Report from Arke
The fleet was thinned out; only five boats turned out (and no Sonars at all). Perhaps post Gareloch Worlds exhaustion or holidays? It wasn’t the most encouraging evening with a chilly breeze and louring sky; more autumnal than summer (which has been pretty dreadful so far!).
Race Officer Peter Proctor wisely got us going early and sent us up the loch to D on a classic course for the NW wind with a good beat. Catriona led in with Arke following. A cliche. But Dione hadn’t read the script and came in from the course side on starboard. She felt that Catriona had perhaps not kept sufficiently clear but no protest was made. At the start of the beat Arke tacked away hoping to trap Catriona into having to cross and duck Luna. But she tacked under her. Arke, observing, also felt Catriona perhaps hadn’t kept clear of Luna either with her late tack which forced Luna above to luff. But again no protest! Where was Hermes when you need her?
The beat was marked by a shifty, gustiness which was notable even by Gareloch standards. It required concentration, skill and perhaps some luck. Catriona certainly had the skill and reached the D mark first. Arke used some of all the above when she spotted Dione being killed by a horrible header and tacked to take a huge lift to reach the mark in second.
Escaping the D mark in the very sheltered lee of the shore was trying! Dione went the wrong way as the wind backed more westerly. Iris went the right way.
1 Catriona, 2 Arke, 3 Iris, 4 Dione, 5 Hermes, 6 Luna (results TBC against official RO results sheet!)
President: