Enterprise Scottish Bluebell Series at Loch Tummel Sailing Club

Prize winners - Enterprise Scottish Bluebell Series at Loch Tummel © Emma Coleman

Sponsored by Stewart Brewing, HD Sails and Coast to Coast Rigging

The fourth event of the Scottish Bluebell series was held at Loch Tummel SC at the start of 'Tummel Week' with a different format to the previous events.

The Saturday consisted of a pursuit race followed by the 'Up An Dun' race, best described as a 'mini Birkett', while Sunday was a conventional 'round the cans' affair. An unfortunate number of adverse events combined to limit the number of boats attending.

Race 1 WNW, F3 gusting 6

This was an all in pursuit race timed at one and half hours around a rectangular course. Charles Morrish & Owen Holdaway got away well but were literally blown over just short of the windward mark. This allowed Paul Young & Emma Coleman to sail clear and by the time Charles & Owen had recovered their poise there was no catching them.

Race 2 WNW, F4/5 gusting 6

Given the wind direction this was effectively a windward/leeward course. A start line off the clubhouse was set with a fairly short beat westwards followed by a long run to An Dun island and then a battle of a beat back to the club, a total distance of around 7 nautical miles. Charles & Owen were first to the windward mark followed by Paul & Emma with Nicol Halcrow & Eilidh Morton in third.

There followed long and 'thrilling' run on the plane all the way to An Dun island. The leading pair thought at least one 'change of direction' was needed en route; Paul & Emma decided they needed four and each was a wear round. Charles & Owen located what they perceived to be a slightly more sheltered patch close to the shore, 'we'll gybe there' said Charles, 'There's no room to wear round now' said Owen, 'So we have to gybe!' was the response; fortunately for them the manoeuvre was a success that consolidated a substantial lead.

Meanwhile Nicol & Eilidh defied the 'wisdom' of the leading boats and managed the whole distance on starboard, only gybing when in the lee of the island. That strategy saw them pass Paul & Emma during the rounding to take second place at the start of the beat. Over the long slog to home Paul regained second spot and began to eat into Charles & Owen's lead but not enough to cause the leading pair any alarm.

The overall winners of the race on the water and on handicap were ex Enterprise champions, Stuart and Sarah Robertson sailing an RS400, completing the course in just over 1 hour 11 minutes Saturday evening was great fun with substantial steaks expertly barbecued, a bar and a ceilidh band.

Sunday races were run with club boats around the cans, but delayed by over an hour on a 'dreich' (Sottish word, look it up!) morning for lack of wind

Race 3 WNW F2

Charles & Owen got away well, were first to the windward mark and never headed. Behind them the sailing was close with Nicol & Eilidh pulling past Paul & Emma on the run to take second place.

Starboard end start - Enterprise Scottish Bluebell Series at Loch Tummel - photo © Fi Foulkes

Race 4 WNW F2

This time Paul & Emma were first to the windward mark with Charles & Owen in close attendance. Down the run Paul opted to gybe to clear his air from his pursuer, but only succeeded in giving him a clear run to the mark. Paul kept close on the subsequent reaches but Charles & Owen pulled away on the second lap with Paul second and Nicol & Eilidh third.

Race 5 WNW F2

This was the most closely contested race with places being swapped up the first beat. Nicol & Eilidh rounded first with Paul & Emma second and Charles & Owen third. There were two reaches following the run and although Paul managed an overlap on Nicol at the first of them the Loch Earn sailors pulled clear to lead at the start of the second beat while Paul and then Charles were close behind.

At the start of the beat Paul and Nicol tacked early onto port while Charles held on for a few boat lengths before tacking. It paid off as Charles & Owen found themselves on the inside of a lift crossing both the other boats when they came back on starboard. From there they pulled away while Nicol & Eilidh held on to second place with Paul & Emma, third.

Thanks to Loch Tummel SC for a most enjoyable weekend with the format on the Saturday making for some interesting and challenging sailing.

Overall Results: