Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller Series at Loch Venachar Sailing Club

Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller Series at Loch Venachar © Stephen Phillips

Eleven competitors entered the fifth event in Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller series which was held at the ever popular venue of Loch Venachar Sailing Club. Sailors and their helpers arrived on Thursday and Friday so all boats were ready for the Saturday morning start. It was good to see Paul Noble (283) joining the fleet.

Saturday morning dawned and appeared to confirm the pessimistic forecast with very little breeze evident when the sailors opened the curtains at their accommodation. However on arriving at the club, a steady, westerly breeze was covering the whole loch, even better, west is the favoured wind direction at Loch Venachar.

The Race Officer, Yala, was anxious to get racing started on time in case the wind subsequently failed. Sailors and volunteers scurried round to get the boats ready and launched. Once launched, the sailors found a very adequate and steady breeze.

Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller Series at Loch Venachar - photo © Stephen Phillips

Race 1 started with half the fleet crowding the starboard pin end, and the other half at the heavily favoured port end of the line close to the shore and clubhouse. However difficulties in determining precisely where the line was, and the usual reluctance of Challengers to be caught OCS (Challengers do not spin on a sixpence!), meant that there was little advantage for either group and it was the experienced sailors: Duncan Greenhalgh (280), Val Millward (312) and David Driffill (275) who led the fleet in that order.

David dropped back with the other two battling it out for the slightest advantage. Val established a lead in the last lap, but their ongoing duel let David through into second on the last short leg to the finish line relegating Duncan to third. John McPartlin (236) and Liz Eaton (237) were able keep in touch with the leading three boats finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

After a superb lunch, provided by Enid and her catering team, the sailors were relaunched, for two back-to-back races, into a much fresher wind.

Val made a cracking start to Race 2 to establish a significant lead which was never challenged. David also flew round the course unchallenged to take another second place. Duncan got stuck in irons at the start and had a hard fight to overtake the rest of the fleet. At one point he was making 12knts on the reach to the leeward mark and ultimately took a lucky third place, with Alan Gilman (212) following in fourth. The increase in wind strength led to the retirement of Zoe McPartlin (234).

The wind started to moderate for the start of Race 3, but there was still ample for exciting sailing. This time it was the turn of Val and David to get stuffed on the start line allowing Alan to get a clear lead. He was chased hard, but never seriously threatened by Duncan who took second. Never one to be defeated, Val battled back to third and David fourth. Lynn Steward (238) was ecstatic with her best result in fifth and she only lost fourth place in the last leg.

Everyone retired for the evening meal and social in the Riverside Restaurant in Callander with exciting chatter about the unexpected, superb sailing conditions. Some went on to sample the exciting Callander night life.

Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller Series at Loch Venachar - photo © Stephen Phillips

Sunday's forecast was very grim, leaving sailors with the expectation they would be packing up early. When they arrived at the club they found a light breeze filling the whole loch, so the boat were rigged for the last two races.

Once on the water it was clear that what wind there was, was coming from all directions, making for very difficult and challenging conditions.

Race 4 started with Val in the lead with Duncan following close behind. They kept changing places in the shifty conditions and after rounding the final mark it looked like they were guaranteed a first or second. However, the wind filled in and shifted from behind allowing David to make a single fast fetch to the finish line. He took the win with millimetres to spare.

Duncan took second, again by millimetres, leaving Val third. Liz, Stephen Laycock (3) and Dorothy Bennett (115) got their best results in fourth, fifth and seventh respectively.

The result of race 4 meant it was a last race shoot-out between Val and David for the regatta win. Race 5 started in a dying wind but there was just enough to keep the boat moving round the 1 lap race. Val seized the advantage over David from the start and was determined not to let him past. They finished in that order to give the overall win to Val by a single point and second to David. Another third for Duncan sealed third overall. Zoe had by far her best race coming sixth.

The prize-giving was hosted by the club's Commodore Andy Gee and event organiser John McPartlin. It was interrupted by a flying boat which passed the clubhouse before landing and taking off again. Not a common sight and fortunately occurring when all the boats were safely onshore, otherwise who would have known who had the right of way?

Thanks were given to all the club volunteers and congratulations to all the competitors for an exciting regatta. Trophies were presented to the first three in the Gold and Silver fleets. Gold: Val, David and Duncan. Silver: Alan, Stephen and Lynn. Val thanked all the helpers particularly the beach teams helping launch and recover the boats.

The final event in Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller Series will be at Loch Earn SC on 23-23 August.

Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller Series at Loch Venachar - photo © Stephen Phillips

Overall Results:

Sailability Scotland's Challenger Traveller Series at Loch Venachar - photo © Stephen Phillips