D-Zeros in the Harken One Design Regatta at Largs Sailing Club

The weekend brought the Largs Harken One Design Regatta, with 17 D Zeros converging from as far away as Emsworth to Aberdeen to be the largest class in the regatta's 48 strong fleet.

As always you don't always get what you want and the forecast of wall to wall sunshine wasn't accompanied by the breeze. The first start time passed under the AP and a slipway full of overheating helms starring at the Clyde for optimistic signs of zephyrs. The collective will produced results, the AP dropped and the Largs regatta team's fleet of RIBs scurried off to rapidly set the courses and get us away.

Having a delay can encourage impatience and a hard fought start line caught out three over-enthusiastic drivers, Roo Purves and Gavin Homer making the return but leaving Jon Bassett ploughing on to secure a plucky DNS and banking his discard early.

The race set a pattern of tightly fought marks and nip & tuck upwind and down and at the end the Stork wins, but being challenged by hard charging teenager Roo.

Harken One Design Regatta at Largs - photo © Glenn Andrews

Race 1 was a good start but unfortunately the only race on Saturday as the wind dropped away to play hide and seek through the afternoon, so needs must, cold beer on the balcony in the sunshine with a stunning backdrop of the Clyde and it's islands, it could be worse.

Sunday arrived with the forecasts showing less breeze, it didn't look hopeful, but a dark line climbed up the channel from the south. 40 boats launched, marks and lines laid efficiently by the slipway and race support team and we're back under way for Race 2.

Clear air up the beat and find the pressure paid and at the end of it the Stork wins, pushed again by Roo. Back in the melee Slimb found out that grumbling at the Aberdonian in front whilst rear ending him, followed by a stylish slowmo 360 isn't a winning mark rounding strategy, a good discard well secured.

Race 3 kicked off with Martin Latimer delivering his best timed run to hit the line with pace at the gun, pity though he was still a boat length behind everybody else and the resulting general recall snuffed that nonsense out. Good effort though. Shock horror! at the end of this one the Stork didn't win, knocked off his perch by Roo.

Harken One Design Regatta at Largs - photo © Glenn Andrews

Smooth turnarounds by the RO and into Race 4, clearly there's going to be some needle at the front and the last race to determine the event. Tight everywhere and particularly at the gybe marks with three and four boats abeam claiming water and rights.

At the last windward mark the plaintiff cry of a stork could be heard echoing across the Clyde asking Roo if he'd like to do a wee penalty turn; natural order restored, the Stork wins.

Plaudits and thanks to the Largs race team and supporting volunteers, 4 good races in difficult conditions to deliver a very successful event. congratulations to Storky, discarding a clearly unacceptable 2nd to win the event and take the crown for Scottish D Zero champion. Thanks to Harken again for their support.

This was a great warm up for the Euros / Nationals at the end of June in Portland, if you haven't already entered yet you should, don't miss out there's still time to make it a 50 boat fleet.

See you all in Portland.

Harken One Design Regatta at Largs - photo © Glenn Andrews

Fleet Results:

Harken One Design Regatta at Largs - photo © Glenn Andrews