HOLY LOCH Sailing Club competitors faced challenging conditions as the sailing season moved towards its conclusion, with 15 boats taking part in Wednesday evening’s racing.
A mere hint of a westerly breeze greeted competitors as they set off in a massed start, with sailors keen to make the most of the fading daylight.
However, in the later stages of the race a steadier breeze eventually appeared, producing some close competition across the fleets.
Six boats contested the piper class, with Tom Piper, still buoyed by the recent Championship success, taking the early initiative with an excellent start.
The crew built a healthy lead during the first round, but the light air then deserted the fleet towards the end of the lap, allowing the boats to close up and effectively restart the race.
An easterly breeze then introduced itself and gradually increased in strength towards the finish.
Duncan Munro, Stuart Brown and Ali Gordon regained their advantage to take a well-deserved victory aboard Tom Piper.
Meanwhile, Staypuff, skippered by Robert Towart, made progress after a slow start to finish second.
The result sets up a final postponed race to decide the overall winner of the final series of the season, with Tom Piper and Staypuff now comfortably ahead on points.
Four flying fifteens took to the water for a closely fought race, with all fleets starting together.
Determined not to repeat a previous over-the-line disqualification, More Mischieff took a cautious approach and crossed the start on the third row.
Fortune soon turned in their favour, however, when the crew found their own private gust of wind and swept past the competition to establish a narrow lead by the first mark.
By the third mark, More Mischieff had built what appeared to be a comfortable advantage, but the fading breeze towards the end of the first lap allowed Good Moaning to dramatically close the gap.
More Mischieff responded strongly on the second lap, opening up another advantage and holding firm until the finish to secure victory.
Further back, Efficacious mounted a late challenge and pushed hard during the closing stages, but ultimately fell just short of catching Good Moaning, which held on for second.
Four boats competed in the White Sail fleet and struggled with the light wind on the massed start line.
The fleet enjoyed close racing, with Atia taking the win once handicaps were applied.
Elsewhere, six boats took to the water for Tuesday evening’s dinghy race in a fresh breeze which provided plenty of excitement and kept the rescue boat crew on their toes.
Victory initially appeared to be heading the way of Ali Gordon in his Solo, but a late capsize dramatically changed the outcome.
Harris Munns, sailing a Laser Radial, seized the opportunity to take the lead and secure victory.
Full results
Piper class: 1, – Tom Piper (Duncan Munro, Ali Gordon, Stuart Brown); 2, – Staypuff (Robert Towart, Caroline Clarke, Charmaine Boyd); 3, – Billie Piper (Iain Hurrel, Graeme Murray); 4, – Leander (Alan Waugh, James Heggarty); 5, – Selena (Alastair McLean, Abi); 6, – Talisker (Jamie Rogers, Matilda McLaren, Neil McLaren).
Flying fifteen class: 1, – More Mischieff (Chris Bowen, Marion Bowen); 2, -Good Moaning (Iain Sinclair, Kirsty Brown); 3, – Efficacious (Tommy McGeachie, Susan McGeachie); 4, – Woffle (Jim Maclean, Mr Iain)
White sail class: 1, – Atia (UFO 27) (Duncan Chalmers, Ali Marshall); 2, – Moonlight (Sonata) (Nigel Scriven, Derek Webber, Chris Wilson); 3, – Judicious (J30) (Jim Hoey, Andrew Leech, Ralph Houston, Clare); 4, – Mike Honcho (J24) (Fin Hurrel, Ross Noble, Harris Munns, James Russell).
Dinghy results: 1, – All the Gear (Laser Radial) (Harris Munns); 2, – Solo (Ali Gordon); 3, – Laser (Fin Hurrel); 4, – Black Jack (Laser Radial) (Barnaby Munns); 5, – Space Hopper (Mirror) (Andrew Leech); retired, – Laser Radial (Darcy Cameron).
