HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Tummel Sailing Club

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Tummel © Ian Lavery

The latest event in the HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers took place at Loch Tummel as part of the club's autumn regatta.

The club is situated in a beautiful location in Perthshire and the early arrivals had plenty of time to chat to our friends in the other classes and enjoy the food supplied from the galley. The Scottish demo boat was being used but rigging it was delayed until the gooseneck and shrouds arrived with Keith Milroy. The forecast was for a light southerly, not an ideal direction for Loch Tummel, but on arrival the breeze was SW and more than forecast. As it turned time there was a lot more wind than expected most of the time and it was very shifty and gusty. It was not an easy day for the race team either as the wind shifted between South and South West.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Tummel - photo © Ian Lavery

The course was a trapezoid for all three races and the Solo's were second start after the Streakers - there was plenty banter before launching as to whether we would catch them. The first start was clean with Keith Milroy and Ross Watson going left but it was Willie Todd round the windward mark first. The first reach was quite broad and near the shore. Gusts came from astern meaning the boats in front had to be careful. There were plenty of place changes on this short leg. The gybe mark was interesting especially if boats astern planed up to those in front. Your scribe had to luff hard across the stern of a couple of boats after realising he was going to make an overlap far too late. Calum Gibb had to gybe inside the mark and tack back in this situation. Most boat gybed at this mark but it often paid to continue on starboard.

Down the first run it was very close and the leading four were overlapped as they approached the next mark all slightly by the lee with the inside boats taking the wind of those outside. Ross got blanketed and gybed involuntarily before capsizing. Keith who was outside him did well to avoid him as did the next boats astern. The next reach was very tight at times as we approached the leeward mark which meant having to give water to RS200's who suddenly appeared to windward with rights. At the finish Keith had come through to win ahead of Willie Todd and Alistair Stevenson who pulled through on the last run. We asked a rescue boat if the outside mark could be moved to make the second reach less of a fetch and were informed that the race committee had seen this already and were on the case! In the event the second race was delayed as a rescue boat had broken down and then the committee boat started to drag its anchor.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Tummel - photo © Ian Lavery

There was a lot less wind for the second race but at the windward mark it was Willie Todd leading again. However up near the second windward mark he slowly capsized whilst tacking and dropped back. Ross took the lead down the last run and held this to the leeward mark. The wind was by now very fickle with big shifts and plenty of holes. Stuart Gibson was second at the leeward mark and tacked immediately which proved correct as he took first place. Ross was second ahead of Alistair with Malcolm Worsley coming through for fourth.

The wind had returned with a vengeance for the third race. The gusts and lulls were brutal at times. Everyone had stories of and almost being capsized by a lifting gust and immediately having to dive into the boat to avoid capsizing to windward. At the start Ross was over but went back. The first run saw the majority of the fleet within 50 yards as we approached the next mark. Down the next reach there was a sudden lull which caught out Stuart Gibson and he slowly capsized to windward. The run was pretty hairy now and Ross had a spectacular capsize whilst gybing that left him swimming after his boat. At the front Malcolm was the deserved winner from Keith with Alistair finishing third once again. Everyone was glad to get back ashore after a tough day on the water. Most of the fleet capsized at some point over the day and everyone had some bruises.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Tummel - photo © Ian Lavery

Overall Keith Milroy was the winner with Malcolm Worsley second ahead of Willie Todd and Alistair Stevenson. They all won an HD branded burgee but the sailor who left his flag on the bottom of the loch didn't finish high enough to get one!

The final event in the HD Sails Scottish Solo travellers series is at Dalgety Bay on September 28. We are expecting steadier winds there than we experienced at Loch Tummel but there will be tide to contend with. Turnout should be good!

Overall Results:

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Tummel prize winners - photo © Ross Watson