2005 British Soling Championship

The 2005 nationals were sailed over 3 days this year, on the 30th April and the 1st+2nd of May at Barry Yacht club in South Wales. The home fleet had 8 boats on the water and with 6 visitors making the trip south from Fleetwood and Scotland. A good weekends racing was planned.

Saturday arrived but the wind didn’t. After a delay in launching the visiting boats the wind failed to arrive and all racing was cancelled for the day. This gave plenty of time for the BSA to hold their AGM.

Sunday arrived and with it came a very light S/E breeze the fleet took to the water with the hope that the wind may increase. The first race started and GBR 170 (B.Bottemley) current two times national champion showed they planned on keeping their crew, to take the race from GBR 155 (G.Richardson) with GBR 164 (D.Preistley) in third.

The Second race of the day was started with slightly less wind with the wind dropping as the race went on. 4 boats managed to make the finish before the wind shut off and the rest of the fleet were left anchored against the ebbing tide until the time limit ran out. GBR 164 took the race from GBR 171 (M.Fisher). GBR 155 was the unluckiest in the race as he got to within 2 boat lengths of the line and drifted past the line with the tide.

Once the breeze had settled the third race started with out to much drama and was easily won by GBR 164 with GBR 155 in second and GBR 169 (H.Davies) taking third. The fourth race was delayed slightly while the committee move the buoys to straighten the course as the wind was swinging. GBR 160 (N.Holt) took this race followed by GBR 170 and GBR 171.

The final race of the day gave GBR 155 the opportunity to lead the way, finishing almost a whole leg in front of the next boat, GBR 170 took second and GBR 164 took third. This left GBR 170 in the lead with 11pts and GBR 164 in second with 12pts. With the two leaders so close everybody looked forward to the final days racing.

Again the racing was delayed while the committee tried to set a course. The race got away cleanly, with GBR 169 making the best start. GBR 169 was first to the windward mark followed by GBR 155,GBR 171 and GBR 164 in hot pursuit. With GBR 170 down the fleet GBR 164 was looking good to make a attack on the overall lead. But as the fleet were running inshore out of the tide the wind went left by 40 degree’s and left the leaders struggling to lay the mark with kites GBR 170 and GBR 161 sailed over the fleet and GBR 170 went on to win the race with GBR 164 back in 6th. This gave GBR 170 some room to breath going in to the final race.

With the best breeze of the weekend GBR 170 sailed a perfect race to win followed by GBR 171 and GBR 164 in third. This gave the crew of GBR 170 Foxy Cockatoo their third national championships in a row. GBR 164 took 2nd and GBR 155 took 3rd. Best placed boat from the home fleet of Barry was GBR 171 which took 4th.

1st GBR 170 Preston/R.Preston/B.Bottemley
2nd GBR 164 G.Barker / D.Preistley/P.Allen
3rd GBR 155 G.Richardson/K.Sloane/S.Lee

1st Youth competitor GBR 164 P.Allen
1st Soling over 10 yrs old GBR 164 D.Preistley
1st Soling over 20 yrs old GBR 100 D.Brooks
1st Master Helm GBR 161 H.Loudon
BSA Team of two GBR 169 + GBR 16