Marblehead – IOM – Laser Pursuit Race Ayr Bay – Saturday 11th August 2012

Report by Gordon Neil (RO)  Score Sheet by race  Score Sheet by class

What a great event this turned out to be! Nine skippers attended and it was generally felt that the event was very worthwhile, introducing very different boat class competitively racing together. This was achieved as follows :

1. Each different class of boat initially took place in a “handicapping race” on an arbitrary timed starting advantage – Lasers 40 seconds, IOMs 20 seconds and scratch for Marbleheads.

2. The first boats over the finish line in each class had their finish time differences recorded and from the information gained a more representative starting advantage (SA) was obtained for each of the classes.

3. These SA’s were adopted for the subsequent races and only adjusted at the discretion of the RO if a course change or other factor was thought to be valid.

4. The theory was that the best skipper in each class of boat would have an equal chance of crossing the finishing line together.

The skippers were encouraged to enter a boat in each of the three classes and had the opportunity to sail any one of their boats in any race if they thought that conditions had changed to suit one boat class over the others. The skippers name was recorded in the finishing place of each of the pursuit races run, and the boat type raced to allow the recording of the Pursuit race position and to allow results to be awarded for the best skipper in each class of boat sailed. Surprisingly, this worked out very well !

The course set was a standard triangle – sausage. Wind strength was initially from the East and fairly light, but veered round to the south-east as the day went on and increased in strength, giving some exciting racing. Four Marbleheads, six IOMs and five Lasers were registered for the event by the nine skippers attending. A total of seventeen races were sailed with the Marbleheads winning six races, the IOMs winning eight races and the Lasers winning three. Five races in particular were to vindicate the determined starting advantage with a boat in each class finishing in the first three places (Lasers in two of them).

Pat Johnston won the Pursuit Race and was the only skipper to race all three different classes, obtaining first place in the Marblehead and IOM classes with a fourth place in the Lasers. He also won overall with 25pts, to Jim Reid’s 29pts and Gordon Allison’s 30pts. Very close results. Jim Reid sailed both his Marblehead and IOM achieving second place overall with second place in the Marblehead and IOM classes just in front of Gordon Allison who only sailed his IOM and spent a fair amount of time in each race coaching his brother, Bernie, a prospective new member? (no outside assistance!! happily forgiven). Young Gordon Winton took the Laurels for the Laser Class coming in with first place from Ian Gordon and Billy Lees. He also came in a worthy fourth place in the overall Pursuit race. Race Officer for the day was Gordon Neil.

By general consensus it was agreed that this Pursuit Racing idea should become part of ABMYCs annual calendar of events in future, but with the wish that more competitive skippers would attend to demonstrate their skills.