Scottish Open Challenger Championship at Prestwick Sailing Club

Scottish Open Challenger Championship at Prestwick © Stephen Phillips

Eleven Challengers with eager, but slightly apprehensive, sailors and helpers arrived at Prestwick SC on Friday to prepare for the Scottish Open Challenger Championship. The apprehension was because this was a new venue for Challengers and on the sea to boot!

Their apprehension was initially justified as the vast expanse of the outer Clyde estuary, with views as far away as Ailsa Craig and Isle of Arran, was covered in white horses with surf rolling up the beach and splashing over the sea wall. Fortunately, the Force 5/6 was forecasted to moderate to Force 3 before racing began.

Saturday morning dawned and there was plenty of time for boat bimbling, before the 14:00 start for three back-to-back races. After brunch (kindly provided by the club) many willing club volunteers turned up to assist with launching the boats. The operation went very smoothly and the fleet was launched in record time, as a result there was a substantial delay waiting for published start time.

Scottish Open Challenger Championship at Prestwick - photo © Stephen Phillips

Race 1 started as expected with Val Millward (312), Duncan Greenhalgh (280) and David Driffill (275) hogging the favoured starboard end of the start line. Unfortunately Alan Gillman (212) mistook the blue flag of the finishing line for the orange pin end start flag. He made a flying start until he was informed of his error. He returned to start correctly.

Meanwhile the rest of the fleet tacked out looking for a stronger breeze out in the bay. However, after Alan started correctly and with nothing to lose, he sailed parallel to the shore benefitted from a huge wind shift and more, if unexpected, pressure. He tacked on to the port lay line and surprised everyone (including himself) by arriving first at the windward mark!

Val was first passed Alan and Duncan followed later. They maintained these positions to the finish. Lynn Steward (238) had her best result of the weekend in eighth place as she struggled with the breeze and the renowned (notorious) "Prestwick Chop".

Race 2 got under way in similar fashion. There was a building wind from a squall coming across the Clyde to the mainland. Duncan got away with a comfortable lead over Val who was uncharacteristically impeded at the start. As usual she mounted a charge to catch up with Duncan and benefitted from the dying breeze as to squall dissolved into the mainland.

However, she failed, by a few boat lengths, to catch Duncan and had to settle for second. David took third. As the breeze failed Liz Eaton (237) found her form (she always does better in the lighter winds) to take fourth.

Scottish Open Challenger Championship at Prestwick - photo © Stephen Phillips

There was a long postponement before Race 3 while the race management tried to predict the shifty dying wind. It was an impossible task. To the relief of the sailors, AP eventually came down.

The start of the race was characterised by a bit of barging and much shouting. Dorothy Bennett (233) was pushing the line and was called OCS. Not surprisingly Val popped out in front and started on a one fetch beat to the windward mark. Duncan trailed some distance behind. The rest of the fleet was spread out unable to make any progress against the chop with no breeze at all.

The committee boat was spotted planing up to the windward mark making the confused waves even more confused, wind indicators were spinning like propellers on the rocking boats and sails flogging and flapping from side to side. Ironically this activity created the only forward motion available with an amazing 0.2 knots recorded on a GPS.

It was expected (hoped) the race would be abandoned, but with two blasts on the horn and the S flag raised, the torture was to continue. The boats just managed to creep to the new finish line giving Val, Duncan and Alan another first, second and third. Zoe McPartlin (234) and Dorothy (who had returned after her OCS) got their best results of the event in fifth and sixth; it was a just reward for perseverance.

Scottish Open Challenger Championship at Prestwick - photo © Stephen Phillips

Safety boats were, thankfully, on stand-by to tow the stricken boats back to shore. The sailors, and their helpers, then retired to the Red Lion in Prestwick for a meal (and liquid refreshment) and a debrief of the days excitement. A few (who will remain nameless!) then joined in with the vibrant Prestwick Saturday nightlife.

Sunday dawned with the competitors and helpers arriving for the early Race 4 start. There was some excitement at the steady F3/4 forecast from the ideal SW direction. Once on the water the Prestwick Chop continued to provide a challenge for the inland sailors. After a bit of pre-start practice, the fleet was called to order and achieved a clean start.

Experience soon showing who could handle the conditions best. Val and Duncan had a close battle with Val eventually winning. David was third and John McPartlin (236) achieved his best result in fourth.

The top two places had been decided (Val then Duncan) but there was still the Clyde Cruising Club Challenger Trophy (winner of the last race) to be decided. Race 5 saw another one-two for Val and Duncan with Stephen Laycock saving the best to last and coming home in third.

Graham Turner (6), a pond sailor from Derbyshire, got to grips with the conditions on Sunday and achieved two eighth places. He vowed to come to more Scottish events.

Scottish Open Challenger Championship at Prestwick - photo © Stephen Phillips

The weary sailors returned to shore to pack their boats up, with many facing a long journey home. The galley came up trumps with refreshments which were followed by the prize-giving.

Congratulations to Val on retaining the Sandeman trophy as the overall winner. Duncan was second and took home the trophy for best Scottish boat. After a close battle with Alan, David was third. Val praised the club and its many volunteers, and for the rare opportunity to sail on the sea.

There was much talk about forthcoming events. Many Border Reivers will be heading over the border to the Challenger Open at Wigan & St Helens. The next event in the Scottish Traveller Series is at Bardowie in late June.

For more truly inclusive sailing, see the Sailability Scotland Website and make early contact particularly if you will need to borrow a Challenger.

Scottish Open Challenger Championship at Prestwick - photo © Stephen Phillips

Overall Results: