Results / Largs SC Open Largs SC - 22/05/2010

RS 200 JP Watersports Scottish Traveller Series

Costa del Largs was the host for the 2^nd 200 circuit event held on the 22/23 rd of May. The great Scottish weather resulted in hikers and rash vests being donned for the weekend. On Saturday a 5-8 knots SW provided the sailors with ideal conditions.

24 sailors were warmly greeted by the host club, some travelled from as far a field as the south coast without there kite. Nice 1 Dave, particularly after revealing he has 4 new kites sitting on the wardrobe at home. In an attempt to slow The Hivey’s down Robbie leant Dave what could only be described as a blue sack of potatoes.

R1 The Hiveys started early along with Boatman/Murphy. The Sailingtogs team (Hiveys) decided to turn round whilst Zhik / Ianturnballmarine (Boatman/Murphy) carried on. Hivey sailed a good first beat to catch up to with the leaders by the w/w mark. Hivey then got through to first, with Burns/Simpson chasing hard and Boatman/Murphy and the Miller’s all in the leading group. Burns/Simpson had enough of Hivey leading so ‘lit up’ downwind and preceded to pass them much to the annoyance of Hivey to take the win. Clearly rattled by Burns unusual downwind tactics, Hivey’s decided that the blue sack of potatoes was better in the bag on the reach to the finish, Zhik/Ianturnballmarine passed to windward only to find they were OCS on crossing the line.

R2 The Hiveys took race 2 from Burns/Simpson with the Hyslops sailing well to take 3^rd and Gardner/Grieve taking 4^th. Boatman recovered well from a bad start to take 5^th.

R3 Burns/Simpson found another gear upwind, the conclusion was that pulling the jib in makes you point higher. Some revelation having only been sailing the boat for 4 years ! They led from Sailingtogs and Zhik/turnballmarine.

Sunday, and with the sea breeze filling in from the south west around 11:30 sailors were treated to a repeat of Saturdays conditions. With the postponement coming down just as the breeze arrived on the course, sailors had an hour to fine tune their boats on the water.  Burns/Simpson took R4 with the ever improving boatman in 2^nd and Millers in 3^rd.

R5, was the closest of all the races, the course was swiftly moved for the new shifty W 8 – 14 knots. Hivey won the start at the stbd end, Boatman & Burns tacked to clear there wind to the right of Hivey and found some extra pressure to overtake the Hivey’s. Kim Ross & Laura Sanderson took the lead half way up the first beat by finding good pressure on the left. Burns kept plugging away at the middle and was rewarded by leading at the w/w mark. They then pulled away in there own private band of pressure to take a comfortable lead by the l/w mark. Hivey and Boatman then spilt tacks up the next beat and caught Burns. By the w/w mark Burns narrowly lead from Hiveys and Boatman ready to pounce on any mistakes from the leading 2. With Hivey and Burns battling for the lead, Boatman noticed more pressure on the right and took the lead into the l/w mark. The next beat was a titanic battle of the shifts with each of the top 3 taking the lead depending on the oscillations. Boatman lead at the last w/w mark. Burns again found some lucky pressure downwind to pull away form the 2 visiting boats to take the win from and Boatman then Hivey.

For a full set of results and photos please follow this links:

http://scottishsailinginstitute.com/event_detail.asp?eventID=99#

http://fotoboat.thirdlight.com/viewdir.tlx?albumid=270321&pictureid=12526984

Thanks must be paid to Largs sailing club ‘for putting all the bits together on the water’. Take note Vic if we win another 1 you can thank all the right people. Yes Dave I need to work on that 1 ! Joking aside the Race Team did a fantastic job lead by Scottish Sailing Institute manager David Kent. The championship length courses were inch perfect.

Thanks must also be paid to event sponsor JP watersports who provided the class with prizes.

The next event is at East Lothian Yacht club on the 5/6 of June. This is the host club for this year National championships. This will provide sailors from all over the UK the opportunity to practice at 1 of Scotland’s best championship venues.