Race Officer Iain MacGillivray took advantage of a good wind to set a course beginning with a leg to windward and incorporating offwind legs which required gybing. He send us first to D, north of Clynder.
The shore end of the starting line was favoured and Catriona had it all to herself. Dione and Thalia were able to point higher on the beat and reeled her in. Hermes mistook the one minute signal for the start and was on the course side of the starting line as a result. Luna, in the charge of Julian Forrester and Chris Ings, is new to the competition after a few years laid up. She was in the mix and sometimes in third place in the to and fro going to D.
Dione was first for a reach across the loch and thence downwind legs requiring spinnakers. Catriona was sharper with her third sail (although we were all out of practice) and got back to the front.
On the beat to D of the second round, Halcyone played the nuances of wind and tide best. She moved to a strong second place, Catriona took care to cover.
Offwind to the finish, determined luffing by Thalia failed to keep Dione at bay. Luna’s crew was pleased to be in the mix with people who have been racing Garelochs for longer.
1 Catriona, 2 Halcyone, 3 Dione, 4 Thalia, 5 Luna, 6 Thia, 7 Athene, Hermes OCS (RO duty – Teal)
President: