International 14 Scottish Champs at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club
by Iain McCafferty 23 May 2002 13:51 BST
Wet and windy weather greeted the 6 14's who attended Dalgety bay on the weekend of 18th/19th May for what was our Scottish Champs. The event was sailed over 2 days with a couple of races on the Saturday and 3 back to back on the Sunday.
Saturday saw 20-25 Knots and 6 foot chop from wind against tide which gave everyone a fair test. Newcomer to the fleet Ian Renilson crewed by Iain McCafferty led round the first mark with Gavin Homer crewed by Jamie Hilton hard on their heels. The leaders failed to negotiate the gybe and by the bottom mark Homer was in the lead which he held til the end
The Iains recovered to finish second close behind gavin Homer. Howard Stevenson with Phil Wade suffered a self destructing rudder which brought their regatta to an end before it had started. Jonathon Dearden and Peter Shannon finished third. The others suffered gear or bodily failure.
The tide had turned for the next race and Homer led round the windward mark followed by Renilson and Andrew Bunyan and Colin Gardner. The spectators were treated to a number of fine cartwheels at the windward mark as the race went on. By the second round kite problems for Ian Renilson meant the kite would not initially go up and after it did, the only way to drop was to swim to the masthead, leading to retirement. Homer held the lead to the end followed home by Bunyan and Gardner.
Day 2 was again overcast with a breeze varying from force 3 to 6. Ian Renilson led roud the first mark but was overtaken by Gavin Homer on the second run. The places remained that way with Jonathon Dearden third. The next race saw the same place change at the front with Homer and Hilton
taking the gun with Ian Renilson right on his heels. Andrew Bunyan and Colin Gardner came in third. The final race was led from start to finish by Homer closely pursued by Renilson. Chris Nicoll and Dawn McRae finished behind them.
The weekend saw a well deserved victory for Homer and Hilton who sailed well in pretty testing conditions but Ian Renilson certainly showed his intentions by pressing Homer all the way. Everyone who raced left feeling aches and pains but invigorated by a full-on regatta.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew |
|---|
| 1st | Gavin Homer | Jamie Hilton |
| 2nd | Ian Renilson | Iain McCafferty |
| 3rd | Andrew Bunyan | Colin Gardner |