IOM Scottish Travellers 2010 Event 3 – Brechin – 2nd October 2010

Report by Ali Law      Score Sheet

The third of the Scottish IOM travellers event was organised and run by the Brechin Castle Centre MBC at the Centre’s pond. The Centre has an added facility of a well appointed restaurant.

Ten skippers entered the event representing five Scottish clubs – Aberdeen, Brechin, Levenhall (Edinburgh), Paisley and Greenock. The race team was drawn from Buchanness under the control of RO Ali Law.

The wind was forecast to come from the south veering to the south east in the afternoon but as the start time approached the wind was changing continually by 180 degrees making course setting near impossible. The RO decided to go with the forecast and set a windward leeward course . The windward mark was set off the bank at the west end of the pond with an offset mark to starboard, the wind direction not allowing a port hand course which would have been the preferred option. At the east end of the pond an off wind leeward gate was used with the start line just a short distance upwind. The finish was between a pole on the bank and the windward mark. The RO decided that, because of the wind conditions, he would go for a long course twice round and a beat to finish. This would allow skippers who got into trouble the opportunity to recover and it did work. This course was the best possible, using the whole length of the pond, and with the wind conditions gave the skippers new challenges nearly every race.

Race one was called at 10:05 (as predicted the wind shifted to a southerly direction) and ten skippers were at the line. Skippers who had qualified for starting advantages refused them, one skipper Keith Furnace was sailing in his first traveller event in a wooden built Isis. Richard Ennos was also sailing a wooden built yacht, a Bantock designed Vector. Both yachts proved very consistent and fast. As is always the case all the skippers were feeling a bit nervous and wanting to do their best but it was local skipper Ralph Knowles who led the fleet around the course and into first place in the first race. Richard Rowan recovered well from three penalty turns to get 2nd place in the first race with Steve Taylor getting third. These three skippers filled out the top three placed at the end of the day.

In the morning, the skippers found the conditions very trying, with constant changes in wind direction and strength. Frequently, a boat would make a break from the pack but would run out of wind a short distance later and be caught up again. Beating into the windward mark would see the wind on the port hand change to the starboard hand without any change of boat direction. It seemed that the best route off the the leeward gate was on port tack along the far shore. However, although that would pay handsomely at the start of the beat, it often proved difficult to get back across the pond, so that boats coming along the near shore would catch up and regain their position.

A lunch break was called at 1215 and all the skippers and race team retired to sample the delights of the restaurant for 45 minutes – then it was back to the start line.

The wind was still shifting around and the leeward gate became a very important part of the course as the wind would shift and favoured one side more than the other – a wrong judgement could cost you places and even the race. The weather mark also was very difficult to judge because of the local topography with trees and an island to windward causing the wind to swirl. However the starboard hand course caused no problems probably because the weather mark was right next to the bank and under the skippers noses.

Over the course of the day’s sailing five skippers managed to triumph over the conditions and record wins. Richard Rowan with his now familiar green yacht, who through attention to detail and superb yacht handling skills came out on top by 12 points from the next best placed skipper, Steve Taylor. Well done Richard Rowan

Summary
The race team, with one new trainee member, did a competent job and ran a good event.
The sailing was a challenge and brought out the very best in the skippers.
The event was sailed, indeed all the traveller events this year, in a sportsmanship and friendly manner.
It was good to have two new skippers at the event Keith Furnas, Brechin and Ian Thomson, Buchanness and their comments afterwards were “a great day and coming back”.

Race team : Ali Law (RO), Ian Thomson, Brian Robertson

Top placings were: