The annual IOM sailing challenge between the North East of Scotland and the South West of England Model Yachting Clubs was held at Buchanness Club in Peterhead on 19/20th September.
 
The format of the event is fleet/team racing in IOM yachts but the result is determined by averaging the scores of each team.  No prizes are given for top finishers but the team with the lowest average score over two days wins the coveted Quaich Trophy first sailed for in 2005.  Late call offs from the South West team meant that 2 North East skippers were co-opted into the South West team to balance the numbers at 5 skippers in each team.
 
Saturday
 
Racing started in warm clear conditions on No 2 Rigs into a stiff southerly breeze.  The wind was steady to start with but strong gusts made it tricky at times especially downwind towards the leeward mark.  Team racing tactics were employed throughout the fleet making for very interesting situations on the start line and at mark roundings as skippers manoeuvred to give their team mates an advantage while hindering the opposite team.  This led to much more exiting racing than in the customary fleet racing.  Although the close racing and strong wind produced a few incidents, these were dealt with in the good spirit and gentlemanly conduct that is customary to NE/SW events.  By lunchtime the home team, who were more accustomed to the stronger conditions, had pulled out a good lead over the visiting team.  After lunch the wind abated slightly and skippers moved up to No 1 Rigs.  This allowed the South West team to come back but it was too late to catch the strong results posted by the North East team in the morning.  By the end of the day 13 races had been sailed with the North East team winning the day with an average score of 4.2 verses 6.8 for the visitors.  The order at the front of the fleet was Ali Law (NE) , Brian Robertson(NE) and Steve Taylor (NE) followed by Ian Dundas (SW), John Owens(SW) and Bill Reid (NE).
 
Evening Entertainment
 
In the evening the local club hosted an excellent dinner attended by skippers, race team, families and friends which helped to build on existing friendships and establish new ones.
 
Sunday
 
Blue skies and 10 mph wind from the west welcomed the skippers on the Sunday.  The South West Team got off to a better start with 1,2,3 in the first race.  Clearly they were not going to give up the coveted Quaich trophy without a fight.  This good result was replicated throughout the morning but the North East team came back and at lunchtime the scores looked pretty even.   In the afternoon the wind increased and some skippers moved down to their No 2 Rigs to cope with the strengthening wind.  By the end of Sundays racing the South West team managed to pip the North East by the smallest of margins posting an average score of 5.4 for the day versus 5.6 for the North East.  It was very close racing all day with the result of the last race making the difference.  Top six on Sunday were Ian Dundas (SW), Ali Law (NE), Steve Taylor (NE), John Owens(SW), Bob Conner (SW) and Brian Robertson(NE)
 
Results
 
Average Scores for the 2 Day Event:  North East Team 4.9   South West Team 6.1
This means the North East won back the Quaich Trophy and now lead 3 / 2
 
“Man of the Match on Saturday” – Neil Surman (SW).
“Man of the Match on Sunday” – Alan Chigey (SW)
 
Skippers are now looking forward to next years NE/SW Challenge to be held at the Woodspring Club