IOM Scottish Travellers 2012 Event 1 – Levenhall – 7th March 2012

Report by Anon  Score Sheet

Fifteen skippers from as far afield as Peterhead and Ayr Bay assembled early on the morning of 7th April at Levenhall for the first of the 2012 Scottish Travellers events. As anticipated from the forecast the wind was light and fickle, veering from north-east to north-west for much of the day making course setting difficult.

The event was begun with single fleet racing, but serious problems with rule infringements, particularly at the distant windward mark necessitated a switch to racing in two fleets after race seven. New additions to the fleet were the Twa Corbies, two examples of Jeff Byerley’s Corbie design, beautifully built in wood by Ian Dundas and Steve Taylor. New skipper John Sadler from Fife also joined the racing, sailing a Widget previously campaigned by Ian Dundas.

It was one of the Corbies, in the hands of Steve Taylor that was off the start line quickly to build a large lead and take a convincing win in the first race, with Ian Dundas not far behind. In third was Terry Allison who had sailed extremely well and taken maximum advantage of his twenty second starting advantage.

Alistair Law now took the first of his six wins before Ralph Knowles came from the pack to record two firsts in a row. Steve Taylor had two more wins, but the consistency was with Ian Dundas and Alistair Law whose Pikanto was well suited to the light conditions. After nine races these two skippers were tied on points and the honours rested on the results of the last two races. In the light and shifty conditions of race ten Alistair managed to keep Ian covered all around the course, though it was extremely close. The wind rose to the top of number one suit, and veered to the west, necessitating another course change for the final race. Once again Alistair and Ian disputed top spot, with Alistair prevailing.

Top placings were: