On the water Race Officer Peter Proctor set a course beginning with a leg to windward to A, off the Club. Thence to G, up the Shandon shore and back. As we were rigging, a strong squall came through, bringing rain with it. By the time of the start, air was light.
Catriona got away best at the favoured shore end. The rest were blanketing each other at the pin end. On the way to A, wind veered and strengthened so that the course now comprised reaches. Catriona rounded first followed by Halcyone and Hermes. Teal and Thalia (with guest Helm Jonny Burke) had suffered badly at the start and were well back. With good wind on the beam, there was little scope for passing. The Gareloch, however, had not finished teasing. On the second round, travelling up the loch from A, wind died away and before filling in again, held no firm view regarding direction. Halcyone suffered by being close inshore so that currents of air eluded her. Thalia and Teal found themselves further out in the loch (probably the result of a luffing match rather than tactics) and in a streak of pressure. Their optimism was not to last, wind reached Catriona, who benefited from setting a spinnaker.
Wind was more consistent to the finish, although still variable by the standards of anywhere outwith the Gareloch.
Thalia could count herself lucky. Halcyone and Zephyrus unlucky.
1 Catriona, 2 Hermes, 3 Thalia, 4 Teal, 5 Halcyone, 6 Thia, 7 Zephyrus.
President: