South West Tri-Club IOM Ice Breaker Series November 2011 through to March 2012

Three Clubs, fifteen skippers, six events, seventy nine races, in the depths of a typical Scottish winter, to determine the best IOM racing club in the South West of Scotland. The idea for this new series originated from Hughie Shields (Greenock) and was developed and proposed by Gordon Neil (Ayr Bay) following discussions with the three Clubs located in the South West of Scotland who regularly sail IOM’s. The idea was eagerly accepted by all three Clubs.

To attract as many Club members as possible, the Series was set up so that only the top three skipper’s results from each Club would be counted at each of the events. Thus, less proficient skippers could be enticed to participate in competitive event sailing without compromising their Club score. A great way for them to obtain experience in sailing at new venues with different challenges without the potential stress of letting their Club down. However, if a team turned up for an event with less than three members participating, the team would be penalised by having the “missing skipper” scored as DNS (Did Not Start) – a severe penalty for Clubs which did not persuade enough skippers to get out of bed!

As it was to be held during the Scottish winter, the start time was set at 11am with a lunch break at 12.30pm, and the last race commencing no later than 3pm. This had the double advantage of making travelling easier and to restrict the time spent in the howling gales, snowstorms, rain and sleet fully expected over the duration of the Series

Event 1 – Paisley (5th November)
So the battle commenced with the first of the events held at Paisley. Although things should have gone with a bang, the fourteen gladiators were faced with flat calm conditions and there would be no fireworks today! Each race was taking about 25 minutes to complete until, sensibly, the course was shortened. Nine races in total were run, with Robert Rooney of Paisley, winning four of them. Hughie Shields and Pat Johnston from Greenock put in sterling performances assisted by Gordon Rae and very nearly took the honours for the day narrowly being beaten by one point by Paisley.

Results:
1st Paisley 10pts
2nd Greenock 11pts
3rd Ayr Bay 24pts

Event 2 – Greenock (3rd December)
Although severe gales and heavy rain were forecast, eleven skippers turned up for the contest. Gordon Neil (Ayr Bay) turned up a little late to find everyone rigging their number two suites. It did not seem too bad, he thought, and elected to use his number one rig. Whereupon, everyone else choose to change up. Was it the right decision? Yes, initially. Twelve races were sailed in all with wind increasing throughout the day. After lunch, the fleet elected, to reduce to number two rig except for Gordon Neil who knew better and changed all the way down to number three rig. Right again? No. This time his intuition proved to be wrong with the wind staying perfect for the second suit with the third suit being very much underpowered.

Some very exciting, fast, racing was enjoyed with Pat Johnston (Greenock) excelling with his well set up Lintel taking six 1st’s and a 2nd in all his other races after discards had been included. He came placed first overall with a most impressive score of 10 points. Robert Rooney (Paisley) also had a great days sailing with his wooden McShee, coming in 2nd overall with a score of 18 points.

Results:
1st Greenock 10pts
2nd Paisley 11pts
3rd Ayr Bay 24pts

Summary after two events :
1st equal Paisley / Greenock 21pts
3rd Ayr Bay 48pts

“Non-event 3” – Ayr Bay (7th January)
This was a day of SEVERE winds needing bravery, nerves and stupidity in equal measure to venture out onto the water! Nine brave skippers turned to for the event. Shortages of numbers to make up the three minimum skippers from each Club, and the conditions prevailing, resulted in Ayr Bay doing the decent thing and suggesting that the formal race scheduled for that day be postponed for another time and that a “fun” days sailing be “enjoyed” by those who wished to sail. The suggestion was happily accepted. Suffice to say that all nine skippers launched and ten races were completed, with three boats left in a fit state to sail, at the end of the day – a boat breaker of a day.

Event 3 – Ayr Bay (28th January)
A day of very Easterly, fickle light winds with number one rigs used throughout unusual for the Irvine venue. Wind shifts across the pond required a high concentration level to necessary to keep the boats moving. Bruce Davidson, sailing for Paisley, took the honours with first place, in an exemplary exhibition of sailing skills, with David Hughes and Pat Johnston, both from Greenock, taking second and third places respectively.

Results:
1st Greenock 10pts
2nd Paisley 15pts
3rd Ayr Bay 20pts
Summary after three events :
1st Greenock 31pts
2nd Paisley 36pts
3rd Ayr Bay 68pts
Half way through the series and very close racing between Greenock and Paisley with only five points between them. All to play for in the second half.

Event 4 – Paisley (11th February)
Not quite a “drifter” but to keep the boats moving required great concentration, skill and dogged determination. Six races were completed in a long, mind-bending day. Scores varied between 10 and 80! Robert Hughes, Robert Rooney and Pat Johnston demonstrated how to sail in the conditions taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd with Hughie Shields, Gordon Winton and Gordon Rae not too far behind. Gordon Winton (Ayr Bay) had his best ever results coming 5th overall. This young man is to be watched for in future!

Results :
1st Greenock 8pts
2nd Paisley 17pts
3rd Ayr Bay 20pts

Summary after four events:
1st Greenock 39pts
2nd Paisley 53pts
3rd Ayr Bay 88pts

Event 5 – Greenock (18th February)
The penultimate event in the Series was a day of gales, severe gusts, varying winds, sleet, rain and snow – perfect winter conditions for the fifteen skippers. David Phillips acted as Race Officer / Scorer, and had a difficult job with very fast, close sailing in conditions that were almost unmanageable at times. The boats were very close together and fighting to keep clear of one another. The skippers who kept to their number two rigs did best, only losing out when overpowered by the very strong gusts coming from varying directions.

A total of fourteen races were survived with local man Pat Johnston dominating throughout taking nine 1st’s and three 2nd’s to comfortably win the event from Robert Rooney and Bruce Davidson (both from Paisley) who took 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Paisley MYC did well enough as a team to secure the day for themselves.

Results :
1st Paisley 9pts
2nd Greenock 14pts
3rd Ayr Bay 22pts
Summary after Five events :
1st Greenock 53pts
2nd Paisley 62pts
3rd Ayr Bay 110pts
The Final Event – Ayr Bay (10th March)
A perfect day for the final test : top end of number one rig with a fairly constant wind from the West and sunshine! Thirteen skippers and sixteen races held with all to race for given the high tension between the Paisley and Greenock Clubs with just nine points separating them. However, the event was marred by Gordon Winton’s misfortune in tripping. This resulted in him having to be taken to the local hospital with a severe laceration to the palm of his hand. He and Gordon Neil, ambulance driver, played no further part in the activities as a consequence. (Young Mr Winton is up and running in his usual youthful fashion!)

The first four places overall were taken by Robert Rooney, Bruce Davidson, Robert Hughes and Pat Johnston who had some very close run races demonstrating their undoubted skills and their enviable, persistent gentlemanly behaviour.

Results :
1st Paisley 8pts
2nd Greenock 13pts
3rd Ayr Bay 24pts

Summary after 6th and final event:
1st Greenock 66pts
2nd Paisley 70pts
3rd Ayr Bay 134pts

Overall
The Series was honoured to have David Smith (MYA SD Chairman) and Ali Law (MYA SD Racing Officer) in attendance at the final event. Ali Law presented the new Series Trophy to Greenock Model Yacht Club, the worthy winning team. He also awarded prizes to the best three skippers participating in the series :

1st Robert Rooney (Paisley) 8pts
2nd Pat Johnston (Greenock) 10pts
3rd Robert Hughes (Greenock) 18pts
Not to be outdone, a special prize of a genuine wooden spoon was awarded to Ayr Bay!

David Smith, who had acted as scorer for the series, awarded his own special prize to the winner of the first South West Tri-Club Icebreaker Event. Very appropriately, this was a large bar of Toblerone, the only three sided chocolate bar he could find.

The Series had been much appreciated by the participating Clubs and it was confirmed unanimously that this would become a permanent fixture in years to come.