SailingFast Scottish Optimist Traveller Series at Loch Venachar Sailing Club
by Andrew Perratt 27 Aug 2019 05:57 BST
24-25 August 2019
SailingFast Scottish Optimist Travellers at Loch Venachar © Brendan Docherty
The first stop in the 2019/2020 SailingFast Scottish Optimist Traveller Series was Loch Venachar Sailing Club on 24th and 25th August where 13 Optimists battled it out.
On Saturday the sun shone but there was hardly any wind and despite the committee's best efforts, racing was eventually abandoned around 3pm. In the sunshine, many of the competitors were in no rush to get home and instead enjoyed cooling off in the Loch.
On Sunday the sun continued to shine but we saw better conditions for sailing. After only a short postponement to let the breeze fill in, the racing got going late morning with four races run in light conditions. The first race was won by Rory Gifford who took first ahead of Andrew Perratt in second and Ruaraidh Docherty in third.
The second race saw around 4-5 knots of wind and Rory Gifford repeating his first position but this time Ruaraidh Docherty took second and Alex Cogan- Sivarajan picked up third. Regrettably Alex was OCS in the third race as was Ruaraidh Docherty leaving the field clear for Rory to pick up his third successive first place of the day ahead of an impressive Cara Russell in second and Andrew Perratt in third.
Rory Gifford made it four in a row by taking the forth and final race of the day ahead of Ruaraidh Docherty and Alex Cogan-Sivarajan who were second and third respectively. Prize giving promptly followed a quick dip in the loch for many sailors.
Loch Venachar's Sailing Secretary Matt Thomas chaired the prizegiving thanking the Race Officer and his team for a great day of racing in tricky conditions where setting a course can't have been easy. Peter Owen was congratulated for his performance in his first ever event and awarded the Regatta Fleet prize. The prize for Top Girl was awarded to Macy Law who finished 6th overall and ahead of the second girl Cara Russell. Sophie Kennedy was awarded a prize for third girl. Rory Gifford was award first boy and first overall ahead of Ruaraidh Docherty who was second boy and second overall. Andrew Perratt was third boy and third overall.
Huge thanks must go to the Commodore and Committee of Loch Venachar Sailing Club who were very welcoming hosts. Thank you to the Race Officer, the race management team and the safety crews for their efforts on the water. Thank you also to the kitchen staff who worked very hard to keep the competitors and our parents well fed and watered. Lastly, thank you to the event sponsors Sailing Fast.
Our next stop is Peterhead Sailing Club on 7th & 8th September for the second Sailing Fast Scottish Traveller.