HD Sails Scottish Solo Championship at Loch Tummel Sailing Club

HD Sails Scottish Solo Championship at Loch Tummel © Richard Patrick

HD Sails Scottish Solo Championship at Loch Tummel © Richard Patrick

The HD Sails Scottish Solo Championship took place at Loch Tummel SC on September 18/19 in the beautiful Perthshire countryside with the event was part of the club's autumn regatta.

The sailing instructions allowed for up to four races each day which, given the light winds forecast for the weekend, was a wise move. Kevan Gibb had brought two boats, one of which was the Scottish fleet demo boat to be sailed by Geoff Henstridge a past winner of this event. As Geoff rigged up Kevan took the sail off the demo boat to replace it with a better one only to realise it looked like the one he had intended to use himself.

We sailed out with the young club members rushing to take our trolleys. Your scribe was just launching when Malcolm Worsley called on him to leave his trolley in the water as he was returning to fix something and needed to use it for a few minutes. We are a friendly fleet!

The course was a trapezoid with an outer loop and a final reach and short beat to the finish. This looked simple enough. In the first race Kevan Gibb stated well and led in the light shifty winds. Rounding the mark at the bottom of the outer loop he hardened up and headed up the beat again and only a friendly hail prevented him from losing the position. He was followed by Ross Watson who pulled through to second and a good third place for Robert Signer.

Race two started in a similar wind strength but it was David Sword who was in front this time. It was close down the run and Ross Watson looked to have gained by taking the right hand gate mark but David kept his position. Malcolm sailed well to take third place.

For the third race the left side of the beat paid with Malcolm leading from Ross. This time it was Malcolm who took the right gate mark but by going the other side Ross took the lead to the finish. This short beat to the finish became exciting when Malcolm ran out of wind just a few yards from the line with several boats getting Botha nice lift and a gust. He just hung on for second with Geoff Henstridge next and David Sword right behind.

The race team were keen for a fourth race and off we went again. Ross and Robert went up the middle of the beat and arrived ahead of those who had gone more to the left. Down the run the fleet closed up behind him and it was David Sword who was second as Ross led onto the second run. Carrying more wind David came close to an overlap at the gybe mark and was just behind at the leeward mark. Up the last beat he managed to get clear wind below Ross but it was not enough with Ross just ahead as both boats crossed the line. Robert Signer took another third place

We sailed ashore after a pretty intensive afternoon of racing with lots of close mark roundings and place changing throughout the fleet. Once ashore there was an excellent meal served by the club followed by chat and a few beers as darkness fell by the side of the loch. With most of the fleet staying on site it was an easy walk to tents and vans.

Sunday dawned with a light breeze blowing down the loch and things looked hopeful for another good day on the water. However the breeze was already dying as we launched and it was a slow sail to the course area and an inevitable postponement. After 90 minutes of drifting and chatting we were send ashore and an hour later with no consistent wind sailing was inevitably abandoned for the day.

So the HD Sails Scottish Solo Championship was decided on the four races sailed on Saturday. By sailing consistently Ross Watson was the winner followed by David Sword, both from the home club, with Kevan Gibb third.

The final event in the HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers is at Bardowie on 9 October. With the demo boat already booked and someone else keen to try a Solo there might be a need to borrow one and the turnout should be good! See you there.

Overall Results: