HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Bardowie

Prize winners in the HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Bardowie © Ross Watson

As we usually do the Scottish Solo fleet headed to Bardowie for the first event of the 2025 HD Sails Scottish travellers series on April 12th.

Bardowie is a small loch just north of Glasgow set in a bowl and last year we were unlucky as there was no wind the entire day. As I drove westward along the M8 the wind turbines were at least turning and the wind looked to be SW, much as forecast. The boat had had its usual refit for the season with the trailer and trolley tyres pumped up. The dent in the transom, meant to have been sorted over the winter, was covered with a bit of tape. With the Nationals at my home club of North Berwick this year there was however a shiny new HD sail in the boat that was yet to be hoisted, one of a car load brought up by Patrick Burns. The turnout was pretty low with half the Scottish fleet unable to make it for the first event.

There was plenty of time for a chat in the sun before the briefing. The chat, accompanied by free tea and rolls, was mainly about mishaps involving trailers over the years. Only Charlie Brecknell claimed to have had only one practise sail before today, maybe everyone else has been secretly training for the Nationals? I think not.

The format was three races back to back and the Solo's were to start ahead of the Streakers. The course for race one was a windward leeward and the first leg looked more like a fetch up to the SW corner of the loch. When the wind shifted further left just before the start it meant the start line was heavily port biased and the first leg was certainly a fetch. The boats at the committee boat end came off best however with Malcolm Worsley and Ross Watson tacking on the gun. They sailed out underneath the others who had less wind. Ross was a little ahead approaching the mark and prepared to bear away round it until a friendly hail from astern informed him it was a port rounding. The downwind leg was a broad reach with some soft patches and the puffs coming from astern, so a tricky leg to be in the lead. The first two were close all the way down the leg with Malcolm ahead as they approached the leeward mark but Ross just maintaining an overlap at the leeward mark. It stayed this way for the rest of the race with everyone close throughout the fleet. At the finish Robert Taylor came in ahead of Charlie Brecknell.

For the second race the wind had thankfully swung round to the west and the course was changed. There was a bit more wind now and the boats were almost fully powered up at times. The start line was more evenly biased than the first race and Charlie Brecknell made the best start. Local sailor David Whyte tacked onto port quickly and went up the right side. He was followed by Ross Watson who manged to hit Robert Taylor on the line and had to do a 360 penalty. The mark was to be left to starboard and with the fleet very close the rounding was going to be interesting. Charlie got round ahead and David Whyte was next but could not quite clear Ross who came in on starboard. After much luffing David kept clear and Ross rounded second. Downwind the stronger breeze was almost enough to plane in the gusts and Alistair Stewart came up to third. Charlie defended the inside position carefully and rounded the leeward mark just ahead of Ross. Upwind Ross was ahead on one cross but Charlie was soon back in front. Downwind it was similar to the first round with Ross marginally quicker but Charlie able to stay just ahead. Up this beat the pair split with Charlie staying closer to the north side of the loch whilst Ross went up the middle and picked up a nice left shift to get ahead and stay there to the finish. On the last downwind Alistair came through to second.

The course was changed again for the last race which started in about 6/7 knots of wind. Once again those who tacked onto port early came off best with Ross just ahead of Malcolm at the first mark. These two were close on the first downwind legs but Ross then managed to ease ahead of the fleet. Up the second beat Malcolm closed the gap on Ross and caught up further on the last round when he almost gained an overlap at a gybe mark, with only a few feet in it. That was enough though and Ross managed to stay ahead until the finish. As it tuned out the leading two in the final race were the first two overall. Third was local sailor Alistair Stewart who sailed consistently for third.

As always the sailing on this small loch was tight and tense with plenty of place changing and close sailing. For the next in the HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers the fleet will travel to Newburgh on April 26. The sailing area at Newburgh is just as tight as Bardowie but we also have to contend with the tide and river current as well. Turnout will be much better as well.

Overall Results: