On the Water Race Officer Roger Kinns sent us on a beat to B, off Silvers. Whilst it was dry and fine, Gareloch wind was its usual self. The fixed starting line was biassed, so that there was a scramble for the pin end. Made more complicated by changes in strength and direction of wind.
Catriona got the best start and thereafter concentrated on covering Teal. These two went down the Shandon shore before tacking across the loch. Teal, thinking to escape wind shadow, tacked into the strongest of the adverse flood tide. That and an area of light air set her back.
Ceres, meanwhile, had started strongly and headed for the Clynder shore early. It paid off. The chasing pack could not read her sail number as she rounded B. Thalia thought to do the same but never threatened Ceres.
In the confused air at B, Catriona managed to round just ahead of Thalia and kept the place on the run up the loch to G on the Shandon shore. The next leg, windward to Clynder, was again characterised by changeable wind. Ceres played it well and maintained her handsome lead. Thalia found a good streak of wind to retake her second place.
There was confusion on Catriona and Teal about whether or not the race had finished at the end of the round. They sailed on and fought closely a second round in the drizzle which had now set in. The rest headed for the bar and stayed dry.
1 Ceres, 2 Thalia, 3 Catriona, 4 Teal, 5 Halcyone, 6 Athene.