Scottish Wooden Hulled IOM Championship at Brechin Castle

Scottish wooden hulled IOM Championship © Tich Summers

Scottish wooden hulled IOM Championship © Ian Dundas

Scottish wooden hulled IOM Championship © Ian Dundas

This well established event, for wooden hulled IOM boats in Scotland, was first run in 2005 by Brechin Castle Model Yacht Club to encourage radio sailors to design, build and race their own boats. This year attracted a record entry of 14 skippers that would enjoy sunny conditions but face the challenge of very fickle south easterly winds.

Apart from the popular home build designs of Zig Zag, Kite, Widget and McShee there were a couple of prototype wooden hull designs; Nip and Tuck a Graham Bantock design with a pinched stern, Eco a wooden version of Jeff Byerley’s Evo, Arian a new design from Richard Wills and a wooden version of Barry Chisholm’s Isis. Richard Ennos entered with his latest self-designed boat called Half Cut which has a pronounced chine and hull flare.

As a result of the high entry it was decided to run the event using a two heat system rather than a single fleet and local skipper and wooden IOM builder Boyd Baird volunteered his services as Race Officer. He was assisted throughout the event by Brian Robertson, Ian Thomson and 11year old Max Craig.

Racing started in a very light drifter. There were many place changes in the two seeding races as the wind came and went. Seeding race B was won by Ali Law ahead of Ian Dundas and Richard Ennos while race A saw local sailors to the fore with Ralph Knowles winning ahead of Tich Summers and Keith Furness.

An early lunch was called after Race 3, and with different skippers finishing at the front of each race, there was little between the top 5 boats.

In the first race after lunch Ali Law and Ian Dundas entangled on the start line and although they eventually finished they did not follow the correct course so each counted a DSQ. This race was won by Keith Furness. By now the wind had filled in and the racing was close and exciting.

Ali Law with his Nip and Tuck then put in a very strong performance winning 5 of the 6 remaining races. John Owens sailing a borrowed Zig Zag won the other race. With the steadier breeze the Half Cut of Richard Ennos came to the fore as did the McShee of Colin McGinnis were as the Isis of David Stewart fell away in the afternoon. An unusual incident occurred when Sandy Mackie’s Kite dismasted but a quick repair to the jib swivel strop had his boat sailing again.

At the end of the event Ali Law was the worthy winner followed by Ian Dundas and Colin McGinnis. The event was a great success with some close sailing in tricky winds. It was particularly pleasing to see so many beautifully finished home built wooden boats sailed by their proud builders.

Many skippers took opportunity to exchange ideas and building methods and were already talking of the new boats they would be building over the winter for next year’s Wooden IOM event where it is hoped that more will have the satisfaction of building and racing their home built creation.

Overall Results: