Scottish Solo Travellers at St Marys Loch Sailing Club
by Kevan Gibb 22 May 2010 08:25 BST
15 May 2010
Kevan Gibb wins the Solo open at St Mary’s Loch © Stuart Lobb
St Mary’s Loch Sailing Club in the Scottish borders hosted their first Scottish Solo Travellers event having recently established a fleet at this long established club.
The weather promised some exciting sailing with white horses down the loch at the start of the first race which was lead from start to finish by Kevan Gibb of Largo Bay Sailing Club followed closely in second place by Geoff Henstridge who had just recently returned from the Laser European Masters in Cyprus. Third was Keith Milroy with Hamish Whyte in fourth place.
Race two saw a smaller contingent of boats due to the large wind squalls coming down the loch at regular intervals and in this race the fortunes of first and second were reversed, with Geoff taking a well deserved first place and a number of boats going for a swim during the course of the race.
At this point all was to be sailed for in the final race where nine boats came to the starting line out of the twenty four contestants. Kevan and Geoff started side by side and Kevan sailed Geoff out to the lay line before tacking off where Geoff carried on not realising that the windward mark had been moved between races. This allowed the fleet to round first before either of the leaders got there Kevan then sailed through the fleet to take first from his brother Derek and then Keith Milroy how had lead the race till a squall hit him at the last mark. Geoff came home in fourth place to take second overall.
Overall Results:
1st Kevan Gibb (Largo Bay Sailing Club)
2nd Geoff Henstridge (Pentland Firth Sailing Club)
3rd Keith Milroy (Largo Bay Sailing Club)
4th Derek Gibb (Largo Bay Sailing Club)
5th Hamish Whyte (Dalgety Bay Sailing Club)
6th Nigel Orkney (Largo Bay Sailing Club)
The prize giving was conducted thereafter and Kevan as class secretary thanked St Mary’s Loch for hosting the event and look forward to returning the next year for another event.
Next event the Scottish Championship at Annandale Sailing Club.