Scottish Solo Travellers at St Andrews Sailing Club

Scottish Solo travellers at St Andrews © Julie Frank

Sponsored by Scottish Sailing

Saturday 1st September saw the Scottish Solo fleet meet at the University town of St Andrews in Fife. A fleet of fifteen boats came to the start line in an offshore breeze gusting 20 plus knots that lead to some interesting shifts up the beat that was towards the town shore.

Race one saw the series leader Kevan Gibb head for the cliff's to the south of the bay and at the first mark was meet by Andy Hutchison how then stuck to Gibb's transom and latter over took him. At the bottom of the run Gibb got an overlap and Hutchison did not allow a clean rounding and had to do a 720 turn allowing Gibb to sail to victory. Ali Gordon got through to third. Keith Milroy came in fourth.

Race two and once again the three first people from race one were neck in neck when Gibb dropped his tiller and hit Gordon resulting in him doing turns and Hutchison did a horizon job on the fleet Keith Milroy got a second with Gibb getting back from second last to third and Gordon getting a fourth.

Race three and all to play for three potential overall winners Gibb, Hutchison, and Milroy having got a second in race two could also win with a first. Gibb was off the pin end heading once again for the south cliff and got to the windward mark comfortably to lead the race after three rounds Hutchison was now within 20 meters of Gibb and came down the last run with breeze to within three meters of Gibb. The ensuing last half beat resulted in 30 plus covering tacks as Gibb kept his cool and did not drop his tiller. Gordon got another third but ended up fourth on count back with Milroy overall.

The Scottish Demo boat was sailed by the new RYA Scotland, Club and Pathway Development officer Matt Toynbee to fifth.

St Andrews sailing club presented the prizes over cake and tea served in their old life boat shed, club house. The fleet thanked the club for an excellent afternoons racing with the three races sailed back to back and minimal hanging around.

Overall Results: