RECORD NUMBERS AT THE SOLO UK NATIONALS

Tuning Tips with Winner Charlie Cumbley

A record 104 Solos entered this year’s National Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club for five days of ideal sailing conditions. The two-month heatwave continued and a sail from the sandy beaches of Hayling Island on the outskirts of the Solent was the perfect place for this year’s National Championship.

With the UK team back from the Nations Cup in Lake Garda, there were some hot contenders for the National title, including Nations Cup podium finishers Charlie Cumbley and Tim Law. Laser Radial sailor Ellie Cumpsty was competing with the men (the Solo is a traditionally very male dominated class) and in a podium position, until the last day when an unfortunate stream of BFDs pushed her into 13th place overall. Ellie won the First Lady Helm award.

Going into the last day of racing Charlie Cumbley had scored four bullets already, enough to secure him the title. The fight between Tim Law and Pete Mitchell was still on. Both scored a mid fleet results in the penultimate race and a BFD to finish off the regatta, so both were unsure if they had made the podium. Although their score lines were nearly doubled from the penultimate race which they had to count, their previous results were enough to put Pete in second and Tim in third.

We spoke to Tim Law who not only finished third, but at 62 years old qualifies as a Grand Master in the fleet. Here’s what he had to say about racing and his North P-2 Mainsail.

‘I predominately sail Lasers so when I enter Solo events I typically have little time for pre-event preparation. I tend to go to North Sails who do spend a great deal of time and effort on sail development in the Solo class.

I recently purchased their latest design, the P-2 in order to compete in both the recent Nations Cup on Lake Garda in predominantly strong winds and the Nationals off Hayling Island which experienced Medium to light winds.

There is no doubt in my mind that I had the best boatspeed both upwind and downwind that I have ever manage to achieve in a Solo to date. The sail shape provides plenty of power when needed but can also be depowered easily when required in a stronger breeze.’

If you are interested in the P-2 sail or want to get some more advice from our Solo Class experts then get in touch today!

Tuning tips with Charlie Cumbley