RS400 Training and Scottish Tour Round 3 at Port Edgar Yacht Club

RS400 Training and Scottish Tour round 3 at Port Edgar © Vikki Tait

RS400 Training and Scottish Tour round 3 at Port Edgar © Vikki Tait

On Saturday 10 May, 7 intrepid crews braved the apocalyptic forecast (well, Dave Webley, ever the optimist, said it looked like it was going to rain) to gather apprehensively at Port Edgar for some training. So far this season, the 1st training / racing event at Findhorn was blown off and the 2nd one-day of racing at Largo Bay was abandoned towards the end of the 1st race with much carnage ensuing.

But, despite boat rigging starting in slight drizzle, the skies cleared, the sun came out and even the wind behaved itself for the rest of the weekend to reward all those who had wisely chosen to ignore doomsayer Dave and the dodgy forecast.

The fleet's favourite coach, Mark Barron ably supported by a band of helpers (inc. last year's tour champion, Jim Sinclair), held a briefing to let everyone know what to expect and we all headed out onto the gleaming Forth full of enthusiasm. The trip out to the coaching area was follow-my leader with tacking on the whistle. This was followed with many laps of a short windward-leeward circuit which was great practice for hoists, drops and mark rounding – albeit, energy sapping for the long suffering crews. Then it was holding on the line and practice starts - these proved a challenge for many. Then it was back ashore to refuel with some lunch followed by a video assisted debrief.

After lunch, lots of fleet starts and one lap races gave everyone a chance to put lessons learned in the morning into practice and to express the competitive side of their nature. Again, this was followed-up by a debrief in the bar where everyone agreed that much had been learned – in particular, the big lesson learned was to get the weight well forward in lighter winds – so, if in the coming season, you see lots of Scottish RS400s sailing along with their rear ends up in the air you'll know where it has come from!

After a good day of training on the Saturday there were lots of keen, if slightly tired 400 sailors ready to do battle on the amazingly sunny waters of the Forth. After a lengthy sail under the two bridges the fleet got underway in a shifty wind. Neil McLellan and Oli Milling-Smith won the start and proceeded to sail themselves and Stewart and Sarah Robertson to the left hand corner. Unfortunately for them the wind shifted right up the first beat and it was Jim Sinclair and Ben Wilcox who led round the windward mark from Graeme Henry and Fiona and newcomers Steven Fortieth and crew. The big right shift had left the course very one sided, but Team Robertson were able to pick off boats to finish second behind Sinclair with Fortieth third.

The second race was a lighter affair to begin with, which left Sinclair very late at the start. It was Roger Carter and Ian 'Stein' Robertson who made the most of a good start at the starboard end to lead up the shifty first beat from McLellan who was showing the fleet how to start, Phil Britton and Jules Thorne led the chasing pack round the windward mark in third, but were so keen to prove their new relaxed sailing mode that they parked up on the start mark half way down the run for a picnic. Downwind it was tricky to spot the gusts that were coming down, but Henry picked up to second behind Carter at the bottom mark with the Robertson's and Bob Yeamans and Nadia McMinn close behind. Another major right shift up the next beat allowed Carter to extend his lead, Henry was caught on the left and dropped back. At the finish it was Carter from the Robertson's, Neil and Oli in third with Bob and Nadia fourth a long way ahead of the chasing pack.

Another tricky first beat on the third race, with the boats on the left at the top of the beat gaining. Sinclair leads round the mark from Robertson's, Bob and Nadia and Dave Webley and Fraser Mulford. Big gains from Carter downwind allow them to follow the Robertson's round the leeward mark followed by Sinclair. These three then have a great race for the next two laps with constant place changing. Sinclair takes a good gain on the second run to take the win from the consistent Robertson's and Carter third. The real racing was taking place in the race for fourth, throughout the day 4 places could be lost on one mistake in this part of the fleet, this time it was Fortieth who won the battle from Bob and Nadia, McLellan and Webley.

Final race showdown, various combinations of what could happen, with Sinclair, Robertson and Carter all in the running for the win. Carter and Sinclair had one poor result each so needed a good one to beat the consistent Robertson's. In the end an uncharacteristic poor start by the National Champions let Sinclair take the early lead from McLellan and Forteith. Another light wind run had the nerves going, Sinclair had a good lead from McLellan with the Robertson's playing catch up in third and Phil (Duckhams) Britton making an appearance in fourth. Carter was missing shifts and taking big risks to get back in the frame, but it wasn't working. Sinclair claimed the bullet and the event, the Robertson's added another second to finish overall runners up. McLellan finished a good third from Henry with Forteith fifth.

So, congratulations to Jim and Ben for taking the 1st scalp of the season – no mean feat with the reigning UK and Irish champions in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Duckhams goes to Phil Britton, primarily, for parking on the start mark – but, with other offences taken into consideration...

And, a special mention for Martin 'McSupercrew' Booth for taking the helm of fleet demo boat Jezebel (available to all) – could it be another prominent member of the crews union will be turning to the dark side?

See everyone at North Berwick (ELYC) on w/e of Sat 7 and Sun 8 June for the Scottish Championships (remember, enter early as numbers for regatta are limited).

Overall Results: