(Report from the Secretary on Catriona)
Race officer John Blackie had looked at forecasts and feared no wind. As it was there was more than enough to start a race although shifting direction forced him to revise the choice of course.
We began with a windward leg to A, off the club. Dione started at the shore end of the line. Circe, Hermes and Catriona were at the outer end and thought to benefit from the beginning of the ebb tide, further out in the loch. Maybe we had the last of the flood. Anyway, Dione was first round A for the spinnaker leg to D, north of Cylinder. Catriona next followed by Arke, who immediately threatened with a sharp hoist of the third sail.
The following pack caused Dione to concentrate but she did not lose her lead. More fickleness of wind made the approach to D a beat with a spinnaker leg in ever lightening air to th finish. Dione looked secure until faint pressure from behind brought up Catriona and Arke. Arke faded as the pressure dropped. Dione and Catriona took it in turn to move less slowly. Teasing the spinnaker to fill was key, with Niki Horn and son Alfie on Catriona keeping the sail full enough to be half a boat length ahead at the finish. Thia and Hermes had a similar battle with Thia opening a larger gap in the end. Ceres found still air at D and called it a day.
1 Catriona, 2 Dione, 3 Arke, 4 Circe, 5 Thia, 6 Hermes. Ceres RET.
