Scottish Solo Travellers at Clyde Cruising Club, Bardowie Loch

Scottish Solos at Bardowie Loch © Andrew Hutchinson

The Scottish Solos kicked off their season in style with 25 boats attending over the weekend and making the most of the Clyde Cruising Club's great facilities at Bardowie.

On Saturday Stewart Gibson put his coaching hat on and put everyone through their paces in a light breeze with lots of starting, tacking, gybing and short course racing. With the nationals in North Berwick later this year there were several new boats being launched and a healthy number of new faces joining the fleet.

Competitors on Sunday were greeted with a millpond but after a short postponement the breeze filled in to provide a decent 10 knots. Local legend Dave Sword made the best of the first beat and rounded just ahead of Andy Hutch. Those two had a close battle down the reach and run allowing Kevan Gibb to catch up. The three boats had some close racing until Andy managed to escape to take the win with Dave second and Kev third at the finish.

Race 2 and having warmed up the fleet were a little excitable resulting in a general recall. Everyone was better behaved second time round with Keith Milroy leading the fleet up the beat until a wobble at the windward mark allowed Dave, Andy and Kev through to battle for the lead again. Andy pulled through for the win with Dave in hot pursuit and Kev in third.

With Andy having secured the regatta race 3 was a battle for the minor places. Kevan nailed the start tacking off the pin onto starboard and taking control up the first beat. Dave was pushing Kevan hard until a swim finished his challenge. Robert Singer from Loch Ard and Gary Macfarlane of the home club both seemed to have found extra speed in the building breeze and raced round at the front to keep the pressure on. After a poor start Andy Hutch was plugging his way through the fleet and managed to catch Kevan on the last lap to take to make it a clean sweep, with Kev in second and Robert Singer third.

As ever there was close racing throughout the fleet, although bragging rights for the most improved performance must go to Simon Richards who finished 5th overall, 10 places higher than last year!

Thanks to Clyde Cruising Club for a great start to what promises to be another exciting year for the Scottish Solos. Next stop Prestwick on 9th May for some practice on the lumpy stuff ahead of the Scottish Nationals at North Berwick.

Overall Results: