IF LAST Wednesday’s racing at Holy Loch Sailing Club had been organised under the auspices of the MCC, rain would surely have stopped play before lunch.
However, in his customary no-nonsense fashion, sailing secretary Bill Aitchison dismissed such trivial discomforts and racing went ahead as scheduled in the evening.
By then, the rain had largely cleared, but unfortunately so had the wind. Enthusiasm among competitors appeared to ebb away with the breeze, with many members opting instead to arrive early for the end-of-series barbecue. Around 40 members enjoyed the evening gathering, with thanks due to galley volunteers Joyce, Tricia and Marion for their hard work in making the event such a success.
The two Piper crews brave enough to venture afloat were rewarded with a closely contested match race, particularly during the opening stages when honours were evenly shared through much of the first round.
Ultimately, Tamarind, helmed by Andy Love and expertly crewed by David Bonar and James Hegarty, gained the upper hand through superior tactical decisions on the windward legs. Their choice of course allowed them to establish a comfortable lead by the finish over Robert Towart’s Staypuff.
With this being the final race of the Opening Series, overall honours had already been secured by Stuart Brown and Ali Gordon aboard Tom Piper, allowing them the luxury of watching the evening’s action from the comfort of the clubhouse.
The final race of the Opening Series produced a dramatic showdown in the Flying Fifteen fleet, with everything resting on a head-to-head battle between Iain Sinclair’s Nae Ffear and Tommy McGeachie’s Efficacious.
With overall series victory hanging in the balance, spectators were treated to a thrilling contest in difficult, light-air conditions. The lead changed hands several times as both crews searched for every available breath of wind and every tactical advantage.
As the boats approached the finish line, they were virtually inseparable, locked side by side in a tense, slow-motion sprint for victory. In the closing yards, Nae Ffear found a crucial zephyr that provided just enough momentum to edge ahead. Sinclair and his crew crossed the line first, securing both race victory and overall series honours in dramatic fashion.
With the series title already safely secured by Jim Hoey’s Judicious, much of the White Sail fleet elected to remain ashore rather than contest the final race.
In the event, Judicious was the sole entrant, a fitting reflection of the dominance displayed by Hoey and his crew throughout the series. Their commanding performance over the opening weeks ensured the overall title was never seriously threatened and provided a deserved conclusion to an impressive campaign.
