Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Circolo Vela Bellano - Day 3

Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3 © Alessandro Cazzulani / Peak Production

Before I get into the action from day 3, first a quick recap on the previous evening's Italian themed Solo social which took place in the shaded area of the nearby Palasole Pavilion. This must have been a popular choice as every seat was taken and the traditional antipasto and risotto, finished with a choice of tiramisu or panacotta went down like a plate of mackerel in a seal sanctuary.

A plentiful supply of red and white wine ensuring that the conversation got more raucous with every passing bottle. The combined class associations social experiment to mix the fleets failed miserably though with the UK to the left and the Dutch to the right. It was no surprise then that Jeff Dahl, from the USA but racing for the Netherlands, Patrick van den Zijden, Dutch but racing for Portugal and Maria E Franco, Colombian but racing for the UK found themselves in the middle of the table.

Fortunately everyone has a common love of the Solo so the night was a complete success with every competitor leaving with a goody bag and a pair of high protection safety glasses. The instructions were minimal but in about thirty languages so they must be universally recognised as the dogs.

It had turned out to be quite a late night and by that I mean after 9.30pm, the local bar providing Mojitos for a modest price and the fresh mint was a nice touch, that dried stuff you get in ASDA is just not the same. Our party had decided that the young American honeymoon couple required some companionship, their reward for putting up with us was some free drinks so they went away with a renewed love of the UK.

I awoke around 6.30am, as did most of Bellano, the sound, familiar and recognised universally as the most annoying way to wake up, punctured the silence with an insensitivity only traffic wardens and building surveyors possess. I watched as the road sweeper continued its way along the street before turning around and doing the other side. A vital service but bloody noisy.

Breakfast was provided today by Georgina and Steve Denison with Chris Brown our Maitre D and the eggs on toast were just perfect following a stomach full of Rioja.

Regarding the protest that was lodged against the Committee for race 4, well it was heard but unsuccessful, apparently you can move windward marks when the fleet are on the same leg.

So, out the race course and with the conditions pretty much standard Lake Como dreamy, 10-12 knots and 30+, we were set for an action-packed day with three races planned.

The course would be triangle sausage with a final windward beat, perfect for those who prefer the upwind challenge rather than the downwind aspect, so the heavier ones then.

Race 5

Ted Bakker and Chris Bunn hit the pin end with speed, Hans Duetz deciding to foot off rather than sit in their wind shadow as they head left along with the Dutch class Chairman Paul de Gues and Bas de Rigt. The Ferrari red third place rash vest of Davis is again prominent and he punches forward, the tactic of starting 75 metres up from the pin giving him plenty of room and options to tack off but wisely he holds to the favoured left side with Mark Lee and Chris Brown showing good speed and height.

Winder jockey Steve Denison is ducking transoms having been in the second row off the line but is once again showcasing the performance of the Winder hull. The time he spends building relationships with the sailors remains one of the strongest reasons the fleet go to the northern based builder and he has been seen splicing lines and offering advice every day this week.

Event leader Tom Gillard had been equally hindered off the line and throws in a few tacks to get into a fast lane out towards the left, why anyone would go right I do not know.

Bakker tacks on the lay line with those nearby following in unison while others including De Coombe have tacked slightly early to factor in the strange current which is prevalent here. The guys on the right which I am hash tagging as the 'expresso line' since they can almost smell the coffee must have hated the view as they tacked, seeing the majority of the fleet close reach into the top mark is humbling and I speak from a lifetimes experience of corner hitting.

Ted foots off with his disciples following closely, rounding from Menno Huisman and Paul Davis with Gilles de Coombe a close fourth. The cream is already rising to the top with two podium rash vests in the top three. Mark Lee sneaks inside of Roger Guess with Bas de Rigt completing the top seven, Gillard is in eleventh with race 4 winner Rob Martin, who had made a great start midline, on his heels and proving his win was no fluke.

The breeze holds at 8-10 knots, enough to get the Solo planing if you are the optimum 80kg or less and Gillard makes the most of the gold in them hills and is up to eighth by the leeward mark with Bakker still leading from Huisman, Bunn and Davis, his new Impact Marine radial cut sail glistening against a lush green mountain back drop which would not look out of place in any of the Jurassic films.

Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3 - photo © Alessandro Cazzulani / Peak Production

The leading group take the opportunity to tack early and head towards the favoured side, full hike mode with masts pitching forward and back as they punch through the wave formations which are increasing in number and height.

Top mark and Bakker is in control, his nearest rivals, much like formula one drivers, following his line through each apex, their hope is that he either misses an apex or his tyres degrade but that is unlikely. Gillard picks up another place to seventh after taking a short hitch in towards the middle of the course and with the run and final beat to negotiate, would be asking Scotty for maximum warp speed.

Bakker takes the win, the final beat to the finish line taxing on mind and body but after opening the Championship with a UFD, is displaying the form more appropriate for this top athlete. Huisman in second is putting together a great series and though he is getting into a few tangles, is able to compartmentalise, analyse and action, all in the space of a second. NSCA Vice President Paul Davis finishes third from Chris Bunn with event leader Tom Gillard gaining two more places to count a five.

The competitors take a breather, apply heavy layers of sunscreen and hydrate as the temperature rises to 33 degrees, the breeze holding at 8-12 knots from the prevailing south west.

Lake Como and the town of Bellano is delivering possibly the best event I have experienced and I do recommend it to any class, despite half the fleet nearly dying on Saturday.

Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3 - photo © Alessandro Cazzulani / Peak Production

Race 6

I sheathed my bottle of Fanta from the penetrating heat of the Sun and re-loaded a fully charged lithium battery into my Samsung 5 as Alessandro made his last minute flight checks to the DJI. We went into sequence and, with the drone hovering above the pin, awaited the competitors as they expertly steered into position, pinching into the very eye of the wind with the intention of developing a pocket of space below.

Vince Horey fancied the pin which usually provides me with the material for 'how not to do it' but on this occasion, and with a few tardy results on his scorecard, he delivered inch perfect timing, the P&B emblazoned Technora blasting forward of the fleet. Bas and Ted are keeping him on his toes with Bunn and Huisman prominent. Paul Davis is already bow forward as is Gillard, Denison and Jan Arends and they are holding nice clean lanes out to the left.

Davis looks in control but as the group cross he drops his mainsheet, fortunately all on camera so look out for the slow motion replays.

Roger Guess has nailed the beat, judging the lay line in and rounds from Horey with Davis, Brown and Gillard completing a UK white wash. Bakker is the leading NED sailor in sixth with Menno Huisman again in the top ten.

The first reach is a bit too deep and with the wind softening a knot or two, improvements were hard to create, therefore it was a surprise to see Gillard up to second by the wing mark and ominous for those with dreams of a race win. No wonder he does not want an NSCA transom cam on board, it would reveal his secrets.

We motored at some speed up towards the top mark as I continued to text updates on the WhatsApp group chat, I would recommend this form of media to other classes as the way forward, viewers get regular updates and audible notifications, maybe mute if you are at work though.

We enjoyed a moment of complete silence before Alessandro's control panel burst into life, warning the pilot that the drone's battery supply was almost depleted. I squinted my eyes to the horizon and picked out the dot of black tech as it weaved towards us like an over-laden honey bee before it was grabbed from the sky and immobilised.

Vince Horey has worked his Solo into the lead but, with Tom Gillard to leeward and in his clutches, holds the final tack past the correct windward mark and heads to the yellow finish line autobot which is not yet live. You could argue that he is more entertaining to watch than Tottenham.

Gillard would extend down the final run and hold up the beat to take his third bullet of the week and a tight grip on the Xalient Solo Nation's Cup. Roger Guess would take second, one better than his race 4 finish with Horey, Davis and Bakker your top five.

Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3 - photo © Alessandro Cazzulani / Peak Production

Race 7

The conditions, as though they could not get any better did, 33 degrees and 10-14 knots, if you contemplated entering and did not then those words must sting your eyes. Never mind, there is always Quiberon next year (provisionally).

The line seemed to suggest a more starboard side favour and this was re-enforced by the number of competitors who positioned themselves there but it was still those on the left, hooking into an almighty lefty who bore into the top mark, and with some force. Apparently the wind, when in the left quadrant, tends to roll down the mountain and explode across the lake, and does so with some force and with an erratic nature more common in the early stages of pregnancy.

It was no surprise that the top mark was busier than Milan Central on a bank holiday as competitors blasted in from both tacks, the mavericks amongst the sailors crash-tacking into almost invisible gaps.

Huisman comes in hot on starboard with Davis ducking his stern and tacking but the Dutchman is hit with a header from hell and goes head to wind right on the mark, eventually extracting his Solo from the mark but with the loss of the lead to Davis and with Bunn over him like a rash. Brown, Roel den Herder and Mark Lee complete the top six with Gillard seventh.

Gillard leads out of the leeward gate with Huisman and Davis following him up the right of the course before they tack in unison, already in their own personal battle away from the pack. The beat was without drama and with the breeze up to 14 knots, there was really no excuse for not enjoying the slog up to the top mark. Roel Bakker decided that a swim would complete his day and was later re-united with his broken 'joy stick'.

Gillard covered Huisman up the final beat, both going to the un-favoured side of the course but with enough separation from Davis, Brown and Bunn to guarantee they would be first and second overall going into day four. The vindication that the leader rash vests were on the correct sailors was confirmed with Davis in red completing a great score-line of 3-4-3 and so we would go into the final day with some excitement with a second discard kicking in. Twenty points separate fourth to eleventh but the top three look safe to me.

Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3 - photo © Alessandro Cazzulani / Peak Production

Huge thanks to Xalient for their sponsorship of this event and to Circolo Vela Bellano who continue to provide a warm friendly atmosphere and cold beer.

There are three races planned for the final day so watch the action on the WhatsApp group and join me on the water for a thrilling conclusion.

More photos: photos.app.goo.gl/BXPs8SxCxcwSinyg7

Results after day 3:

Xalient Solo Nation's Cup at Lake Como Day 3 - photo © Alessandro Cazzulani / Peak Production