and the free beer onshore drove the sailors onwards. Latta was holding third, the blue and white Winder hull providing some welcome colour to the bleak carpet of water and sky. Chris Brown had missed the start, assuming that the OK fleet, who had been recalled would re-start first. It must have been painful to see the Solo fleet sail away while he chewed on a Mars bar. Undeterred he worked his way back through the fleet to finish fourth with Mayger bouncing back from his OCS to record a five. Ahead, McCarthy held for the bullet from Gillard who had been MIA in race 1, the gossip was that Dutch beer did not agree with the finely honed athlete. Doug Latta completed the podium for the second time and would surely enjoy a fag on the run back to the club.

Race 3 and this time Gillard made no mistakes, using every inch of his diminutive height to keep his Winder/North ship flat and fast as the winds increased to F5. There were still some patches of lighter stuff but these were in the lee of the substantial clubhouse. Paul Dijkstra revelled in the conditions, vying for the lead and rekindling memories of great Dutch Solo sailors of the past such as Cor jan Schouten and Rob Van Ooyen. There were gains to be made for those who hooked into the big righthand shifts and finishing order after a number of laps too many for some was Gillard, Djkstra and McCarthy which would leave the likeable Irishman 1st overall after day 1. Full marks to Anya Koldewijn and Barbara Shapers who recorded two race results, the Dutch women are tough. Oh yes, Tom Lonsdale retired from race 3 as his knees were cold....three quarter length hikers, really?.

The fleet retired to the club for happy hour and the loving arms of partners before once again frequenting Brakboer's welcoming bar. With a forecast of an increasing breeze, faces expressed fatigue, exhilaration and for some fear but I understand the Scottish contingent did indeed buy a round.

Day 2

There was a delay of 4 hours as the breeze, which was battering Medemblik moderated. The luxurious clubhouse was a welcome respite from the icy cold blasts and finally a small but brave/foolhardy bunch ventured out of the marina for battle. The steep IJsellmeer chop pounded the slipway and just getting out of the protective arms of the breakwater required 100% concentration.

There would be just one race and Doug Latta explains what happened:

"We waited on the beach for the 30+knots to abate to a manageable 25. At 2pm we got the go ahead and were greeted by 20knots and huge waves. Guy Mayger unrolled his generously long hiking legs and romped off into the distance. He was chased around the top mark by Andy Tunnicliffe and Shane McCarthy. The next reach was a blinding wall of spray while the gybe mark saw 3-4 casualties. Tom Gillard picked the shifts when they came and worked his way up to second by the windward mark. The run again saw the brave risking the gybe while others wore around including myself who had decided on the safe approach. With no kicker on upwind I watched everyone yacht by. Having taken 7 boats downwind it was time to wind the kicker back on upwind but I then picked the wrong side of the beat. Still in fourth overall at the moment which is beyond my early season expectations. The changing room was full of wide grins while those who had stood at the marina wall watching us return were full of admiration as we had surfed down the ten feet waves and through the narrow entrance, hoping we would never reach the trough or hit the wall."

So Guy Mayger took a deserved bullet in a race that will live long in his memory and if not for the OCS in race 1 would be in with a chance going into day 3. Tom Gillard was second and shortens the points tally with overall leader Shane McCarthy who finished fourth. Andy Tunnicliffe took third and can hopefully drop his DNS from race 3 to move up from where he currently sits in tenth. Paul Dijkstra (NED) jumps to third overall with Doug dropping to fourth and Arnd Wolvetang (NED) is another one to watch, moving into fifth. Special mention to Chris Brown who is getting a reputation for dropping out through sickness. Lake Garda and he was hospitalised with Gall Stones and here he has been bedridden with food poisoning, allegedly picked up in the UK. Hopefully tomorrow he can return to action having missed only one race.

Saturday night saw the fleet refuel at the local Chinese restaurant and no doubt the battles continued with speeches from the chairmen on the shared love of the Solo while competitors call on all their reserves to lift chop sticks.

Hopefully Marc fitted a Go Pro to somebody's Solo for day 2. I await the awesome footage.

Full results can be found here.