East Coast Sailing Week with BP

East Coast Sailing Week ended on 5th July after hard fought racing in often punishing, weather conditions. It was sunny but winds were mainly southerlies, gusting up to 32 knots and at times the sea was a confused mass of white breaking waves.

The 4 day series, hosted by Forth Yacht Clubs Association, rotates between Forth, Tay and Northumbria, attracting the cream of the areas’ sailing clubs.

61 yachts competed with entries split into two main divisions, Racer/Cruisers and Cruiser/Racers.

Weather was challenging throughout the event and Friday took its toll with one dismasting, one collision and other lesser damage. First win in Division 1 went to Absolutely 2 with the Projection 762, Hobbes second.

Racing continued on Saturday but a rescue demonstration from the Search and Rescue RAF SeaKing was cancelled as they were on standby for real emergencies.

By Sunday, conditions at sea were awesome, the Gale 9 predicted becoming reality. All racing was cancelled and social events shifted to the Royal Forth Yacht Club.

On Monday the wind and sea had abated but it was still hard going, particularly for the smaller boats whose course took them east of Inchkeith, but all competitors voted it an excellent, if demanding, test of heavy weather racing.

Despite the weather, a succesful race programme had been carried to its conclusion and next year’s event goes to Blyth in Northumberland.

Overall Results:

Racer Cruisers Division 1 Fast yachts:
1 Hobbes, C Medley (PEYC)
2 Absolutely 2, K Kelly (PEYC)
3 Henceforth, P Walter (PEYC)
4 Ruby, T Kirchin (PEYC)

Sportsboats
1 Cacciatore, S Robertson (RFYC)
2 Jetstream, B Robertson (RFYC)
3 Corkanut, Atkinson & Dougherty (RNYC)

Hunter 707
1 Cacciatore, S Robertson (RFYC)
2 Jetstream, B Robertson (RFYC)
3 Sharky, Hughes&Cooper (THYC)

Cruiser/Racer Division1
1 Hopscotch, R Brownlie (RFYC)
2 L’Arc en Ciel, Neil Wood & Co (PEYC)
3 Naiad, M Carmichael (PEYC)

Division 2
1 Talisker, D Jamieson (CBC)
2 DejaVue, A O’Donovan (PEYC)
3 Exisle, A Walker (CBC)

Restricted Sail Div 1
1 Paul Francis, P Murray (FCYC)
2 C Beagle, K Burnett (RNYC)
3 Katie Mor, J Simpson (FCC)

Restricted Sail Div 2
1 50-50, D Benvie/ G Blair (DSC)
2 Cerberus, J Harris (FCC)
3 Joint Venture, G Scrivener (FCC)