Race Officer Eric Boinard was favoured with a steady breeze over all of the racecourse. He sent us on a beat up the Shandon shore to G, reach to Clynder, downwind to A off the club and beat back to the finish. There was time for two rounds.
The starting line was heavily biased towards the outer end. Uncharacteristically, Iris lost pole position to Catriona with Zoe away in third. The leading two held station, close together, as they sailed into the loch. When Iris tacked for the mark, Catriona tacked to cover and had her opponent in wind shadow all the way in. That disadvantage allowed Zoe into second place. Both Hermes (who has increased the rake of her mast) and Athene have found form lately. They were firmly in fourth and fifth places.
The reach to Clynder was not conducive to changes of place. Downwind to A, Iris was able to blanket Zoe sufficiently to get close. Determined luffing from Zoe prevented a pass to windward. Iris ducked but was never able to get clear ahead for the prime, inside position at the leeward mark. On the beat up to the starting area, Iris went inshore so as to do something different. Tide was less favourable there and it set her back more. On the second round, boats were never close enough to threaten each other.
1 Catriona, 2 Zoe, 3 Iris, 4 Hermes, 5 Athene, 6 Thia, 7 Ceres.
President: