Solo Western Series Round 3 at Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club

by Richard Woods and Steve Roberts 3 Jun 08:21 NZST 1 June 2024

Round 3 of the Solo Western Series headed to Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club, with seven visitors joining the local fleet, so nineteen Solos competed overall.

The forecast wind was for a light NE-NW wind, which was going to make setting even a windward/leeward challenging, as winds from those directions funnel round the town. Fortunately the winds were stronger than forecast - and very gusty, although never over 12 knots - and predominately stayed N-NE.

The course was set along the West Mud shallows, thus trying to keep out of tide and main shipping channel. The first race was set using navigation marks, in part because we didn't want a repeat of last years groundings on West Mud. But once the tide had risen we laid a new lee mark to make a better beat.

As always the Solo starts were "polite" affairs with no boats over early - although some came close. In the first race the channel was the favoured side, as the tide was still flooding. Rob Loader, sailing a borrowed boat, took full advantage and was the only boat to tack onto port. Thus he led for the first lap, but places changed throughout on each lap which meant for a tight finish, and Ron was narrowly beaten into third place by Geoff Holden, first, and visitor Gary Molten second.

The AP was up for 5 minutes while the new mark was laid and the course was now four laps, not three (amid groans from some sailors!). Again a clean start, although no one took advantage of the port bias, all still starting at the committee boat end. This time the visitors knew what to do and soon Paul Kelly had powered into the lead - only to capsize at the windward mark!! Thus allowing Charlie Nunn and the ever present Geoff Holden to pass, with Malcolm Davies, in the second oldest boat in the fleet, in third. Sadly Sal Furness was forced to retire injured, while other capsizes further down the fleet added to the race officers enjoyment.

Feeling sorry for the sailors (and knowing they wanted a burger ashore from TJ's) the RO's set another 3 lapper for the final race. This time several boats, led by Roger Gibb, sailed down the line to the favoured pin end. For by now the tide had turned and staying in the shallows was going to pay.

The visitors made no mistakes and Paul was a comfortable winner with Darren Roach second and local sailor Shaun Welsh, eventually finding his form, third.

It was a wide open event, lots of place changing and some very close finishes, however Geoff Holden was the winner with a first and second - although discarding an 11th. Paul Kelley and Charlie Nunn tied on points for second, with Paul getting the edge as he won the last race.

So ashore for the burgers, drinks and some "basking in the warm sunshine".

Grateful thanks to sponsors GOAT and Dinghy Shack. And of course to the mark layers/safety boat crews and also to the excellent race team of Richard Woods and Dee Casey-Brown (TMSC Commodore).

Overall Results:

Pos	Boat	Sail No	Helm	R1	R2	R3	Pts
1st	Rocinante	6042	Geoff Holden	1	2	‑11	3
2nd		6059	Paul Kelly	‑5	4	1	5
3rd		6106	Charlie Nunn	‑4	1	4	5
4th		5901	Darren Roach	‑6	5	2	7
5th		4654	Malcolm Davies	‑10	3	5	8
6th		5893	Gary Molten	2	‑10	10	12
7th		5604	Roger Gibb	‑9	6	6	12
8th	Pink Panther	5778	Shaun Welsh	‑12	11	3	14
9th	Venom	6113	Steve Roberts	7	7	‑9	14
10th		6013	Kim Furniss	‑8	8	7	15
11th	Pension Pot	5798	Rob Loader	3	15	‑16	18
12th		5905	Steve Mitchell	‑17	12	8	20
13th		5926	John Steels	11	9	‑14	20
14th		5769	Martin Ley	13	‑14	12	25
15th		5731	Vernon Perkins	‑14	13	13	26
16th		5655	Sean Biggs	15.5	‑16	15	30.5
17th		5720	Peter Lye	‑18	17	17	34
18th		5262	Sal Furniss	15.5	(RET)	RET	35.5
19th	Rhythm Stick	4614	Geoff Hall	‑19	18	18	36