Scottish Solo Travellers at Newburgh Sailing Club
by Stuart Gibson 21 Sep 2014 23:33 BST
20 September 2014
19 Scottish Solos, sponsored by sailingfast.co.uk, competed in their penultimate traveller series regatta at Newburgh Sailing Club on the River Tay.
Race 1 started with a 2-3 mph wind and an incoming tide which kept most competitors shy of the line, not wanting to have to sail back against the tide if they were over. Stuart Gibson and Hamish Whyte were first through the line and led the way to the first mark. Stuart rounded first closely followed by Hamish and then Andy Hutchison who had closed the gap as Stuart and Hamish had virtually stopped running against the incoming tide.
A slow run to the gybe mark ensued and then a broad reach to the leeward mark. The wind had gone lighter and the race officer in her wisdom shortened the course at the leeward mark. First to cross the finish line was Stuart and then Andy who had managed to pass Hamish a few boat lengths from the line.
With fingers crossed, slack water and very little wind the race officer pressed on with the start sequence of the second race. First to cross the line was Hamish closely followed by Stuart who both managed to tack on the shifts and scrape around the windward mark just as the tide was starting to turn. The other boats were not so lucky and the race became very stretched with Hamish and Stuart now beating back down the river with the tide and the others running against the tide to the windward mark.
Stuart managed to squeeze past Hamish on the run/beat and led around the second mark into a new building wind and yet another beat. Stuart managed to stay in front to the finish with Hamish taking second place and Sandy Day third, who closed the gap on both on the way to the finish.
A mention must go to Hamish for persevering in the third race and actually managing to get to the windward mark, when all but three boats did not manage to cross the start line, only for the race to be abandoned as he did so.
Final overall results were Stuart (first) from Hamish (second) and Robert Signer (third) who was consistently 4th in both races.
Many thanks to Newburgh Sailing Club for their warm welcome, excellent catering and good race management in spite of the fickle conditions.
Overall Results:
Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | Pts |
1 | 5157 | Stuart Gibson | Bardowie CCC | 1 | 1 | 2 |
2 | 4832 | Hamish Whyte | Forfar | 3 | 2 | 5 |
3 | 4856 | Robert Signer | Loch Ard | 4 | 4 | 8 |
4 | 5107 | Andy Hutchinson | Perth | 2 | 9 | 11 |
5 | 4984 | Sandy Day | Bardowie CCC | 9 | 3 | 12 |
6 | 5209 | David Parkin | Aberdeen & Stonehaven | 7 | 5 | 12 |
7 | 5010 | John Cameron | Newburgh | 6 | 7 | 13 |
8 | 5289 | Simon Richards | Newburgh | 8 | 10 | 18 |
9 | 5512 | J Allen | Newburgh | 5 | 14 | 19 |
10 | 5009 | D Chisholm | Newburgh | 15 | 6 | 21 |
11 | 4460 | Duncan Robertson | Aberdeen & Stonehaven | 13 | 8 | 21 |
12 | 4963 | Don Jamie | Bardowie CCC | 10 | 11 | 21 |
13 | 4502 | Walter Mouat | St Andrew's | 17 | 12 | 29 |
14 | 3889 | Mike Lidwell | Cove | 12 | 17 | 29 |
15 | 4237 | P Low | Newburgh | 11 | DNS | 31 |
16 | 2256 | C Todd | Newburgh | 19 | 13 | 32 |
17 | 5447 | Nigel Ford | St Andrew's | 16 | 16 | 32 |
18 | 4865 | M Ramwell | Newburgh | 18 | 15 | 33 |
19 | 5011 | R Horner | Newburgh | 14 | DNS | 34 |