THERE WAS lovely sailing conditions last Wednesday to excite the competitors at Holy Loch Sailing Club and take their minds away from the agonies of the World Cup.
With another healthy turnout of six pipers, the choice to allow the boat enjoying almost total domination this season to get the best start but that was ill-informed as Tom Piper stormed away from the line to open up a healthy lead. Thereafter, Duncan Munro, Stuart Brown and Ali Gordon enhanced their advantage on every leg of the three rounds to set up an almost insuperable target at the halfway point of the series.
It wasn’t a waste of time for the rest of the field, however, as they changed places continually between the next four boats throughout the race, with Fergus Campbell recovering well in the latter stages to snatch the runner-up position for Billie.
Elsewhere, three fifteens made it to the start line. However, Ali Marshall sailing Trigger for the first time this season started early and had to return to the pre-start side of the line and restart. Once it got underway, the real battle was for second place, with Trigger and Woffle neck-and-neck for most of the race. In the closing stages Trigger pulled ahead earning a well-deserved second place.
In the White Sail fleet, once again the conditions favoured Judicious, who found her own wind down the middle of the loch and sailed away from the fleet on the second leg. Moonlight sailed well and had a great battle on the water with Panache, but once the handicaps were applied Moonlight had secured a well earned second place.
Only one dinghy entered the water this time, but Neil and Clare Towart enjoyed a good sail in their ISO.
Off the water, Holy Loch Sailing Club is in a celebratory mood after long-serving cadet section leader Neil Towart was named Sports Coach of the Year at the Argyll and Bute Volunteer of the Year Awards. Neil was recognised for his outstanding commitment to developing generations of young sailors, many of whom have gone on to achieve success in competitive sailing and the marine industry. The club also celebrated further recognition, with race officer Bill Aitchison shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award and the club’s skiff build team reaching the final three in the creative legacy award category.
Full results
Piper
1, – Tom Piper (Duncan Munroe, Ali Gordon, Stuart Brown); 2, – Billie Piper (Fergus Campbell, James Russell); 3, – Stay Puff (Robert Towart, Caroline Clark, Charmaine Boyd); 4, – Tamarind (Andy Love, David Bonnar); 5, – Leander (Alan Waugh, James Heggarty); 6, – Talisker (Neil McLaren, Jenny).
Flying Fifteens
1, – More Mischieff (Chris Bowen, Marion Bowen); 2, – Trigger (Ali Marshall, Mark Turnbull); 3, – Woffle (Jim Maclean, Mr Iain).
White sail
1, – Judicious (J30) (Jim Hoey, Ralph Houston, Andrew Leech); 2, – Moonlight (Sonata) (Nigel Scriven, Derek Webber, Chris Wilson); 3, – Tigh Soluis 5 (Moody 30) (Ken Grant); 4, – Panache (Sigma 33) (Neil Stewart, Maureen Stewart, Fiona Ross, Denise Black).
