Perth Sailing Club Points & Strathmore Series

Five boats took to the water on Sunday 2nd September evening for the continuation of the long summer Points series.

Jack Douglas helming his Streaker and James Curley in a Laser got off to a good start round an unusual course of A,B,C,A & D marks while Kieran Foley-Hall helming Andrew Porteous's Albacore was a bit keen, resulting being over the line at the start and lost time. Jack held his lead to A, B & C but mistook the course and lost place, but worked his way back through the fleet and got back in front by laying a perfect tack up to A mark. Andrew kept to the south bank, went below D mark and had to round it twice. James and Jack nipped a tack down to D as wind eased and light faded. Euan in his RS Aero was in 3rd place followed by Alan Jones in his Solo, then Kieran and Andrew.

Four boats entered the 2nd race of the evening, the course shortened to 2 rounds in very light wind. Allan was over the line at start while James and Jack again had a great start while Kieran and Andrew struggled and retired during 2nd round. Jack got ahead of James and crossed the line ahead of him with Euan in 3rd position.

Seven boats entered for the first race of the short Strathmore Series, a series of four races sponsored by Barr Soft Drink Company. Weather conditions were sunny with a WSW wind, force 3/4. Three laps of a long zig-zag course from west of the Friarton bridge to the Stockgreen navigational mark gave testing gybe practice and involved some strenuous beating. Seven boats started, but James Curley retired his Laser during lap 3 with a broken tiller as did Vicky Wright in her Europe. Sandy Rodger crewed by daughter Jennifer led at the first mark and held their lead to the end but Jack's Solo won on handicap and enjoyed a close tussle with the Laser. Munro crewed by daughter Molly in a Club Quest survived well to come third. Son Joe in a Feva with just one sail up managed just two laps, but came a commendable fourth after average lap time was applied, a shade ahead of the other Albacore on corrected time helmed by Gillie Amatt racing an Albacore for the first time, but well assisted by her crew Kieran.

Six boats entered the second race of the evening. Conditions were the same with the exception of a slightly gustier wind. The race was sailed over three laps of a shorter zig-zag course giving more extreme gybes and some planing. Sandy led until he found himself the wrong side of the downwind mark. Thereafter he was neck and neck with Jack's Solo who shaded him on the line followed by James in a Laser sporting a borrowed tiller. Munro's Quest crossed the line in 4th position. The second Albacore and Vicki's Europe, their helms understandably tiring, retired during the second lap.

Six boats entered for the first of the final two races making up the Strathmore Series. Weather conditions were dry with a westerly wind force 5-6 and gusting and a strong incoming tide creating waves on the water's surface. Two rescue boats were manned to oversee the fleet, John Ferguson helming his Streaker capsizing prior to the start of the race. The Race Officer of the Day wisely advised those sailors with less skilled crew to abandon the race due to the conditions. First over the line after completing four rounds was Jack Douglas followed by Andrew Porteous with John Ferguson in 3rd position.

The same six boats took to the water for the final race, though Jack and James retired during the first round and James Curley retired during the third round. The two safety boats were put to good use throughout the race keeping a weather eye out for all the competitors and going to the aid of the capsizers.. First over the line after four rounds of some hair-raising sailing was John Ferguson followed by Andrew Porteous with Peter Bevan in 3rd position.

Results after Handicap:

Sun. 2/9/18 - Points Series
Race 1: 1st Woodpecker (J.Douglas) 2nd Laser (J.Curley) 3rd Solo (A.Jones)
Race 2: 1st Woodpecker (J.Douglas) 2nd Laser (J.Curley) 3rd RS Aero 7 (E.Macdonald)

Sat. 8/9/18 – Strathmore Series
Race 1: 1st Woodpecker (J.Douglas) 2nd Dash (S.Rodger/J.Casebow) 3rd RS Quest (Munro/Molly)
Race 2: 1st Woodpecker (J.Douglas) 2nd Dash (S.Rodger/J.Casebow) 3rd Laser (J.Curley)

Sun. 9/9/18 – Strathmore Series
Race 1: 1st Solo (J.Douglas) 2nd Whooper (A.Porteous) 3rd Bare Away (J.Ferguson)
Race 2: 1st Whooper (A.Porteous) 2nd Bare Away (J.Ferguson) 3rd Marsh Daisy (P.Bevan)

Overall Winner Strathmore Series: Woodpecker (J.Douglas)
Runner Up Bare Away (J.Ferguson)
3rd Whooper (A.Porteous)