Results / JP Watersports Scottish Event Loch Tummel - 24/04/2010

Loch Tummel hosted the first JP Watersports RS200 Scottish traveler circuit event of the year. Unfortunately due to a number of injuries and a light wind forecast a number of sailors could not make the event. However with the nationals being hosted in Scotland this year entrants were almost double that of last year’s first event.

Getting there on time was the first issue with a number of crews being diverted due to an accident on the A9. Racing was postponed for an hour to allow sailors who had been delayed to get to the first start.

The conditions for Saturday were 8 - 12 knots from the east. Regular shifts and gusts led to many place changes throughout the fleet. The racing was close and is customary with the 200 fleet close tactical racing.

R1 With stbd end bias the majority of the fleet started close to the committee boat. However a band of breeze could be seen half way up the first beat during the start sequence. Robbie Burns and Lady Victoria Simpson started mid line and were first boat into the new breeze to take an early lead. However with the wind shifting right 1/2 way up the first beat Sarah Robertson and Kate Mitchell and new comers to the Scottish fleet, Martin Boatman crewed by girlfriend Sam Murphy sailing Zhik /  www.ianturnbullmarine.co.uk took a good lead in that order into the w/w mark. Burns and Simpson managed to pass Boatman/Murphy by nipping inside at the w/w mark on the 2nd downwind leg. Robertson/Mitchell sailing well at the front of the fleet kept Burns/Simpson behind them until the last downwind leg when burns managed to gybe inside and soak down and through to take the win.

R2 with a twenty degree shift just before the start sequence, the course was offset for the first round. Burns/Simpson took an early lead and took the bullet from local sailors Douglas & Kirsty Hamilton who sailed well to keep the advances of Zhik / ianturnbullmarine at bay. The strategy for the racing was now becoming more apparent with the right side of the course paying upwind due to lift's on starboard tack nearer the shore and gusts tending to come in from the right lifting sailors on stbd tack. Downwind it tended to pay to go right where more pressure could be found.

R3 and Burns/Simpson had no found their feet after 6 months of playing in the snow and went on to win the next race with Robertson/Mitchell in 2nd and the consistent Boatman/Murphy 3rd.

On Saturday night the host club laid on an excellent meal for competitors, which was enjoyed by all. The sailors enjoyed a number of drinks before retiring to tents for a well-earned sleep after a great days racing.

Unfortunately due to a lack of breeze Sundays racing was abandoned by 12 o’clock. However sailors took advantage of the light winds to have a seminar on boat set-up (pimping) and look at toe strap lengths. This took place on team zhik / ianturnbullmarine boat. Boatman/Murphy showed off their boat that had been customized by Ian Turnbull. The next time boatman and burns meet up burns will have neon lights under his boat and bouncing suspension on his trolley. Boatman will inevitably have a 2000-watt stereo system in place of hatches to distract the opposition at w/w marks.

Thanks must be paid to host club LTSC who put on a great event and catered for the sailor’s needs & JP Watersports for sponsoring the event. All Scottish sailors are entitled to a 25 % discount on any Gul sailing kit.

The next event is at Largs SC on the 22/23 of May. Be there to be in with a chance of winning a brand new kite, kindly donated by our class sponsor JP Watersports.