Champion Club Windward Mark Trophy at Bardowie Loch

Volvo RYA Scotland Champion Club Windward Mark Trophy © Callum MacDonald

Loch Tummel SC – winners of the first RYA Scotland Champion Club Trophy © Callum MacDonald

Rory Wilson of Loch Venachar SC – winner of the Individual Windward Mark Trophy © Callum MacDonald

Volvo RYA Scotland Champion Club Windward Mark Trophy

On Saturday 28th August, Scotland’s Volvo RYA Champion Clubs (VCCs) descended on Bardowie Loch with their teams of junior sailors for the first ever interclub event between all of Scotland’s VCCs. The event was built on the existing competition – The Windward Mark Trophy – which is competed in the Topper class between Clyde Cruising Club, Loch Lomond and Loch Venachar.

This new event was open to the classes of Optimists, Toppers and RS Fevas by sailors who were U-16, from a VCC (or potential VCC) and not part of the Scottish National Squad... yet! The sailors competing were aged as young as 7 up to 14 and for many of them this was their first event away from their home club.

It was a great turnout with 79 sailors from 11 clubs across Scotland – Annandale, Chanonry, Clyde Cruising Club, East Lothian, Helensburgh, Lochcarron, Loch Lomond, Loch Tummel, Loch Venachar, Nairn and Solway. A sure sign that race training within Scotland’s VCCs is gaining momentum again, which is fantastic for those clubs, as well as Scottish sailing.

The sailors arrived bright and early for a 10am briefing rigged & ready before splitting into class groups to be coached by the respective Scottish National Squad Coaches in the morning. After some great training and having learned new skills, the sailors prepared themselves for the afternoon racing.

Three races were held with the wind consistently from the west, between 8-12kts, allowing for close racing in all three classes.

In the Optimist class it was Ruaridh Mills from Loch Tummel SC who came away victorious with two big race wins allowing him to discard his second place in race 2. Race 2 was won comfortably by Rory Harper from Loch Lomond SC, which combined with his second in race 1, gave him 2nd overall.

The RS Feva class was won by Gillies Munro & Daniel Harris from Chanonry SC who sailed very well to win the last two races and discard their second in race one. 2nd & 3rd overall was closely fought between Caitlin Ross & Phillipa Benson from Solway YC and Calum Wilson & Storm Chalmers from Helensburgh SC. They both finished on 4pts but it was Caitlin Ross & Phillipa Benson who took 2nd overall on count-back following their race win in race one.

Helensburgh SC sailors managed to win all three races between them in the Topper class, with Jack Aitken collecting 2 race wins to take the overall prize ahead of fellow club member David Abraham. The Windward Mark Individual Prize – competed for between CCC, LLSC & LVSC in the Topper Class – was won by Rory Wilson of Loch Venachar SC who sailed very consistently to finish 5th overall. The Windward Mark Team Prize was won by Clyde Cruising Club.

Once all of the results were posted, the scores for each club were combined from all three fleets using the club’s top performer from each fleet to award to the RYA Scotland Champion Club Trophy. With a third place in the Topper class, fourth place in the RS Feva Class and first in the Optimist Class, Loch Tummel SC were crowned RYA Scotland Champion Club for 2010.

A special thanks must go to Bardowie Loch (Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section) whose tireless support and effort from many volunteers made this event possible and such a success.

Next year the event will be held at Loch Tummel SC on 20th August 2011.

Overall Results:

Optimists

RS Fevas

Toppers

Club Scores