Scottish skiffs
at East Lothian Yacht Club
23 boats turned up at East Lothian
YC for round 2 of the Scottish skiff circuit including
12 musto skiffs, which were also competing for their
Scottish championship as part of the event.
As competitors headed out to the race course in a 15
knots easterly it was the size of the waves rather than
the breeze that were going to make things interesting
for competitors. Race one got started with most of the
fleet initially heading left whilst Martin Boatman who
had tacked off to the right to clear his air. On tacking
back half way up he held a good lead over the rest of
the fleet including the moths that were finding the
waves a bit to tricky to be able to go at full tilt.
With the windward mark 100m off the leithies point the
fleet was going to have an interesting time trying to
get round and manage the bear away before enjoying a
sleigh ride down.
Boatman was first round followed by Ian Renilson and
Robbie Wilson and the Lyons in their 49er. The leaders
then hoisted their kites for a sleigh ride back down
with wind going up to 20-22 knots as they headed down
the run. With the increase in breeze and several competitors
not used to the wave conditions a steady stream of retiral's
began. Lap 2 and boatman held his lead with Renilson
chasing hard up the beat. With the increase sea state
boatman was the only musto to hoist his kite more by
luck than skill without pitch poling and won the race
followed by Renilson with John Evans pulling up to third.
With several boats still in difficulties and the seas
getting larger, the race officer called it a day and
the fleet headed home to the bar.
Sunday dawned warmer with the sun out the wind blowing
15 knots and more importantly the sea state had died
down. After an hour postponement race 2 got away. Ian
Renilson played the shifts and the wind /tide at the
leithies to lead from Boatman and Robbie Wilson. Round
2 and Ian lead to the finish with Gavin Homer managing
to get past Wilson for third.
Following a prompt turnaround which occurred for all
the days’ races the fleet got off for race 3 with Renilson
again leading the fleet closely followed by Wilson Boatman
and Homer. While Renilson was able to maintain his lead
boatman managed to pull up to second until a bad rounding
at the final windward mark allowed the other two through
to 2nd and third.
Race four and competition for the top places was still
tight with boatman able to get past Renilson on the
first run by calling the gybing earlier whilst Renilson
over stood the lay line to allow him past. Behind the
international14 of Wilkie and Mcafferty were getting
sorted and pulled up to third in front of the next group
of musto skiffs.
With the days time limit drawing near and competitors
tiring the race officer started the final with the regatta
yet to be decided With the tide slackening the fleet
headed offshore with Renilson leading at the windward
mark with boatman in second. Down the first run Renilson
again misjudged his lay line allowing boatman to pass
him. Behind the leading two another tussle was occurring
for third place with Homer catching up to Wilson at
the final windward mark before doing the same as Boatman
had done to Renilson in the previous lap to pass and
passing him to take third by a matter of meters.
Whilst the fleet packed up, ate pie and beans, agreeing
the days sailing was an ideal warm up for the nationals,
the committee did the maths, to confirm that Martin
Boatman had won the event.
Thanks to elyc for hosting another good event and the
Musto skiffs look forward to 2 days training and the
National championships next week whilst the rest of
the Scottish skiff fleet look forward to Largo Bay at
the end of the month.
1st Martin Boatman Musto Skiff Derwent Res SC 5pts
2nd Ian Renilison Musto Skiff Dalgety Bay SC 6pts
3rd Gavin Homer Musto Skiff East Lothian YC 13pts
4th Robbbie Wilson Musto Skiff Wormit BC 16pts
|
