Category Archives: Race Reports ’23

Report from the Secretary.

Shirtsleeves sailing.  Today there were gusts of wind and unpredictable changes in direction.  A couple of the boats were sailing one up so that it was suggested we might not use spinnakers.  Thalia, not an enthusiast of the third sail, leapt on that.  On the water Race Officer Iain MacGillivray was persuaded by his crew to go along with it.

With wind from the East, a start to windward was not possible.  Iain set a course beginning with a fetch to A, off the club, downwind to C at Clynder and a beat back.  In changeable air like this, we all know not to get too far away from the line.  So (except for Circe) what did we all do?  Catriona made the best of it to start second.  Teal was set up for a fine reach to the pin but was badly headed.  Halcyone and Thalia were timely but closer to the shore which was not favoured.

Offwind, Catriona could not get past Circe.  From A to C, spinnakers might have been overly sporty in the gusts which were often on the beam. Halcyone went right to find good wind and move up.  Teal went left with the same effect.  Schoolboy error, Catriona tried to luff Teal not registering they were on opposite tacks.  Teal on starboard.  Following the penalty turns, Catriona watched from a distance as the rest rounded C.

There was a bit of luck to the beat in the changeable wind.  We were caught in headers which induced tacks towards the Shandon shore.  Immediately after which there were gusts with strong lifts on the previous tack.  Anyway, Catriona was back behind Circe at the line and again unable to overtake on the way to A and thence C.  Halcyone found her good air to the right again and was close to achieving an inside overlap to round C second.

Circe chose the Clynder shore for her first tack of the beat.  The rest went out into the loch to begin with, which paid.  Halcyone and Catriona resisted the temptation to tack on the headers and were rewarded by the lifting gusts.  Sufficiently to get back at Circe.  Approaching the line, everyone had remembered to cover the opposition.  We were just in time for a third round but the consensus was to finish.

1 Catriona, 2 Circe, 3 Halcyone, 4 Teal, 5 Thalia.

Report from the Secretary.

The first race of the secondary points series.  A magnificent evening, sun and wind.  Wind was from the east so that Race Officer Julian Forrester was obliged to set a course beginning with a downwind leg.  To D, north of Clynder.  There was inevitable congestion at the pin end of the starting line and thereafter some blanketing.  Catriona got away reasonably cleanly. Teal and Circe, who were also timely at the line, indulging in luffing which was helpful to the rest.

Off wind, under spinnaker, the boats had similar speed so that after the leading three or four had rounded D, there was a gaggle and issues of mark room.  Catriona, usually the source of intra-boat shouting, and Dione who was on a charge listened with detached interest.  The two legs back to the starting area were both fetches (maybe a short tack needed near to the line) and so essentially uneventful. [The Secretary seems to have completely forgotten about the two reasonably good beats back from D – to G in the first round and to Y to finish – in which, at least for the first, there was a curious feature that heading L to the Shandon shore there was much better wind. Whoever went left benefitted. And the further  left the better! Teal, ladies and gentlemen, went right. At least on the first round…]

There was time for a second round. Two fine-ish spinnaker legs.  First to B, off Silvers, then along the Clynder shore to C before a beat to the finish.  No places changed in the second round but Dione, Teal and Circe had a close (and photogenic) fight under spinnaker between B and C.

The beat, in air that was consistently strong but changeable in direction, was a matter of maintaining cover.  Guest helm on Thia was Reay Mackay.  Those who like to finish in front of her knew they were up against it.  Hermes is sharper, after her helm’s workout at the Mudhook regatta.  Beaten by Thia by a dog length.

1 Catriona, 2 Dione, 3 Teal, 4 Circe, 5 Halcyone, 6 Ceres, 7 Thia, 8 Hermes, 9 Thalia, 10 Athene.

A dry, sunny afternoon after the overnight rain.  Wind was gentle, a pleasant change for those who competed the previous day in the Mudhook Regatta,

On the water race officer Barrie Choules was able to select one of the longer courses, beginning with a windward leg to A, off the club.   The shore end of the starting line was favoured regarding direction of wind (changeable) but there was always the risk of light air near the shore.  Catriona took the gamble and it paid.  She was able to tack out and cross Halcyone, the leader of those who opted for congestion at the pin end of the line.  Hermes tacked immediately after starting and did well out in the loch.  She was second round A for the run to D, north of Clynder.  She found herself blanketed by some of those chasing and dropped back.  Teal went left and found better air (clear of the shadow of the hills above Rhu and perhaps better flood tide) so as to relegate Catriona and the rest of the fleet. Circe had kept lowest of the bunch heading right and eventually followed Teal left.  Thalia tried the same but as the wind went forward of the mast nearer the Clynder shore her spinnaker, and thus her challenge, lost shape. Teal and Circe’s approach was good but then benefitted further from a stroke of luck: the wind swinging – completely against the forecast – to the SW.

It now looked like a fetch back to the starting area.  Teal went high to protect her lead from Catriona and Circe so Catriona steered below both her and Circe.  It should not have been possible to overtake on a fine reach, but the Gareloch is a funny place.  As the leaders approached the line, wind was lightening to drift condition and Barrie signalled a finish after one round.  Circe tried a spinnaker and Catriona was moved by example.  It would not fill for either.  Next, the wind (such as it was) changed from blowing up the loch to blowing down it.  Catriona went from being in with a slim chance against a strongly placed Teal to comfortably ahead in the new conditions.  Bad luck, but Teal had gained from some good luck earlier. What the Gareloch giveth, it frequently taketh away. Or vice versa.

1 Catriona, 2 Teal, 3 Circe, 4 Halcyone, 5 Thalia, 6 Hermes, 7 Dione, 8 Thia, Luna DNF.

Report from Teal.

The Mudhook Yacht Club regatta didn’t happen last year (the ripples of Covid and lockdown perhaps?) but was back this year  – with sponsorship from Saturn Sails – and will hopefully continue to be an annual event. It’s a prestigious old event and the MYC exists largely for the purpose of racing and this event. (Well and quite possibly the odd nice dinner?).

As it was only three Garelochs entered – Catriona, Teal and Athene – due to various commitments. With Carol Rowe guest helming on Catriona. Carol was short of crew for Hermes but wanting to race, so Catriona’s skipper Charles Darley – as usual, generous and endlessly encouraging of anyone wanting to sail – had offered the helm.

The racing takes places in the Upper Clyde’s ‘East Patch’ in the area between Helensburgh, Greenock and the Rosneath peninsula (where the RNCYC bigger yachts race alongside Helensburgh Sailing Club yachts under the combined East Patch Racing Committee). But the Garelochs don’t often venture out of the (often dubious) protection of their hill-ringed loch into these more open inland waters. Perhaps a bit more exposed, perhaps a bit more fetch – but perhaps no worse than a NW wind funnelling down the Gareloch – and often a truer, less shifty wind from most directions. (Of course true Gareloch racing zen masters actually like the shifty gusts of the  Gareloch as one approaches a mark close under a hillside. One must become one with the wind.)

And the East Patch was certainly more exposed; to an unusual north-easterly funnelling across Scotland through the flats of Stirlingshire, across Loch Lomond- and then across the saddle behind Helensburgh (between the hills to the north – Tom na h-Airidh – and east – Beinn Bhuidhe/Ben Bouie – of Helensburgh). The wind was good but strong with some feisty gusts. The sidedecks were wet and the boats needed the occasional pump (sidedecks going under, water over the bow and down the mast, or seams opening up?).

The MYC regatta is always well run and set up for multiple classes – of very different sizes and speeds – so that they aren’t simply mixed in together in the race courses, and often with separated finishing. Four classes, with fast handicap yachts off first, then Etchells ODs (fast modern displacement keelboats), followed by a CYC2 class and then finally the GODs. Although this time the format of the SIs and courses were – ahem – not perhaps as clear as they might have been… as became, and will become, clear.

The first race was selected from one of the standard courses in the SIs with a beat – given the E wind – up to a laid mark just off Craigendoran pier. This remained the windward mark all day. For all the classes, which gave Helensburgh a good view of some of the racing. Then downwind to a mark off the peninsula and then L to a spreader mark via the Sugar Boat and finally back up wind to finish at the windward mark off Craigendoran.

The pin end was slightly favoured and Teal lead in from Catriona and nailed the pin end start. And pulled ahead enough to tack and cross Catriona. Thinking to have starboard advantage on the next cross. But Catriona tacked further up and pulled ahead (superb sailing from Carol, and perhaps too a lane of good wind further inshore – that seemed to be a feature all day – the funnelling effect?). Teal tacked slightly early of the line to try to force Catriona to tack under the lay line. It sort of worked: Catriona made the lay-line but pinching slightly and Teal was able to round on top.

Down to the leeward mark and again neck and neck. Catriona went low and had inside. So Teal slowed, rounded wide, inside and on top. The guest helm perhaps not luffing as aggressively as Catriona’s regular skipper would have liked? At least that was the gist of the shouting from on-board.

A very long reach now to a mark off Port Glasgow now. A massive yellow commercial mooring buoy. Except Catriona rounded an earlier mark and headed back upwind. Teal hadn’t spotted the small print under the courses that indicated the GODs would NOT just be doing course B as marked but legs 3, 4 and 5 of course B! Teal quickly called the RO on the VHF and eventually received clarification – VHFs not being entirely easy on a small boat in a blow – of the small print.  And stopped reaching to Port Glasgow and followed Catriona! So race 1 to Catriona, with Teal rectifying her mistake early enough to take second ahead of Athene who continue to stay in the mix in challenging racing conditions. A good tight race slightly marred.

Races 2 and 3 were all about the start. The RO changed the course to give a simple sausage course with true beats up to Craigendoran and downwind legs to one of the massive navigation beacons in the middle of the East Patch, finishing at a second committee vessel at the leeward mark after effectively two and a half good rounds.

In race 2 Catriona lead in – perhaps conscious of Teal winning the pin first time – but with Teal chasing closely enough to worry her about a hook (and being forced OCS). As it was Teal pulled back and went up for the line at speed and close to windward, eventually taking wind from Catriona and pulled ahead. (Again, perhaps Catriona’s regular skipper would have luffed aggressively? A fine fine skill he has honed over years with a beautiful touch. Much of it fighting the much-missed Iris.) Teal was grateful and pulled ahead. And cemented it downwind. And that was largely that. Athene continued to sail well and stay broadly in touch in the challenging conditions.

Race 3 followed the same pattern after the start; largely all over. Catriona lead in early to win the pin but was just too early – as her skipper graciously acknowledged – and had to slow and Teal, following with good speed, had no real option but to hook her over the line (since getting overlapped to windward would have seen Teal luffed over). Duck on sitting duck, as it were (© Ufo Sutter). Catriona was trapped OCS and had to return. And again, in good true and strong wind, that was that.

The bigger and faster boats did a fourth race but the Garelochs were probably relieved to finish after three after a full-on but fun day. And head back to the sanctuary of the Gareloch in the sunshine and warmth. Passing through another regatta of dinghies from HSC off the main Helenburgh shore.

The sanctuary was illusory; despite being tucked under the shelter of Rhu and the hills, gusts continued to sweep over the moorings.

A superb day on the water, over good courses in good wind. Many thanks to the Mudhook YC, their sponsors Saturn Sails and supporters Boatfolk/Rhu Marina, Neill Ross Photography and Helensburgh SC.

1 Teal (2, 1, 1 = 4 points), 2 Catriona (1, 2, 2 = 5 points), 3 Athene (3, 3, 3 = 9 points) – see also MYC results page on Halsail (all classes)

Report (mostly) by John Campbell, RO – who kindly filled in the bones when we realised we had forgotten to write one!

A lovely evening on the Gareloch, but with the wind from the East, or even the North East depending on whether you were north or south of Blairvadach!

RO John Campbell realised that it was going to be a reaching start. Course ZACY was set. With an ebbing tide, there was the risk of a boat being carried over the line before the start but all boats started cleanly… apart from Dione who was a considerable distance south of the line and then caught out by a drop in the wind.

The first leg to A was a reach and those brave enough to set a spinnaker flew them, even though they then were at risk of being carried below the mark. Teal and Catriona set them… just as the wind headed and it turned into a very fine reach indeed.

Round A, it was Thalia, who had made a superb start, followed by Catriona. Spinnakers were then set by all to get to C, with an upwind leg back to Y. After the first round, Thalia was in the lead, followed by Catriona. Teal, Halcyone were having a good tussle – with much changing of positions and crossing in the tacking battles – and were neck and neck at the end of the first round. Teal forced a port tack Halcyone to tack right at the pin and squeezed through and ahead chasing Catriona. Hermes, Dione, Athene and Thia followed

One final beat. Thalia on fire and unstoppable out in a clear lead. Catriona chasing her. Teal again stood on slightly before tacking for the main beat to the finish having thought the wind better closer to the Shandon shore on the previous round. She gained enough that Catriona only just crossed her back on starboard. And close enough that Catriona stood no chance of tacking to cover and making it stick. Possibly Catriona was also looking forward and trying catch Thalia and claim a win; rather than defending second. Teal stood on towards the moorings before tacking back towards finish and the wind had been kind: she crossed Catriona by many boat-lengths.

The lesson of the Gareloch is that you need to cover. It’s a lesson even the best of us forget.

Thalia was still well clear. A header forcing her to tack just before the line, with Teal and Catriona charging in, must have given her palpitations, but Thalia didn’t panic and sealed a fine win.

1 Thalia, 2 Teal, 3 Catriona, 4 Halcyone, 5 Dione, 6 Hermes, 7 Thia, 8 Athene (RO Circe)

A sunny afternoon with light, changeable wind.  On the water Race Officer Peter Proctor chose the appropriate course for the conditions and direction of wind, down and up the Shandon shore.

The starting line was close to square to the wind but the fleet sought to start near the outer end.  It appeared there was better wind further out, along with the favourable ebb tide.  Hermes and Catriona wanted to reach the line ahead of the peloton and found themselves a little way past the pin.  Dione came out of the congestion well and hardened up on starboard tack towards the shore.  Catriona might have tacked to cover those who tacked out soon after starting but she would have had to duck Dione.  Whilst she waited it became clear there was good wind towards the shore, good wind ahead and a glassy area of water before the ripples further out.  Catriona, Dione and Hermes stuck with it.  By the time these had reached wind good enough to tack into, it was clear those who went out early had not prospered.

Downwind, it was a struggle to persuade spinnakers to fill.  Thalia saw wind filling from the narrows and hardened up to go further out.  To no avail.  As so often happens, pressure built from behind to bring Teal, Circe and Dione into contention with the leader.  Spinnakers filled and there was progress over mirror smooth water.  The contenders commented afterwards that as soon as they reached ripples, they slowed.  Catriona, meanwhile, having lost her substantial lead at the windward mark, found her spinnaker sheet tightening and drew away.

Ceres, sailing single handed, did not set a spinnaker and dropped back.

With wind lacking determination, Race Officer Peter Proctor indicated a finish at the end of the round.

1 Catriona, 2 Circe, 3 Teal, 4 Hermes, 5 Dione, 6 Thalia, 7 Ceres

Race abandoned. No wind.

RO Convenor Prof John Blackie was not blessed by good wind and, having started the Sonars who made a little way in to the loch and then stopped moving,  wisely abandoned the race.

Race report from John Campbell on Circe.

We all have questions to answer and there were a few that sprang to mind this afternoon.

There was a grand collection of boats today, a lovely sunny day but a wind from the south east that had moments when it almost disappeared, followed by moments which at least filled the sails. RO Circe debated whether to have a shorter course up to A and back (conscious of the strength of the tide), but then the wind filled in a bit more and instead decided to set H4 (ZADZ).

At the start, there was a bit of argy bargy at the pin end, allowing Ceres to gain an early lead from Catriona, both who started further down the line. The wind held fairly constant for the beat up to A, and the majority of the fleet tacked out into the loch, but Circe clung on to the Rhu shore and it paid off as she was first at A. The first questions then came to mind, what does a country mile mean? And where did it originate from? Itwas only a short distance from Z to A, but a country mile it was. All boats set there spinnakers for the long run down to D, and with the wind filling in, in gusts, the fleet bunched up a bit. Halcyone took the windward position and gained ground, along with Ceres and Thalia, then Luna, Zephyrus and Athene.

All rounded D and headed back to Z, which was still a decent beat against the incoming tide. Circe decided to head straight over to the Shandon shore, Catriona tacked up the middle of the loch. The wind just dropped a bit as the fleet came up to the line but it was Circe who crossed first, still by a country mile. Catriona finished second. Then of course there were more questions…like, how shallow is it just north of Blairvadach? This one had an answer and not just once, but twice as first Thalia went aground whilst trying to sneak a lift up to the line (she managed to refloat with a bit of heavy paddling) and then once Thalia was clear, Thia followed onto the soft ground (needing the club rib to assist her off). These incidents allowed a few boats to improve their finishing positions, and it finished with

1 Circe, 2 Catriona, 3 Halcyone, 4 Hermes, 5 Luna, 6 Ceres, 7 Athene, 8 Thalia, 9 Zephyrus (with Thia retiring.)

(As to the unanswered questions, there remains the meaning of a country mile, but the most important one is….How? That remains a secret of the Gareloch.)

There was wind but in the way of the Gareloch of an evening, its consistency could not be relied upon.  Race Officer Craig MacDonald risked one of the longer courses, beginning with a true windward leg to E, the northernmost mark on the Clynder shore.

The shore end of the almost inevitably biassed fixed starting line was favoured.  Teal and Catriona fought it out.  Not for the first time, Teal won with Catriona forced over the line early.  By the time she had returned and started, the fleet was away across the loch, Teal, Circe and Dione well away.  A favourite tactic of Hermes when the course is a beat up the loch is to tack up the Shandon shore.  With no point trying to gain ground in the disturbed air from the fleet, Catriona joined Hermes to good effect.  The leaders covered and as boats crossed tacks it was clear the Shandon shore was better.

Approaching E, wind was variable and hard to predict.  Circe had reached the shore first but still short of the mark and at risk of less pressure.  Teal further out and further up the loch found a beneficial corridor.

A fine-ish reach across the loch to F, off Shandon Church.  Wind from the north still fickle.  Circe was in front, Teal went high.  Catriona had no hope of getting above them and went low, hoping for the best.  The constant changes in direction of wind gave her air not affected by Circe some of the time.  Circumstances determined the lead at F.  Teal found a good streak of wind which took her to the front, then died.  Halcyone had come up behind Circe and disturbed her air.  Catriona approached the mark sailing higher and so a little faster than Teal and was round first.  Teal’s last chance was to be quicker with the spinnaker for the run to the finish but it went up in an hourglass.

1 Catriona, 2 Teal, 3 Dione, 4 Thalia, 5 Circe, 6 Halcyone, 7 Thia, 8 Hermes

(Race reports by the inimitable Class Secretary unless otherwise stated)