Artemis Sonata Nationals at Helensburgh Sailing Club - Day 3
by Mike Heath 27 Jul 2015 21:31 BST
25-28 July 2015
As expected, day 3 of the 2015 Artemis Sonata class National Championships featured more-or-less constant rain, unseasonably cool temperatures, and gusting north-easterly winds. But this was a key day in the event when several boats were hoping to open out a lead, so racing was intense with some pushing and shoving around the marks but happily no protests. Race Officer Donald McLaren, recovered from the trails of day 2, set the first two windward-leeward courses out on the east patch. The now familiar front-of-the-fleet boats of Steve Goacher, Joe Cross and Murray Caldwell were all in the first four for race 1, with Ross McNish from Royal Gourock taking 3rd place.
Race 2 saw a newcomer to the leading group with Doug Paton from Fairlie YC sailing 'Edgy' taking 2nd, and Steve Goacher pushed down to 3rd by a win for Joe Cross from Poole.
The third and final race on day 3 was a middle-distance event starting on the east patch, with a run of about 5 miles down the Clyde to Barons Point at the mouth of Loch Long, and a long beat back again. Local boat 'Fiddlesticks' (Tim Flatman) led the field at half-way. Maybe it was the MoD array of sensors off the Point for measuring the magnetic signatures of submarines, or maybe they misjudged the tide, but the lead was lost and it was Steve Goacher in 'Eric the Red' who reappeared first at the East Patch to take the race, followed by Joe Cross, Ross McNish and Murray Caldwell with Tim Flatman back in 5th.
At the end of day 3, Steve Goacher from Royal Windermere has developed an un-assailable lead with just 13 points out of 11 races. However, only 12 points cover places 2-4 – Joe Cross (Poole YC, 2nd), Murray Caldwell, (Cove SC, 3rd), and by virtue of some great results in day 3, Ross McNish (Royal Gourock, 4th). So, with one race to go on day 4, these boats have everything to sail for. Leading Helensburgh Sailing Club boats are Tim Flatman (7th), Kenny Manderson (9th) and Peter Booth (11th).
Back ashore after a tiring day, the competitors were eagerly anticipating the Championship dinner, live music and dancing, and another chance to drink the bar dry. However, all this with an eye to the final race on day 4, which will be crucial for some. The forecast is for 'background rain' and light north to north-westerly winds, so it could be a challenging day.