Enterprise UK Masters and Scottish Nationals at St Mary's Loch Sailing Club

First beat on Sunday - Enterprise UK Masters and Scottish Nationals at St Mary's Loch © Sigrid Hunter

Enterprise Scottish Nationals - part of the Scottish Bluebell series - incorporating Enterprise UK Masters, sponsored by Stewart Brewing and Coast to Coast Rigging

A fleet representing clubs from all points north, south, east and west gathered for the Enterprise Masters and Scottish Nationals held at St Mary's Loch SC on the August bank holiday weekend.

Due to the light and shifty conditions the RO chose to make use of club marks and adjust the course from race to race to best suit the wind at the time.

Race 1: Course: Club marks; wind North (followed by South!) F1/2.

Just prior to the start the line had a clear port end bias with most of the fleet heading towards the pin end. At the gun the wind flicked little right for half a minute or so then back to left. Charles Morrish & Luke Hartshorn were best placed to take advantage and lead the port end starters away from the line. Meanwhile Paul Young & Emma Coleman had started at the committee boat and found clear wind and a lift up the right hand shore.

Paul crossed ahead of Charles just before the windward mark but then Charles coming in on starboard was able to take the lead and pull clear. On the second lap on the long downwind leg the wind began its shift from north to south. Charles & Luke were literally becalmed while behind them James & Owen Holdaway, who had come through to second, were trying to fend off Tim Sadler & Chris Parker in light and shifty conditions.

Eventually the wind filled in for the leaders who were able to beat to what had been the leeward mark, round one more mark and then run to the finish. Tim won his battle with James to take second and Ges Brown & Julie Moore came in fourth.

Race 2: Club marks, triangle; wind South F1/2.

The key to the first beat was to find the pressure as well as the shifts. Ges & Julie were the most successful and rounded the windward mark ahead of Tim & Chris with Charles & Luke in third just ahead of Loz Young & Ellie Roger. Ges & Julie pulled away until the final run whereupon Tim & Chris came menacingly close but Ges held firm to the finish.

Charles & Luke came in third after being repeatedly challenged by Nigel Orkney & Claire Watson who finished fourth.

Race 3: Club marks; wind South F1/2.

Race 3 was something of a battle of wills between sailors and a vanishing breeze. It began in similar vein to the previous race with a decision to be made between start line bias and clear wind/boat speed.

Tim & Chris rounded the first mark in the lead and put decent distance between themselves and the fleet - perhaps they got too comfortable by the second beat, as Loz & Ellie took advantage of multiple shifts, holes in the wind and good old fashioned luck to almost catch them at the windward mark.

The first two boats held position to the finish, followed by James & Owen in third who did a great job of sneaking through as the holes got bigger.

The fleet then returned to shore to enjoy the bar, a hog roast, a rumbustious Ceilidh, and the usual late night bacon rolls. with some competitors not reaching their beds until the early hours of Sunday morning.

Sunday: There was a wait for the wind to fill in, this time it came as forecast from the south, and stronger than the day before.

Race 4: Windward/Leeward; Wind: South F2/3.

A starboard bias on the line resulted in considerable congestion at the committee boat end. Ges & Julie were not able to find enough room made gentle contact with a boat to leeward and had to do turns. They had no option to go right early in order to get clear air along with Charles & Luke who had also made a mess of the start.

The right hand side paid which meant they rounded the windward mark just behind the leading group. The leaders, headed by Tim & Chris, then bore away immediately forgetting to round the spacer mark. Ges sportingly reminded them while Tim then called 'Starboard' on Ges as he attempted to remedy his error!

When the dust had settled Ges was well in front with Tim second and Charles third. Those were the finishing positions though Nigel & Claire who at one point pulled up to second, made both Tim and Charles work hard for their respective results.

Race 5: Windward/Leeward; Wind: South F2/3.

The result in race 4 meant that either Ges & Julie or Tim & Chris could win the event. Tim was better placed on discards so simply had to beat Ges whereas Ges had to win the race to take the title. Needless to say Tim employed match racing tactics at various points during the start sequence and the race itself in order to secure his position.

The starboard bias and committee boat congestion was repeated. local sailors Dan Swaffield & Alex Corbishly went right to get clear air and found a lift up the right hand shore to lead at the windward mark. They chose to go right down the run whereas those following went left. The left paid so they rounded fourth behind Tim and Ges and Gerry Goodfellow & Tiana Unger.

On the second beat the local boats went back to the front by finding the balance between right hand lift and greater pressure down the middle. Tim and Ges lost out by staying right but were able to remedy the situation on the run with Tim taking the lead followed by Ges with Gerry and then Dan just behind. The front three remained the same for the last lap but Dan & Alex lost out to Keith Milroy & Caroline Gold on the beat to the line and slip to fifth.

Congratulations to Tim Sadler & Chris Parker on deservedly becoming Enterprise Scottish National and UK Masters champions!

An excellent event run by all at St Mary's and a great weekend's racing expertly managed by PRO Andrew Hewett.

Prize-winners - Enterprise UK Masters and Scottish Nationals at St Mary's Loch - photo © Julie Dixon

Overall Results: