Ardfern - Craobh Haven Feeder Race/ Round Shuna Race 02/09/2006

I think Ali was going to write a full race report for last weekend's racing as I still have no idea who came where in what race, and I have been unable to find the result on the internet.    Not that it really matters much,  I think the inclusion of a joint dinghy contingent form Craignish and Tayvallich was a big success and I hope it is something that will continue in future years.

Feeder race
Fears that there would be little wind on Saturday proved to be unfounded with a very healthy force 4/5 westerly wind turning up for the afternoon.  The three Lasers from Craignish (myself and Peter McCardel with full rigs and Alex Spence and his Radial) were joined by a selection of two man dinghies from Tayvallich.  Dinghies started in class one with the Flying fifteens, ten minutes ahead of the bigger boats.  Unusually I got an excellent start, ,but failed to account for gust of wind from around the front of the committee boat and managed to capsize in front of the entire fleet.  1st to last in the space of 10 metre s.   To make matters worse Carol Graham even managed to get a picture of this humiliation, which she took great delight in showing me in the bar later.

Unfortunately the Lasers (and other dinghies) didn't prove to be a match for the fifteens upwind, and the race soon split into two groups.  The beat up to the Dorus was particularly arduous (for me at least), but contrary to the prophets of doom  all of the dinghies made it through comfortably.  Peter and myself had an excellent private race, with Peter making it round the point in front, but a clear weight advantage (Peter claims to be 14.5 stone) saw me sneak ahead on the down wind leg.  We also managed to pick up a few places overall - including the Tayvallich Topper Breeze and a nameless flying fifteen which had obviously left its spinnaker at home.

Alex also had his own race with a Laser 16 which he won. A great deal of credit has to go to him for a first class effort for getting his boat round in some pretty challenging conditions.

A big thanks should also go to Ali for giving up his own aspirations of defending last years title to man the safety boat for the day.  Though no thanks are due for his efforts to distract me into capsizing on the downwind leg.

Round Shuna
The wind on the Sunday increased slightly to a 5-6 and Alex sensibly decided to stay on dry land.  Ali had decided to join the fun the night before, but the increased wind meant that we all (myself, Peter and Ali) decided to downgrade to Radial Sails.  Conditions were near ideal for the radials, though Peter's mainsheet block detached itself from his boom, just before the start.  So it was just Ali and myself.  After another good start, a momentary lapse in direction put Ali in a lead which I was unable to close down for the remainder of the race.  However we soon found ourselves passing the boats in front, and on the run into Craobh there was a moment when we thought we might just cross the line in front.  Having worked out the dinghy handicaps and not wishing to be considered a pair of bandits, we were both quite happy to see Colin MacDougal's boat and a Trapper 28 sneak in front.  Andy Chadwick finished just behind us as first fifteen.  Also thanks to Tom McCardel for providing safety cover for the day.

The prize giving proved to be one of the most entertaining in recent years, as it transpired that neither myself nor Ali had been officially entered in the race (don't ask).  This was compounded by a number of other boats scratching from the race at the last minute due to the conditions.  Without going into details Andy C managed to pick up quite a few more prizes than expected, some of which he sportingly donated to those less fortunate. All in all and excellent weekend's entertainment..

Wednesday night laser series
A good turnout this week and for the first time in weeks we had a decent wind.  So much so that we only had two races because everyone was enjoying themselves too much blasting back and forward and couldn't be rounded up sufficiently to organise a third race.  Isla currently tops the series, and with darkness closing in I expect we will only have time for two more races.  Watch this space.

Nick 02/09/2007