Scottish District IOM Travellers 2 at Tayside Radio Sailing Club
by Tich Summers 12 May 2016 06:33 BST
7 May 2016
The SD IOM Travellers 2 was hosted by Tayside RSC at their home waters of Forfar Loch on the 7th May 2016. Forfar Sailing Club opened up their full facilities and provide sustenance all day for the competitors and race team which was much appreciated.
Forfar Loch is a little unique in that most radio sailing venues are small boating ponds or reservoirs whereas Forfar Loch is in comparison a vast expanse of water approximately 1 mile long. It did not disappoint with a stiff ENE breeze providing gusty conditions and very challenging sailing.
Race officer Boyd Baird set a long course with a good offset at the windward and leeward ends to deal with the single fleet of 16 boats. Apart from some minor tweaks the course proved suitable all day giving great racing. Nevertheless, lanes of breeze could switch on or off so it was a case of finding the ladders and avoiding the snakes.
All the competitors chose the no.1 rig at the start of the day but by the end several had changed down to no.2. as bows began to dig in. Ali Law quickly tuned into the course and dominated the morning. Hot on his heels were Steve Taylor and Ian Dundas. Tich Summers with his Buzz showed good speed upwind but could not cope with the BritPops on the downwind legs with their fuller sections forward of the mast allowing them to hold their bows up and surf on the waves.
The testing conditions also searched-out any weaknesses in boats and rigs. In addition, at the top of the no. 1 rig, boats were racing at high speeds leading to some contacts that again could lead to minor damage. Inevitably, several skippers did not finish a race (or more) due to gear failures.
By the end of the day and after seventeen completed races, many skippers in the top half of the fleet had recorded wins. The deserved winner was Ali Law from Buchanness perhaps having benefitted from all the practice in stronger winds which prevail at the elevated location of his home club. Second and third were Steve Taylor and Ian Dundas from Aberdeen making it a clean sweep to the north east clubs.
A great day hosted at Forfar Sailing Club (thanks for the great catering!) by Tayside Radio Sailing Club.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Skipper | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Ali Law | Buchanness | 24 |
| 2 | Steve Taylor | Aberdeen | 31 |
| 3 | Ian Dundas | Aberdeen | 59 |
| 5 | Tich Summers | Tayside | 61 |
| 6 | Richard Rowan | Greenock | 69 |