Solo class Nigel Pusinelli Trophy 2023 at Lymington Town Sailing Club

Chloe George wins race 2 during the Solo class Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at Lymington Town © Will Loy

The Nigel Pusinelli Trophy, incorporating the Southern Championship, was sponsored by Rooster/Harken

The UK has been basking in sunshine for the past month and sailors up and down the country have been gorging on the champagne sailing conditions like new born piglets suckling on their mothers teats. Therefore, I had high hopes that the regatta would provide me with the photos of the century and video footage with content bursting with action, drama and emotion.

I re-focused on my driving, my trusty V70 eating the miles up from Brixham to Lymington while I did the same to my Murray Mints. The sun was right in my face but today a high cloud layer of chiffon was dampening the clarity of light, my Volvo thermometer indicating 17 degrees and that was at 7am.

I rolled up at Lymington Town Sailing Club at 9am, the car park already three-quarters full, unsurprising since the Cape 31 fleet were in town and it does not take a genius to work out that 25 teams of eight is a lot of cars. Fortunately they were attending their nationals next door at Royal Lymington so the toilet, high on my to do list would be accessible.

I obtained the required parking permit 15 minutes later than my bladder anticipated, the Krypton Factor had obviously branched out into the production of ticket dispensers. Fortunately the lady in front of me had the necessary IQ to break the code.

The dinghy park had Solos spread across it in various states of undress, half removed under-covers teasing at the fruit that lay within. Andy Tunnicliffe was showing off his new Gingerboats Solo as other owners looked over furtively, not wanting to upset their own one. Mike Barnes, former NSCA Class President circa 1980s has returned to the UK to mount a campaign in his Becket-built WOOD Solo 3847 (to quote an old Volvo ad when the astronaut returns to Earth, "how long was I away?").

Another former Class President Doug Latta was busily adjusting the rig controls on his new Hyde sail while Chris Brown, CEO of CB Coverstore was sliding carbon battens into his new North sail. This is about as close to sailing porn as you can get so I feasted my eyes and Coolpix P950 on to the sailors as they readied for action.

Paul Davis in 4 knots of breeze on day 1 of the Solo class Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at Lymington Town - photo © Will Loy

Sated with mildly interesting interviews I headed for my breakfast which was being served on the upper floor of the sumptuous LTSC clubhouse, had we been in located in the Caribbean I would have surmised that it was built from some of the proceeds of the sugar plantation industry, such is it's opulence.

I was immediately met with a double staircase which would both lead to my breakfast, clearly the architect had been told to design a clubhouse which embraced the rudimentary aspects of racing, go left or go right?

I took a moment to study a few of my breakfast competitors as they chose their route before opting with the staircase with clear air, the port lay line was always my favourite angle of attack.

Out on the veranda I was greeted by a stunning vista of moored yachts and ribs, the swimming pool and inflatable obstacle course must have been a hard sell to the council. Flags flicked half-heartedly in the breeze as the Sun burnt off the remainder of the cloud and with a forecast of 10 knots, it would be a long day on the water.

PRO Karl Thorne delivered his briefing with military precision, always a good indicator that the race management will be on-point and the 46 entries made their way out to the start area, just to the right of the Lymington Town starting platform. The IOW ferry provided an interesting challenge as it threaded it's way out towards Yarmouth and the Cape 31's which were being towed out to Christchurch Bay.

I would be filming from the Jury boat rib which would be steered by our NSCA on-the-water judge Steve Watson, getting me nice and close to the action and also allowing me to capture any miscreants if they chose to turn to the dark side. The downside would be sharing my sweets.

Race 1

The breeze was a pretty fitful 5 knots from around 280 degrees but was flicking back to 235 degrees which was handy as there is a live weather station at Hurst Castle, directly upwind.

Oliver Davenport started at the committee boat, tacked off and headed inshore while the majority were still trying to cross the line on starboard, such was the bias. Obviously, those that got onto port early benefitted and Chris Brown, former Inland Champion was seen coming down the line on port at some pace, he hardened up on the gun and crossed the fleet, heading off in pursuit of more greatness.

Stuffing up a Solo in 4 knots of adverse tide is a good recipe for failure and so footing off for speed was the balancing act and at the top mark it was Brown with Harry Lucas and Mike Dray keeping him honest. Local hero Paul Davis was next with Rob Martin, Andy Tunnicliffe and Andy Hyland completing the top seven. Mark Lee would round ninth. Judging the fetch to the spreader was a wake up call to those inexperienced with tide and it had only just started running! Brown held at the leeward mark despite doing turns for hitting the spreader and then not knowing where to go, fortunately Davis relaid the necessary info, I assume a beer token would've been payment.

Brown took the fleet inland as the breeze dropped to 4 knots and though processional, tacking off into the teeth of the tide would send you back three lengths. Davis, Lucas and Dray were closest with Tunnicliffe and locals Martin and Nick Simmons making gains. Brown consolidated up the second beat to take the bullet after briefly running aground, much to the appreciation of Davis...who then did the same before finishing second with Martin, Dray and a fast finishing Mark Lee completing the top five.

It was good to see that Steve Watson was as subdued as the conditions, I always feel awkward when we have to go and tell someone off. I begrudgingly passed another Murray Mint to my crew member, one for you, two for me echoing inside my mind and prepared for race 2.

Race 2

As it turns out, this would be the last race of the day as the wind would die almost completely. I will therefore expand on every detail I can recollect, just to satisfy your lust for Solo racing.

The breeze was holding at 4-5 knots and the PRO stuck with the massive port bias, any less and Solos would have surrounded his committee boat like flies on freshly laid excrement. He was also aware that the vessel was a lend so keeping it damage free was a given. The fleet could barely cross the line on starboard but Chloe George found a lane through on port to lead back into the shoreline with mark Lee also benefitting from the pin end though he was forced back into the tide by Davis.

So George, former Laser Radial Olympic squad sailor led the fleet around mark 1 from 'soon to be Class President' Guy Mayger, Duncan Peace, light weather specialist Nigel Thomas and Rob Milledge with Alex Butler completing the top five. Again the spreader mark was proving trickier to round than Hanger Lane on any day of the week, the tide sucking the Solos on to it if any strayed too close. George was gone, hitting the right hand side of the course, avoiding the brutal tide while pointing at the optimal angle for VMG.

Mayger, Peace and Thomas got involved with each other, making more tacks than those behind them but with clearer air. Keen to give the class value for money, the PRO sent the fleet around for the prescribed three laps, the breeze holding at 5-6knots but with the tide moving in the same direction almost as fast as the wind speed, the downwind leg was painful to watch.

My P950, largely unemployed for the majority of the race sat obediently in it's holster, probably wishing it had stayed at home but at least it wasn't raining.

George took the win, well deserved and you can see she has some class, we would welcome her to any event, a Solo can be arranged... Hayling Island? Mayger, Butler, Peace and Thomas completed the top five with Mark Lee seventh and Chris Brown tenth.

Karl Thorne canned racing for the day and the fleet returned to shore, slowly and with the assistance of the safety ribs.

It was nice to see the Cape 31's had lined the dock to watch our return, maybe one day they will be as popular.

Chris Brown won the Southern Championship, as part of the Solo class Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at Lymington Town - photo © Will Loy

So, Day 1 was done, Chris Brown took the title of Rooster Southern Champion with a 1-10 from Mark Lee 5-7 and Oliver Davenport 7-8 who displayed some impressive powers of recovery from deep in the pack. There were plenty of 'could have's' most notably Chloe who had to include a 32 with her bullet but a third race would have broken the will of many a sailor.

Fortunately, day 2 was just around the corner and with a possible 3 more races to count towards the Nigel Pusinelli Trophy, sponsored by Harken, the game was afoot.

LTSC hosted a lovely evening meal which had been subsidised by the NSCA and the quality of the food was to a higher standard than some of us are used to. Brownie especially looking perplexed at the cutlery.

Class Sponsorship co-ordinator Paul Davis and Solo fleet captain Malcolm Buchanon gave an entertaining prize-giving ceremony which culminated in Chris Brown collecting both the trophy and a 'Wally of the day' wig which acknowledged both his skill and stupidity. it was worrying that several competitors thought it should have been them.

Day 2 - The Nigel Pusinelli Trophy

Overnight a storm rolled through, bringing rain and a level of humidity more at home in an equatorial rain forest so it would be a tough day for both competitors and camera equipment. I delved into my camera bag and prised out the rain cover for my Nikon, the 'one size fits all' cocoon was literally a stretch of the imagination but anything was better than nothing.

We motored out to the race area just briefly returning so I could get the SD card which was still firmly lodged into my MacBook. Like some of the sailors, it really didn't want to go. The light had been sucked out of the day, replaced with a grey filter and some fairly generous levels of rain.

We had seen 6 knots on the big screen in the clubhouse though I did wonder if a Seagull had just flown past the anemometer, some competitors agreed and packed up.

Race 4 (race 3 not sailed)

Port bias, the tactic had clearly paid on day 1 as the committee boat hull was untarnished so the pin end was the place to be, Ewan Birkin Walls nailing it second time of asking after a general recall with Jamie Morgan, Paul Davis and Andy Tunnicliffe just to windward. Unfortunately there were 4 OCS, Tunnicliffe and Dray to name but two of them. Chris Brown tried to get back across on port but was politely told to keep clear by Paul Robinson who was keen to send them both out to sea.

The sea state was as calm as my trigger finger, the drab picture through my view finder a world away from what I had hoped for in the sunny, windy days leading up to the event. Kissing another Mirabaud Photo of the Year award goodbye and re-trained my sodden lens on the sailors, hoping to at least catch some emotion on their leaden faces as they pitted their skills against each other and the uncompromising tide.

Birkin Walls led into mark 1, judging the tricky lay line into the mark with Nigel Davies second and the unlucky Tunnicliffe third OCS but showing that the new Gingerboats Solo, which has come from the Boatyard at Beer moulds is on the pace. Morgan was next around from Lee and Butler. The fleet floated across to the spreader mark, trying to avoid its magnetic presence while being close enough to deter the idiot who thinks they can sneak in.

At the bottom of the course Birkin-Walls still led but lost some ground as the guys behind realised how strong the tide was as they crossed to mark 4, each sailor taking a higher and higher route as the tide pushed them leeward.

The PRO wisely shortened course and Birkin-Walls took the bullet, he had been unlucky in Abersoch when the wind shut down but got some retribution with the win. Nigel Davies was a solid second with Mayger, Morgan and Butler completing the top five. Ominously, Lee finished inside the top ten, the only competitor to do so but could he hold on for the final two races?

Race 5

The breeze had tracked right and so the fleet were hanging around the pristine committee boat, I was surprised the PRO did not abandon but with the wind pressure almost unable to rotate the impeller on my wind anemometer, damage to the ships hull would have been negligible.

Nigel Thomas was sniffing out a gap just in the sweet spot with Morgan, Brown, Davenport, Birkin-Walls just fractionally late at the start gun. Staying in pressure with minimal tacks was the trick and Nigel Davies, always super still in the boat showed good speed to lead in from Charlie Nunn, Richard Instone, Roger Wilson and Roger Gibb. Lee continued to show incredible consistency to round in sixth.

The second beat saw the leading pair go further right while Thomas tacked off into a fresher line of breeze which also freed. Davies and Nunn, now on starboard footed off to go through the finish line, losing them more ground/water on Thomas but possibly hoping that the PRO would take pity on them but he was holding firm and at least another lap would be required. By the top mark Thomas had the lead, the HD max gold sail still his choice of weapon in these conditions.

Davies rounded just ahead of Gibb with Nunn dropping back as the wind died.

The run to the bottom was tedious, I delved into my kit bag for sustenance and, sucking on the sweet minty goodness, generously offered my colleague a Murray Mint, being careful to conceal my back-up sweet into my cheek.

Steve informed me that the SIs state that the race time shall be exactly 1 hour and as the fleet headed upwind in 3 knots of wind and 3 knots of adverse tide, the clock was literally ticking. Steve's watch timed the race out with Thomas twenty feet short of the finish but, twenty seconds later, with a faint lick of breeze attaching itself to sails, the finishing gun hooted, giving Thomas the bullet from a fast finishing Birkin-Walls, Davies, Gibb and Butler. There was some relief from the guys at the front while several back markers were timed out 15 minutes later.

We floated around as the wind came and went, I was certain we would be sent ashore but the PRO was clearly savvy to these local conditions and maintained station as the fleet drifted towards Portsmouth and teasingly, nearer the club. The radio crackled that the rescue teams should rally the troops and like a shepherd co-ordinating his trusty, obedient collies, we corralled the sheep back into the start box.

Race 6

Some hope for competitors and my equipment, though the rain had ceased some time ago, cloud had thwarted any chance of a worthwhile photo opportunity but now the sky cleared and the breeze was up to 6 knots.

The first attempt was canned with Solos unable to get near the start line but the re-start saw event leader Mark Lee nail the pin end and lead into mark 1 with Morgan, Brown, Simon Law and Paul McCombie completing the top five. A chasing pack including Goodfellow, Davis, Mayger and Robinson set off in pursuit as the fleet filed down the long run to the leeward mark, while gains could be made, they would only be fractional.

The beat was another test of concentration and half way up Goodfellow had taken the lead, tacking off into better pressure while Lee was closer into shore. When the two converged there was nothing in it but Goodfellow, just to leeward pinched just too much trying to cheat the tide and this gave Lee the lead into the top mark while his pursuer had to tack. Mayger held third from Instone and Davies who was having a blinding day.

Behind there was some mayhem when Davenport caught the marks anchor line around his rudder. Birkin-Walls was one of a few seen pirouetting and I cursed under my breath that I had missed the video opportunity of the weekend right there at the damned spreader.

There was no stopping Lee who extended for the bullet to add to his 5-7-7-9 scoreline which would give him the title of Nigel Pusinelli winner 2023. Goodfellow survived a protest to collect second from Mayger, Instone and Davies.

The breeze was holding at 6-8 knots which was great as 30 minutes earlier I envisaged us having to tow 35 Solos into shore with no tow lines.

So this 2 day extravaganza of sea sailing is at an end, not quite what we hoped for but the elements are uncontrollable and this sport can be frustrating. On the plus side, I understand entry for the Cape 31 Nationals was 4k, that is half a Solo.

Well done to all competitors who toughed it out, to the PRO who did the best under some extreme circumstances, to LTSC who went above and beyond to make us feel welcome but especially to Mark Lee, a Solo journeyman who has come through to win this major event. Confidence is key and he will be looking forward to the HISC Selden National Championship in July 23-28 with some relish.

Nigel Davies has beaten the former Inland Champion and co-driver Chris Brown, I bet that journey back to Warwick was an interesting one. Alex Butler in third will be looking forward to returning to his home club, HISC and though Oliver Davenport may have been 7th overall, Mark and himself were the only two sailors to record five top ten results. Consistency is his new super power and with some breeze he will still be my favourite for the 2023 title, despite the possible inclusion of Cumbley and maybe Davis, post OK Worlds.

Thanks to Rooster and Harken for your support of the event and to the NSCA for the subsidised evening dinner. Lastly, thanks to Steve Watson, our NSCA on the water jury who is also an excellent RIB driver.

Mark Lee wins the Solo class Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at Lymington Town - photo © Will Loy

Overall Results:

Solo class Nigel Pusinelli Trophy at Lymington Town - photo © Will Loy