R6M Windermere Plaque Paisley – 4th June 2006

Report by David Smith

Nine Radio 6 metres gathered at Barshaw Park, Paisley on Sunday 4th June to contest the Windermere Plaque. Eight were members of the Paisley club and the ninth was John Taylor of the Aberdeen club. The skippers were delighted to have the services of Jerry Crawford and John Mason as the Race Committee.

Sailing started at 11 a.m. in light winds generally from the West so the course was a triangle and sausage across the southern end of the pond with the finish on the beat at the western side. During the morning session the racing for 1st, 2nd and 3rd was close fought between Robert Rooney, David Loomes (the defending champion) and John Mathieson. Hugh Shields was a regular finisher in 4th. He could have hoped for better places because his yacht had good speed in open water but unfortunately his main boom kept catching the marks so he had more than a fair share of practice in turns! David Smith managed a unexpected 2nd in the third race when a fortuitious breeze in open water carried his R6M past three other yachts closely engaged in a private struggle close to the bank. Six races were completed before a lunch break was taken.

In the afternoon the wind freshened a little and sometimes changed direction during a race to the extent that once or twice a beat on the first leg of the triangle became a run on the first leg of the sausage. Sailing was generally conducted in a gentlemanly fashion. John Taylor was sailing a brand new boat and struggled to find steady form. John Mathieson began to settle into a good run of 1st places. Meanwhile, David Smith, Terry and Gordon Allison and John Gilchrist engaged in their own minor battles for places in the lower order. Late in the afternoon the wind swung round to the North so the course changed so that the beats were over the length of the pond for the last couple of races. This meant the final finish in the sixteenth race of the day was conveniently close to the clubhouse.

David Loomes, using John Mathieson’s spare boat, failed to defend the trophy he had won last year in his own boat and came third. Robert Rooney lacked consistency in the light airs that usually suit his yacht and came second. The winner of the Windermere Plaque for 2006 was John Mathieson whose consistency on the day was unbeatable.