IOM Scottish Ranking Race 17th and 18th April 2010 – Levenhall RYC
The 2010 IOM Scottish Ranking Race was held under the auspices of Levenhall RYC at the Castle Semple Visitor Centre at Lochwinnock near Glasgow on 17th and 18th April 2010.
Report by Richard Ennos
An impressive entry of 52 skippers assembled at the lochside, Castle Semple for the first of the IOM National ranking events for 2010. With the IOM World Championships due to be held at West Kirby in 2011, a clutch of top skippers, including four former world champions, were in search of valuable ranking points. The fleet was swelled by local Scottish entrants anxious to test their skills against competitors from ‘down south’.
Saturday
The wind on Saturday was from the southwest blowing straight up the loch at the top of number 1 rig allowing a long windward/leeward course to be set.
After a relatively slow start in the seeding race, Brad Gibson sailing his championship winning Widget came to dominate the A fleet. Such was his boat speed that, once clear of the pack, he was able to stretch out a lead amounting to a whole leg of the course. Behind him there was close racing between Martin Roberts sailing the new Viper design, Robert Walsh, John Tushingham and Dave Potter with Lintels, and Peter Stollery with his trusty Isotonic. Graham Bantock sailing a Picanto was in touch initially, but his chance of a top place evaporated following a disqualification in the third race.
At the end of 6 races, comprising 20 heats, Brad Gibson was the clear winner, with Martin Roberts second and Robert Walsh third. Best placed Scottish skipper was Steve Taylor, sailing a home built wooden Zig-Zag. Steve managed a third place in the final race of the day, and thirteenth place overall.
Sunday
On Sunday the wind swung through 180 degrees shortly before the first race and filled in from the north east. A quick rearrangement of buoys gave a windward/leeward course in the opposite orientation to that used on Saturday. The wind was again at the top of number 1 rig, and sometimes a little beyond, prompting a handful of skippers to change down towards the end of the day. With this wind speed and direction significant waves were generated, providing testing conditions for the fleet.
Expecting lighter winds on Sunday, Robert Walsh had switched from his Lintel to a Widget, and though the light winds did not materialise, this change proved decisive. While Brad Gibson remained consistently well placed, the top two places were contested by Robert Walsh and Martin Roberts. Also prominent were Ken Binks and Graham Bantock.
By the end of race 5 the situation at the front could not have been closer with Martin Roberts leading Robert Walsh by a single point. In the countdown to the final race Martin Roberts followed Robert Walsh wherever he went and succeeded in forcing him over the line before the gun. However there was a general recall and after the restart Robert Walsh was able to gain an advantage to windward. Martin then stalled while tacking up the first leg, effectively ending his chance of a first place finish.
The final race was won by Graham Bantock, and Robert Walsh’s third place was just sufficient to ensure victory over Martin Roberts in second and Brad Gibson in third.
Boussy Medallion
With five first places in the twelve races run over the two days of competition, Robert Walsh was a very worthy winner of the Boussy Medallion for the best performance over the whole regatta.