Race Officer Ollie Thompson – the new-this-season owner of proven winner Iris – was faced with a difficult wind direction. From the east – blowing almost across the loch from the starting area. The fixed starting marks inevitably mean that this will be a downwind start. And so it was, with Ollie wisely plumping for the standard easterly course according to the RO’s instructions: a somewhat downwind reachy first leg to D followed by a good beat to G, then a reach back to Y. A second round would add variety: BCY.
The first key decision – assuming a choice and good timing – was whether to start at the right end of the line – favoured according to line bias but potentially more sheltered – or the left end (vice versa!). Most seemed to favour starting further down the line at the left end. Although Thalia – being helmed by the ever-young Reay Mackay – seemed to favour starting in front of the line. Arke thought there was enough wind – and that it might allow a freer reach – to start further up and got away cleanly. Dione was following but, with a novice crew on board, declined to set a spinnaker in the gusty conditions. Circe also started well but she too declined to fly a spinnaker since she was solo.
Catriona – aided by the spinnaker-less competition – managed to extricate herself from the pack, pulled in to second and attempted to catch Arke. She rounded close behind at D and immediately tacked off right for clear air, while Arke stood on towards the Shandon shore. It didn’t pay. When Catriona tacked back Arke crossed by many boat-lengths. Arke should have tacked for loose cover. Instead she stood on down the loch. That didn’t pay! When Arke in turn tacked she now barely crossed Catriona. Arke tacked on top but it wasn’t a good move: she had not crossed far enough ahead to cover and instead found herself lee-bowed by Catriona. Especially since Catriona’s helm is a master of slowly weaving to windward in gusty conditions. Arke fell in to dirty air and Catriona was away. Dione followed Arke past G in a close third to keep the pressure on. A short reach from G back to Y. The gusts remained strong. Sidedecks were wet. It was fun though. The RO rightly signalled a second round.
Catriona hoisted her spinnaker again. Before even passing Y in fact. Which didn’t go entirely smoothly. Arke followed higher. Her spinnaker allowed her to pull a little clear of Dione. Arke’s skipper was not at all sure about keeping the spinnaker up for the reach up to C. But Catriona attempted it so Arke followed suit. Not always wise in hindsight. The gybe was smooth enough but shortly after Arke’s rear spinnaker attachment point (making double use of a mainsheet track end in a way not entirely as designed) failed. The recovery was not smooth. But she stayed just ahead of Dione.
Back up to the finish at Y. Catriona tacked down the loch as she had done at D. Arke stood on as she had. Dione followed Catriona for clear air. At the finish perhaps not much had changed: Catriona in the lead and Arke held off Dione. Further back Circe sailed a good race single-handed and Thalia made a good recovery from her OCS. Zephyrus gracefully retired from the challenging gusty conditions.
1 Catriona, 2 Arke, 3 Dione, 4 Circe, 5 Thalia, 6 Athene, 7 Halcyone. RET Zephyrus.
