Albacore Scottish Champs at Royal West of Scotland A.B.C.

Prize winners at the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club Annual Regatta © Elaine Hunter

Entries travelled from as far as Middlesbourgh and Shetland to compete in the Championships and there was no doupt that the compitition was as hot as it's been in the past. The Red Arrows put on a display overhead and the Royal Navy were holding manuvers just North of the sailing area, so we were not going to be stuck for rescue boats. The course was set on the far shore with the breeze building to a steady F4 from the South West.

Race one had Judy and Paul Armstrong first to the windward mark followed by Gordon Scott and Brian Inglis. Crawford Reid and Isabelle Martin chased hard over the short reach and continued the pressure Scott down the runs, but it was'nt untill the last lap that Reid gained a tactical advantage to steal second place, only to loose it again on the last reach. Armstrong meanwhile stayed in front to claim the first win followed by Scott then Reid.

Race two had both Armstong and Reid over the line early and starting from last place left a lot of catching up. Stuart Gibson and Gavin Berry were making the best of a perfect beat and rounded well ahead to built a considerable gap on the others, places were changing on every leg untill the Armstrongs eventually forced their way through and into second but still a considerable distance down on Gibson who went on to win, Derek and Katty Gibbon led the main bunch for third place.

Race three and again Gibson made the best of the breaks with Armstrong chasing, the wind by this time was beginning to drop off but fortunatly held on untill the finish which placed Gibson first followed by Armstrong then Gibbon. Sunday Race four While the forcast was to be light the reality was a fresh F3 from the Helensburgh shore, again the main fight was to hold onto Gibson alas,no-one else had the pace and Armstrong was to settle for another second place with Scott third.

The fifth and last race was probably the most memorable,as the wind began to fade on the second beat, Armstrong was building on a break over Gibson and as they led the first five boats up towards the gate the tide started to take control and it was very hard not to be pulled backwards, that was, exept for Ken Barcley and Ian McBride, who instead of tacking off at the wing mark, held on up the centre channel and through the gate into the lead. All of the positions were turned upside down, Barcley was off down the run with the Armstrongs in hot pursuit, some distance back Gibson and Reid were fighting to catch up and as they headed up around the bottom mark it was a tactical tacking battle all the way to the line and a well deserved win to the Armstrongs, Gibson was second followed by Reid and local hero Ken Barcley forth.

The average age of the boats in the fleet was almost 20yrs old and the sailors, probably twice that but, after a great Championships and unsurpassed hospitallity from the home club we all went home feeling a lot younger.

Overall Results:

1st Stuart Gibson and Gavin Berry (Clyde Cruising Club) 5pts
2nd Judy and Paul Armstrong (Scaling Dam) 6pts
3rd Gordon Scott and Brian Ingis (Montrose SC) 15pts
4th Crawford Reid and Isabelle Martin (Strathclyde Loch SC) 15pts
5th Derek and Katty Gibbon (Forth Cruising Club) 15pts