Newburgh Sailing Club Bluebell 6TH and 7th July.
A healthy turnout of 10 Enterprises saw 4 seasons in one day, rain, hailstones, sunshine, no breeze then lots of breeze occasionally with plenty of tide all weekend.
3 races on the Saturday delivered a close finish with Loz and Ellie from Derwent in pole position on 7pts with 2 race wins, Morven and Euan from Loch Lomond on 8 pts, Gerry and Roger on 9pts and Charles and Dan on 11Pts with one race win, Calum and Mhairi in the hunt as well with a 2ND and a 4TH . Setting up nicely for the final race on Sunday ( round Mugdrum) with any of these teams capable of winning the event.
Close racing saw lots of lead changes throughout the weekend.
Race one had Loz and Ellie as winners, overtaking Morven and Euan at the penultimate mark who had led for most of the race with Calum and Mhari and Gerry and Roger getting through as the wind swung a 180 to finish 2nd And 3rd respectively
Race 2 saw Charles and Dan sail away not to be challenged, Morven and Euan following next with Calum and Roger a consistent 3rd, Calum and Mhairi 4th .
Race 3 had no breeze and lots of tide only 5 boats finishing and 5 retiring, eventually 4 boats crept up the shore line with Gerry and Roger leading , plenty of noise from Gerry as we drifted slowly up the river think Roger deserves some ear defenders for his sanity. Loz and Ellie broke from the shore line first and braved the tide to be rewarded with the win, Morven and Euan just behind and Gerry and Roger leaving just to late to be pipped – again consistently 3rd.Pete and Christine finishing 4 th and Charles and Dan who finally got off the start line when the breeze picked up.
Sat night – most of the vistiors had a barbie at the Dunn’s , great crack and plenty of whisky – need to get Loz their next time and ply him with the water of life and slow him down a bit
Race 4 – Round Mugdrum race
A closely contested race with Charles and Dan leading round the top of the island from Morven and Euan, down the far side going into the tide Loz and Ellie showed good boat speed nipping into second , As the fleet approached the reed beds it was very close from 1st to 8th Charles and Dan followed by Morven and Euan, Loz and Ellie , Gerry and Roger about 8 boat lengths between them , Calum and Mhairi really close 5th. At this point the course rounds the east of the island and you can punch through the reed beds (with the wind fortunately rising )everyone got through and with the wind now a steady 20mph Loz and Ellie had a close tacking duel with Charles and Dan all the way to the finish , Charles winning by a boat length at the line, Gerry and Roger another 3rd and Calum and Mhairi 4th .
Congratulations to Loz and Ellie for a well deserved win.
Picture Curtesy of Newburgh SC