Kestrel National Championships at Royal Tay Yacht Club

Kestrel National Championships © Ross Will

Kestrel National Championships © Ross Will

Kestrel National Championships © Ross Will

Over the weekend of the 28th /29th July Kestrels from all over the country arrived at Royal Tay to take part in this year’s National Championships which were being held north of the border for the first time. An excellent entry of thirty-two boats registered, including some travelling from as far a field as the Solent, with a good turnout of Scottish boats from Tayvallich and the Tay. It had been suggested that if conditions were suitable that the visitors would join in the Royal Tay’s annual Balmerino picnic but conditions did not allow this to happen due to the strong westerly breeze. Instead there was an impromptu practice race with about fourteen boats taking part and getting a feel of the waters. At the briefing, on Sunday evening, Chairman of the organising committee, Ron Lorimer welcomed the competitors and introduced, Race Officer, Dorothy Ramsay, who went over the race programme and answered questions.

Race one started in ideal conditions with the sun shining and a force two breeze from the north –west. A windward/leeward course was set and the fleet made a clean start and headed up river to the windward mark. Former Champions, Dusty Miller/John Ellingham (Back in Black II) reached the mark first closely followed by local boat, Gaa Sands with father and son, Angus and Rory Broadhurst. These two were followed by a group of boats with all the action caught by the local television news cameras. One feature of the northerly wind on the Tay is gusts and lulls caused by the wind coming over the hills and the city. Gaa Sands picked up a gust on the downwind leg and reached the leeward mark in first place. The wind was picking up as the fleet completed their first round and strong gusts from varying directions were making life difficult for the competitors. A group of six boats started to pull away from the pack in these stronger gusts with Back in Black II (Dusty Miller/John Ellingham) and Fat Boy & Slim (Paul & James Jarvey) fighting for the lead closely followed by Breakin’Wind (David Hearsum & Gareth Fay) , Seathing (Stewart & Mhairi Murdoch) and Gaa Sands. This group continued to swap places until the final leg where Breakin’ Wind capsized leaving the finishing order, Back in Black 11, Fat Boy & Slim, Seathing, Shark, (Liam Pike & Alistair Luxford) and Gaa Sands.

After a lunch break race two got underway in a shifty moderate breeze and a strong tide, which resulted in the race committee delaying the start to move the committee boat to set a true beat for the trapezoid course. This time the boats held back due to the tidal conditions but a clean start was had with Pike & Luxford starting close to the committee boat with Miller & Ellingham slightly to leeward. These two boats rounded the windward mark neck and neck with the Jarvey brothers ten boat lengths behind. However it was Dusty Miller and the Jarveys that soon pulled ahead of Pike& Luxford. On the final beat the Jarvey brothers led with Dusty second and Liam Pike third but local, Ian Hunter & Pam Kelly managed to come through to take third place from Liam Pike. Back in Black 11 pulled ahead on the final reach and was never caught with the Jarveys finishing second, and local team, Ian Hunter & Pam Kelly third closely followed by fellow RTYC sailors, Stewart & Mhairi Murdoch, then Pike & Luxford fifth.

Monday evening saw the competitors and helpers attending a reception held by RTYC’s Commodore, Bob Watson who welcomed the visitors and wished them a good weeks racing. This was followed by Ron Lorimer presenting the “Yellow Jacket” for the Dick of the Day, this is a well established event at Royal Tay and stories are told about incidents that happen, whether they be on or off the water.

A full complement of boats took to the water for Tuesday’s race three which was again in a good westerly breeze. It was certainly a beautiful sight on the downwind leg with all the spinnakers flying. This time race officer decided to use the I flag instead of P but there were four boats OCS all of whom where local boats. Peter Hay & Sandy Bremner in 1615 unfortunately lost a third place due to the failure to return, but that’s life. On the downwind leg the fleet was split with boats on both sides of the course but those mid river seemed to fair better with Dusty & John again dominating the fleet. Towards the end of this race a really nasty gust came through and saw a lot of capsizes and some gear damage but everyone made it safely ashore. Hearsum & Fay stayed upright to take third and Stewart & Mhairi claimed another fourth.

During the lunch break the windward/leeward course was shortened as the wind was still quite strong and this saw the marks in smoother waters. Due to exhaustion and the conditions numbers were down for race four which saw the battle continuing between Dusty & John and Paul & James with Dusty taking race four from Paul & James with locals, Hay & Bremner in third and Stewart & Mhairi fourth. Tuesday’s racing was sponsored by Jean Elvidge who presented the prizes that evening.

John & Olive Glasspool missed race 5 on Wednesday morning to finish off repairs following a capsize on Tuesday. The west–south-westerly breeze had eased slightly but there was plenty of sunshine. A windward/leeward course was set and again there was a difference of opinion in which side to go on the downwind leg with great battles going on throughout the fleet with Dusty picking up well but this time the Jarvey brothers took the race from Dusty & John with Hearsum & Fay third and Stewart & Mhairi a consistent fourth.

There was a longer than usual lunch break to allow the wind to settle for race six, but in the end a trapezoid course was used with the full fleet. They were to keen to start and it required a general recall as most of the boats had not allowed for the tide. They all got away cleanly on the second start with Hay & Bremner making one of the best starts and held on well, despite some close competition to take second place from Dusty & John with the Jarveys third. The competitors enjoyed watching the dolphins playing round the boats during this race. Wednesday’s racing had been sponsored by “The City of Discovery” and Lord Provost and Admiral of the Tay, John Letford presented the prizes. The City also hosted a reception which included a visit from The Abertay Pipe Band and the addressing of the Haggis by Boyd Baird, after which there was a chance to taste some haggis, neeps and tatties. This was followed by a ceilidh which ws enjoyed by all.

The fleet were obviously keen to get going with race seven as most of the fleet were OCS and there was another general recall, the restart saw the fleet cleanly away. Racing was very close with battles throughout the fleet and as the wind increased a few capsizes occurred. Most of the fleet again preferred the middle of the river as the best leg for the downwind leg which gave a beautiful sight with all the spinnakers flying. Dusty & John had been creeping up the fleet after a 720 at the start, but suddenly they could not be seen. They had for the first time in the memory of many of their fellow sailors capsized and had their worst result of the week, an eighth place. This saw Paul & James Jarvey take first place from Stewart & Mhairi, Pike & Luxford and Hearsum & Fay.

Despite this slight set back it did not stop Dusty Miller & John Ellingham retaking the National Championship. At the prize giving Dusty thanked all those involved in helping to make it such a successful week both for the sailors and their families, there was so much to see and do in the area.

Overall Results: (Click here to fill in Gear Guide information)

Trophies

National Champions - Dusty Miller & John Ellingham
Masters Trophy - Mike Smith
Wet Welly (for best capsize) – Mike Smith
First Mk -1 - Liam Pike
Best Improver – Graham Richmond
Under 21 - 1st Mhairi Murdoch, 2nd Rory Broadhurst.

Thursday was a lay day and while the majority of the fleet did some exploring eleven boats took part in the long distance race which went downriver to the Lady Buoys where there was a chance to watch the wildlife while having a picnic on the sand bank. The race home visited various buoys on the way back up river before returning to Royal Tay. Ian Hunter & Pam Kelly in 1559 had the lowest accumulative time with Stewart Murdoch second and Malcolm & Stephanie Worsley third. Following sailing the Class AGM and excellent three course dinner took place.

Crews Race – The Fletcher Christian Trophy

The crews race takes place each year. Helms stay with their boats as crews and those normally crewing get to helm. There was a slight delay before the race got underway on Friday morning to see if the breeze would fill in and settle, which eventually saw the race starting from the club line instead of the committee boat with a short windward/leeward course.

Carl Reynaud sailing with Ailsa Moir had an early lead, but Rebecca Arden had gained the lead by the windward mark, followed by Callum and Stephanie Worsley with Rod Brown-Lee. Rebecca established a comfortable lead and held this to the finish. Duncan Wilson with Ian Hunter took the inside on the last run to gain an overlap on son Callum at the leeward mark, for second, and then covered to the finish. Callum finished third and Will Moore with Wendy Reynaud took fourth.