(Report from Wendy Jones on Hermes)
A typical Gareloch day. No snow or thunder, but otherwise an astonishing change in weather over a short afternoon. Six boats turned out with several new sailors aboard. As we boarded the boats, a baleful raincloud lurking to the north end of the loch made a rapid approach, bringing both wind and water.
Ceres’ crew set a course up the east side towards the Shandon shore, across to Clynder and then back towards the southerly mark. The soggy sailors made their way to Clynder, at which point Dione and Catriona decided against spinnakers on account of still strong wind. Ceres, Circe and Hermes (led by example) were thus not too far away. Thia a little further behind by the end of the first lap. The wind was moderating all the time. Thia decided to do some spinnaker practice over on the Shandon shore and retired from racing while others continued.
There was some changing of places going round the second lap. Catriona initially heading for Clynder having misread the course card. Catriona found her spectacles (or perhaps observed the rest of the fleet) and was unaccountably still first at G, ready for the reach to Clynder. This time, in lighter air, spinnakers were set. The weather gods were having none of this and shifted the wind direction to minimise their advantage. By the time the fleet arrived at A, off the club, wind had all but disappeared. Dione tacked out into the loch and Catriona covered. Others went up the shore and found a little more pressure.
Circe’s helm nudged the boat to creep across the finish first, followed by Catriona breathlessly arriving from the west. Ceres likewise crept in ahead of Dione, who pipped Hermes on the line.
Results: 1 Circe 2 Catriona 3 Ceres 4 Dione 5 Hermes. Thia DNF
