Race Officer Reay Mackay was faced with the problem of wind blowing from the Shandon Shore. Square starting lines and starts to windward are not possible. Also, it is difficult to judge the direction of wind further out in the loch. He sent us down, then up the Shandon shore. There was time and sufficient wind for two rounds.
The inner end of the line was certainly to windward for the fetch to A, off the club. Catriona started at the shore end, Thalia (to good effect) at the pin. As the two converged, Thalia fell into Catriona’s disturbed air. As far as first place was concerned, that was that.
The leg up the loch to G was suitable for spinnakers but a little fine. The risk of broaching increased with the strength of wind. Late running Pipers added to the interest. They do not carry their spinnakers so well as Garelochs when the wind is forward of the beam.
Back to the starting area may or may not have required a tack, depending on the capriciousness of the wind. Mistakes or luck here meant changes of place. Teal in particular was not favoured. Zephyrus is learning more about the riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma that is wind in the Gareloch.
1 Catriona, 2 Thalia, 3 Zephyrus, 4 Hermes, 5 Teal, 6 Thia.
President: