IOM Scottish Travellers Event 1 – Aberdeen – 22nd April 2006

Report by Ian Dundas

Score sheet

The first event in the Scottish IOM Travellers attracted a record entry of 16 boats well up on the average of 10 boats seen in the 2005 series.

This event would trial the use of skipper handicaps intended to encourage new members to take part in the Scottish Series. The handicap system gives skippers 30 secs, 20 secs or 10 secs start ahead of the experienced “scratch” sailors. If a handicap skipper gets 3 wins then he moves to the next level. The OOD has the right if necessary to adjust handicaps after the initial races to better suit the conditions on the day or length of the course.

Racing commenced at 10h30 on a triangle / sausage course under the control of the Race Team of Ian Dundas and Alistair Struthers assisted by various nominated observers.

The south westerly wind was ideal in strength but tricky in direction giving the fleet several options on the beat. Dane Ashby got off to a great start winning the first race with his TS2 off 20 secs. So convincing was this performance that his handicap was immediately adjusted to 10 secs.

Only 5 races were run before an early lunch was called to allow the race team to reconfigure the course to cope with a big wind shift to Southerly. Races 2 & 3 were won by Shaky and Colin McGinnis off 10secs whilst races 4and 5 were won by the scratch sailors Ali Law and Colin Brown, this showing that the handicapping system was working fairly well. Unfortunately Jimmy Rodgers had a winch failure and Boyd Baird suffered from damp electrics. The Aberdeen Club TS2 was rigged to allow them to continue.

Afternoon racing continued through to 16h00 allowing a total of 16 races to be run. Stronger gusts made some skippers move down to their no2 rig and it was interesting to see that race wins were split between those on no2 and those on no1 rigs. Standards improved as the day went on with less contacts in the congestion at marks and less experienced skippers finding the right way up the beat.

It was clear from the start of the afternoon that the fight for the front position looked to be between Ali Law from Buchanness and John Taylor. John was a welcome visitor from Fleetwood Club but now being shore based in Scotland he affiliated to a Scottish Club to enter this year’s series. Ali and John didn’t get it easy especially with the gusty conditions favouring the no2 rigs. In fact in the afternoon they only won one race each. Other bullets in the afternoon went to Dane Ashby (3), Brian Robertson (2), Colin Brown, Richard Ennos, Shakey, and Steve Taylor. Notably Dane having moved on to 10 secs found himself on scratch when he reached 3 wins. He then surprised himself with a further win off scratch. Steve Taylor’s win was also worthy of mention as he was sailing in his first large event with a wooden Swallow design he had built. As a result of this and some very respectable finishes as the day progressed Steve was awarded the “Most Improved Skipper.”

Ali Law came out just in front of John Taylor who suffered winch problems going into the last race.

Top placings were:

Overall the trial of using handicap proved popular and hopefully will encourage others to attend future events in the 2006 series.