Scottish Solo Travellers at Clyde Cruising Club, Bardowie Loch
by Alistair Angus 28 Apr 2014 07:50 BST
27 April 2014
Scottish Solo travellers at Bardowie Loch © Jenni Kirk
On Sunday the 27th April twenty five Solos took to the Water of Bardowie Loch, seven miles north of Glasgow, for the first event of the year in the Scottish Solo Travellers series. A gusty and shifty Easterly would provide a good early season test for competitors and race officers.
The Solos are arguably the largest and most competitive fleet in Scotland and despite the absence of some of their ageing rock stars the strength in depth of the class was shown in the close battles throughout the fleet and the short time between the first and last boat in each of the three back to back races.
The first race was a classic. Won by the oldest boat in the fleet, number 1572, and helmed by a lady. Alison Davies, whose last boat was a 49er, was fourth at the end of the first round, took a lift up the north shore and resisted all competition for the next two laps to take a well-deserved win. Follow that! For the record, second and third places were taken by Stuart Gibson and David White. A clean sweep for the home club.
The second race was led from start to finish by David Sword of CCC Bardowie followed by Stuart Gibson and Keith Milroy from St Marys Loch SC. Throughout the fleet places changed regularly as the close racing in the gusty shifty wind ensured no complacency.
The third and final race would decide the outcome of the event. Stuart Gibson on four points, David Sword on five and three others on ten where a discard and a poor result could produce a surprise winner. A late wind shift resulted in a pin end bias on the line and produced an inevitable general recall. A calm race officer, Alan Kirk, resisted the temptation of a black flag and the fleet responded with a clean start. Stuart Gibson led throughout but second place changed by lap from Ali Gordon of the home club to Richard Bolton of East Lothian YC and David Sword at the finish with Richard Bolton in third.
Overall, Stuart Gibson was the winner by one point from David Sword with Richard Bolton in third. The Silver fleet was won by long term stalwart Ali Gordon from new comer and convert from Lasers Sandy Day by means of a tie break.
Thanks for a successful event to our new Solo Rep. Don Jamie, Race officers Alan Kirk Martin Nichol and all the rest of the CCC Bardowie team.