Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

HD Sails Scottish Solos Travellers at St Mary's Loch Sailing Club

by Ross Watson 9 Aug 2019 10:13 BST 3 August 2019
HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at St Mary's Loch © Keith Milroy

Saturday 3rd August saw the Scottish Solo fleet travel down to St Mary's Loch SC for the latest in the HD Sails travellers' series with 15 entrants. The club is situated in glorious border scenery and the journey there is equally picturesque.

Once there we were greeted with a light Westerly breeze which was a bit different to the Easterly I had been expecting. Then I noticed two closely moored boats with their bows pointing at each other and thought this could be interesting! Race officer for the day was Gerry Goodfellow who does not currently own a Solo but still has the new sail provided by HD that he won in the end of season raffle to use on his next Solo.

For the first race we had a light Easterly breeze that although shifting was not too challenging. The course was set at the far end of the loch with a 1 mile beat down to the committee boat. After a clean start visitor Ian Hopwood from Nantwich assured Ross Watson he did indeed have an overlap at the first mark of a starboard hand course and duly led round. Down the first reach Ross was passed by Stuart Gibson and Hamish McKay. Hamish was sailing the Scottish demo boat after Kevan Gibb persuaded him to sail a Solo for the first time and he showed excellent speed. On the second beat Ross sailed up the middle of the course and took the lead which he held to the finish. Kevan Gibb came through to second and Hamish stayed third. Positions were close with several boats crossing the line overlapped.

For the second race conditions looked similar at the start. Keith Milroy rounded first just ahead of Ross. Then the wind decided to turn off and it went pear shaped for the two leaders. The gentle puffs started to box the compass and it became very fluky. Stuart Gibson read the wind best down the run and gybed away from the shore with Ian Hopwood - who was talking his way through every puff of wind! These two led at the third mark. The puffs then favoured those who went high on the next reach catching out those who went low. With the fleet split in two and a big gap between the groups the race was sensibly shortened. Stuart had just managed to keep in front and was relieved that the last leg was now a fetch. He won ahead Tong King from Bassenthwaite and Hamish McKay. The two leaders at the first mark struggled home in 7th and 12th places.

After a short delay the wind seemed to steady in a more Southerly direction and a course was set but shortly before the start a shift meant the windward mark could be laid on starboard and the sequence was abandoned. The wind was now all over the place and after half an hour the race officer wisely abandoned and sent us all ashore. It looked like we all had a 1 mile paddle or pump to get back but the rescue boats towed most boats home.

After packing up in the sunshine we all had pie and beans which was included in the entry fee followed by some tasty home baked cakes. All part of the excellent hospitality we received from St Mary's Loch SC.

With only two races sailed there was no discard and consistency clearly counted a lot in the tricky conditions. Kevan and Hamish both had 6 points, settled in favour of Kevan with his 2nd in the first race. Stuart and Ross both had 8 points but Stuart took third with his win in the second race. The latest lucky recipients of the HD T shirts were presented with their awards.

The next event in the HD Sails Scottish series will be at Helensburgh SC on the West coast. This incorporates the Ben Ledi trophy which allows no discards so once again consistency will be key.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoHelmClubR1R2Pts
1st5803Kevan GibbLargo Bay246
2nd5618Hamish MacKayRoyal Highland YC336
3rd5613Stuart GibsonCCC718
4th5841Ross WatsonLoch Tummel SC178
5th5408Tony KingBassenthwaite9211
6th5645Ian HopwoodNantwich10515
7th4517Katie MastertonSt Mary's Loch51217
8th4502Malcolm worsleyRoyal Tay YC41418
9th5858Patrick burnsRYA12618
10th5801Wille ToddLargs SC81018
11th5602Keith MilroySt Mary's Loch61619
12th4856Robert SignerLoch Ard Sc14822
13th5679David RedpathSt Mary's Loch 13922
14th5627David ParkinAberdeed & Stonehaven111122
15th5787Nigel OrkneyLargo Bay Sc151530

Related Articles

Solo Southern Area Circuit at Bough Beech
Good tactical racing in the Weald of Kent The National Solo Class Association (NSCA) Southern Area Circuit travelled to Bough Beech Sailing Club for their annual open on 24 May. Bough Beech reservoir is situated in the Weald of Kent enjoying 400-acres of water. Posted on 27 May
Singlehanded Regatta at Hayling Island
Finns, Europes and Solos don't let the forecast put them off a glorious weekend Day one Charlie Bradshaw held the fleets on shore for an hour on Saturday morning, a fair amount of hope but an early strong easterly can have a detrimental effect on a sea breeze here so there was certainly a little trepidation in the fleet. Posted on 26 May
HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers at Largs
Ben Ledi trophy rewards consistency by not allowing any discard As the Scottish Solo fleet travelled to Largs on the west coast for the third of the HD Sails travellers series we knew that the event would be bathed in sunshine, but would there be enough wind? Posted on 22 May
Solos at South Staffs
Jonathan Woodward takes the trophy, and the role of fleet captain 14 boat joined us to race in the annual South Staffs Solo Open Meeting 2025, sponsored by Allen Sailing and CB Boat Trailer and Cover Store. Posted on 19 May
Midlands Region Solos at Barnt Green
'Penny a Mile' prize awarded for the most distance covered in a single lap A total of 32 entrants comprising of 16 visitors and 16 home boats were greeted by Barnt Green Solo Class Captain and PRO at the briefing who explained that the wind direction was constantly fluctuating so be vigilant for course changes. Posted on 15 May
Solo class Southern Area Series at Frensham
Another record fleet of 28 boats On 11th May, Frensham Pond Sailing Club staged their 2025 Solo Open Meeting as part of the Superspars Solo Open Series. A total of 28 boats took part in what was another record for the Solo ?eet at Frensham. Posted on 15 May
Solo Nigel Pusinelli Trophy preview
Named after one of the founder members of the N.S.C.A One of the founder members of the N.S.C.A, Nigel sailed his National Solo at Emsworth SC and then Chichester YC for over thirty years. Nigel passed away in July 2010 and the pre-championship event at Weymouth was re-named in his honour. Posted on 14 May
Salcombe Yacht Club Solo Open
A bumper turnout of twenty-seven sailors A bumper turnout of twenty-seven sailors turned out for the Salcombe Yacht Club Solo Open meeting over the weekend of the 10th and 11th June. Posted on 13 May
West Kirby Solo Open
An early start to coincide with high tide on the Dee estuary To coincide with the high tide we were invited to arrive by 8am for an early first race start on the Dee estuary at 09.55. Class captain and organiser, Bob Mosedale, even agreed to give Chris Gillard an early morning call at 6am following Chris' request. Posted on 13 May
Burwain Solo Open
Another day at the picturesque lake Arriving for the Northern Area Solo Open Meeting, sponsored by Winder Boats, another day at the picturesque lake at Burwain. We were greeted by blue skies and a light south westerly breeze, that would provide a challenging day's sailing. Posted on 30 Apr