Optimist Scottish Traveller 7 at Clyde Cruising Club
by Iain Airlie & Alec Logan 19 Sep 2006 07:54 BST
16-17 September 2006
Action from the final Optimist Scottish Traveller © Alan Henderson /
www.fotoboat.com
Fifteen or so Oppies assembled at Inverkip on the Firth of Clyde for the final 2006 traveller. Two days of racing would also determine the 2006 Scottish Optimist Championship.
Day 1 was more Indian summer - warm with a steady though shifty 10 knot easterly. James Logan (Clyde Cruising Club) won the first race narrowly from Anna Burnet (RNCYC). Anna won the second by what looked like about 10 miles, followed home by Ross Stanley-Whyte. James started badly and was last at the first windward mark - however he recovered doggedly to finish 3rd. He then won race three to leave himself and Anna on equal points at the halfway stage. In the regatta fleet meantime Jack Gillespie, Andrew Mawer and Jack Borrell (all CCC) each won a race leaving things delicately poised.
Day 2 was agonisingly wet, windless, and tense. After a three hour postponement regatta fleet racing was canned - Jack Borrell won on countback, and becomes 2006 regatta fleet champion. But a very light breeze filled in from the north and the race officer went for one final main fleet race, with everything at stake. James won the start and led up the first beat. Nathan Forrester nipped past him to lead at the first mark, James second, Anna third. As the wind died the course was shortened to just one lap. Nathan (undistracted by Toppers this week!) duly won. On the final run to the finish Anna crept closer and closer and closer to James but she couldn't quite catch him. He crossed the line about five boat lengths ahead to take the series and the 2006 Scottish Championships. In the silver (non Scottish squad) fleet Callum Airlie won the event, but Tom Kemsley the series.
The prize giving was great. It ended with James presenting Anna with a special trophy, from all the Scottish Oppie sailors, celebrating her selection for the GBR 2006 Worlds squad (Montevideo, in the New Year) and wishing her Bon Voyage!
Our thanks to the Clyde Cruising Club’s excellent organisational team, and to Kip Marina for generous sponsorship.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | GBR 5433 | James Logan | CCC | 4 |
| 2nd | GBR 5540 | Anna Burnet | RNCYC | 5 |
| 3rd | GBR 4948 | Callum Airlie | St Mary's Loch SC | 10 |
| 4th | GBR 5519 | Ross Stanley-Whyte | RNCYC | 12 |
| 5th | GBR 5518 | Shona Ross | Spey Valley SC | 14 |
Full results at www.scottish-optimists.org.uk/Results/2006_Kip.html
Travellers at www.scottish-optimists.org.uk/Results/2006_Traveller.html