Sun 16th Jun

Report from Arke

The Gareloch was mostly glassy even as we walked down the pier but the forecast was for the wind to fill in and it did so just as we rigged the sails. And, barring a few lighter patches, it remained a good wind throughout an afternoon that also remained dry! (It was curious however – at least for aficionados of the Gareloch wind – that the forecast initial W wind was more NW and the later forecast NNW wind was often quite northerly!)

The class was missing a couple of key contenders in the season so far: Charles Darley (Catriona) and Barrie Choules (Dione). Both at our friends the FKY’s (Freundeskreis Klassiche Yachten – German Classic Yacht Club) ‘Classic Week’ event over on the Baltic. Dione still out with a ‘guest helm’. 

But more excitingly, while we were missing some, we were graced with the recently renovated and launched Iris! The Mucklow family boat – long sailed by our Honorary President Gordon Mucklow – now being crewed by his children on a shakedown ahead of the Worlds: Bess (on the helm) with John and his wife Kate. Tim Henderson – as with Dione – has done another superb job of renovation!  For those unaware of their class history, Tim Henderson is related to the Mucklow family and the old owner of Arke (or Teal as she was). Worth explaining that the renaming of Arke – promoted to a goddess for the 100th anniversary – was done very much with an eye to the Mucklow-Henderson family relationship and history: Arke is the mythological sister of Iris!

Anyway, with other likely candidates away and no-one volunteering Arke took charge of the race officer duties and picked – given the NW wind – the obvious classic L8 course. Good beats to D off Rahane on the Rosneath shore. Circe lead in but early. Arke spotted her slowing and went for a ‘hook’ (overlap to leeward with intent to push them up over the line). There was some  largely gentlemanly disagreement over interpretations of ‘room’ to ‘keep clear’! Boats headed out with Arke pointing higher but Circe footing lower but fast. In the end it paid for Circe and she reached some excellent wind on the Rosneath side first. She – and Ceres, going very well indeed – both passed Arke by a large margin once they tacked! Others were now playing catch up! Arke and Zephyus both attempted to chase down Circe and Ceres. But Circe if anything extended her lead – good sailing in good wind! And Ceres – most annoyingly! – was doing all the right things too. Zephyrus however managed to sneak past very deftly just before the mark when – covered by both Ceres and Arke – she very quickly tacked on a header which killed the other two!

So round D to G. Circe with a commanding lead, followed by Zephyrus, Ceres, Arke. The wind had swung more northerly making this a reach. Zephyrus and Ceres declined to put up their spinnakers which allowed Arke – who hoisted – to get past. Iris too raised and, over this and the next leg back to the start line, she too overhauled them in to third place. 

Back now up to D. Circe’s lead was commanding and she was only going to be caught by big holes or big mistakes.  Arke gave chase but the wind remained good and Circe didn’t make any. Iris retained her good third. Ceres too, solid in fourth. Zephyrus raised her spinnaker and held off Dione.

1 Circe, 2 Arke, 3 Iris, 4 Ceres, 5 Zephyrus, 6 Dione, 7 Luna, 8 Thia