Wind was off the Shandon shore again, which it has been for the last week. On the water Race Officer, Peter Proctor, started us with a leg downwind to D, north of Clynder. Catriona started well at the favoured pin end. Teal was faster with her spinnaker after the necessary gybe onto port and took the lead. Dione meanwhile appeared from below us all and with boatspeed. She passed below Teal, luffed to clear her air and looked secure. Zephyrus was swift for a while but faded.
Wind died on the approach to the mark and Catriona ghosted into an inside overlap on Teal and Dione. That got her ahead of Dione but a poor mark rounding let Teal back. Nothing could be done on the fetch across the loch to G, at Shandon.
Further back there was a stuchie between Thalia and Hermes at D. Thalia had mark room but when she became windward boat, after gybing, she failed to keep clear. There was a forceful protest from Hermes and Thalia later retired.
For the leg back to the starting area, wind lightened. It looked a little better further out, but there was more adverse tide there. Teal went in and Catriona tacked out. Mainly so as to do something different. Approaching a large, glassy patch of water, Catriona tacked in towards the shore whilst Teal by now was on her way out and crossed well in front. Thence there seemed to be better air and less adverse tide further in.
Peter signalled to shorten the course because much of the fleet was now becalmed. Otherwise the leaders would have sailed on. Wind revived briefly but died again. It was the correct call.
1 Catriona, 2 Teal, 3 Dione, 4 Halcyone, 5 Zephyrus, 6 Hermes. Thalia RTD.
President: