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News & Events
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Scottish
Solo Training Weekend
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April 5th and 6th |
| The Scottish Solo fleet held their annual training weekend at Largo
Bay Sailing Club over what was probably the coldest weekend of the year
so far (well it is April) with blizzard conditions blowing from the
north over the village and out to sea where the gusts soon sorted everyone
out.
The weekend was supported by RYA Scotland, Wilburn Homes who are the new sponsors of this year's Solo circuit, and eleven hardy Soloists who turned up to be coached by Duncan Hepplewhite of Scottish Sailing, and Andy Davis of Speed Sails and National Solo Champion. The weekend had three sessions on the water where the sailors had to cope with some very gusty conditions and freezing cold with only the satisfaction of knowing that it was worse on the Safety Boat from which the coaches shouted suggestions. There was also one technical session after the main blizzard had blown through on the Sunday in the warmth of the club house poring over a laptop - such is modern race coaching. All participants gained an immense amount of technical and on the water practice at an early stage of the season and will doubtlessly be keen to travel to the circuit events to put those who did not manage to attend here, to the sword. Thanks to the support boat team of Callum Gibb, Alistair Reid and Largo Bay Sailing Club, for their facilities. The Wilburn Homes Scottish Solo circuit starts in two weeks time with the first meeting at Bardowie Loch on Saturday the 19 April. |
Yep, it's cold. You volunteered! photo Callum Gibb 
The hardy participants. photo Callum Gibb |
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Winter
Series
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2007 |
| Well, 9 out of the 12 races were sailed in the 2007
Winter Series which is actually quite a tribute to the participants. For
the second year running conditions were poor with the majority of the days
quite gusty with a preponderance of northerly winds and a couple of races
with virtually no wind at all. Beach conditions were poor also making it
difficult to launch and recover, particularly the safety boat. But in traditional
fashion these problems were overcoming and Len Read and Frances Aitken
were able to sail one of the club Laser 2000 to victory.
Result Winter Series 1. ‘Oscar’ (Laser 2000) — Len Read & Frances Aitken 2. ‘Upside downer’ (Musto Skiff) — Alistair Reid 3. ‘Red Devil’ (Laser) — Ruth Welensky |
Len Read and Frances Aitken Winter Series winners 2007 |
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Laying
up Supper and
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Prizegiving 2007 |
| The Club’s prize-giving took place at the Crusoe Hotel, Lower Largo on November 9th . Club Champions were once again Gordon and Susan McGeorge who have dominated the Club Championship for the last five years in their 29er. The runners-up were Len Read and Frances Aitken in another 29er so there is still life in old thing yet (the boat, the boat! A tribute to Ovington build quality). The Handicap Trophy was won by Mary Riffkin reaping the reward for buying a new Laser Radial and also present were members of the winning team in the Daniel Cup - the annual race for beginners.. The rest of the awards are detailed in Results with Read and Aitken scooping most of the Series Races. |
Quite composed this year! photo - Callum Gibb |
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Solo
Scottish
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Championship 2007 |
| A rather reduced fleet of just 15 Solos arrived for
the Scottish Championships hosted this year by Largo Bay Sailing Club:
one of the absentees was reigning champion Chris Brown unable to attend
for personal reasons. The conditions appeared to be brisk with a good force
3-4 south westerly in bright sunshine, something not seen here for almost
8 weeks, and a lumpy sea which was to provide some challenges. After briefing
the competitors, race Officer Gordon McGeorge, quickly got things moving
and a good start was made by the fleet with Geoff Henstridge (Pentland
Firth YC) leading the way until overtaken by Kevan Gibb (Largo Bay SC)
who took the first race by a number of lengths. Richard Bolton East Lothian
YC) took a good third but Micky Todd (Largo Bay SC) who was also going
well, was pipped on the line by Ali Gordon (CCC Baldowie). Race 2 was the
other way round with Gibb leading initially but being passed by Henstridge
on the first downwind leg, who then consolidated his lead well. The last
race of the day saw the fleet cut in half as 7 boats opted for the beach
as the wind swung a little north making conditions trickier and there were
a few capsizes. Gibb got away from everybody with the pursuing Henstridge
ruining his day by failing to go through the finish line on the first lap
and being disqualified. Todd required assistance at a capsize and retired
leaving Barrie McLean (Loch Ard SC) to take second with Bolton third. Kevan
Gibb lead overnight.
Sunday had more wind and quite a heavy sea and breakfast in the clubhouse showed only seven hardy souls remained to tackle these conditions. Henstridge, eager to make up for a disappointing third race, was quickly into the lead gaining a first and forcing Gibb into second and in race five was also going well. Some tactical manoeuvering took place with Gibb forcing Henstridge wide at the windward mark so he lost some places with Micky Todd taking advantage of the competition to slip into first spot. Gibb managed to hold on to second but Henstridge has to settle for fifth with Bolton taking a well earned third. Gibb’s result in race five gave him the championship as Henstridge needed his discard for race three so it was a competition for second place. Henstridge and Bolton were gunwale to gunwale at the windward mark with Mick Todd forcing Gibb into fourth. Things remained unchanged after the gybe with Henstridge extending his lead but on the next lap Gibb got through to second with Micky Todd jousting with Richard Boulton for overall third. There was no stopping Henstridge who went on to a good first with Gibb second but Todd managed to claim third spot pushing Bolton into fourth. Todd and Bolton finished the series on the same points but Todd took overall third by his better place in the last race. Results
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Kevan Gibb, Scottish Solo Champion 
Kevan Gibb 
Close racing 
Leading from the rear
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Open
Regatta
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23rd & 24th June 2007 |
| Club members organising the annual regatta knew that
the mid-summer weekend of the worst June in memory was going to be bad.
They were right but were relieved that at least there no snow flurries
despite a chill factor in the low single figures. Just 47 boats arrived
on the Saturday morning including those taking part in the RS200 Scottish
Championship, and were greeted with a light easterly breeze and poor visibility
but enough for some competitive racing.
Eyes were firmly on the RS200s and in Saturday’s gentle conditions Roger Tait and Georgie Hill (Scaling Dam) made the initial running with Robbie Burns and Vicki Simpson (Largs) slow out the traps with a third in the first race but improving to a first in the third race. The other front runners on Saturday were the Dalgety Bay teams Sarah Robertson and Kirsty Higgins and Liz Jamie and Liz Copland with Jamie/Copland making a slow start but with constant improvement. The Lasers were strong as usual with Cameron Steele (Loch Lomond) taking the first two races from Peter Malcolm (Aberdeen and Stonehaven) and Michael Gorzkowski (Loch Venachar) but a sixth in race three allowed Malcolm to lead at half time. The Radials were likewise competitive with Stephanie Lawrence (East Lothian) taking race one but Andrew McKearn (Loch Earn) the next two with Ailsa Skuadas improving after a poor first race. Laser 2000s were not prominent for their traveller series but Largo Bay members provided four of the five boats sailing including three boats owned by the club. Despite this the only visitors Robert MCulloch and Alma Cadzow (Loch Venachar) took all three races on Saturday with Calum Reid and Chris Wood close behind but not enjoying the gentle conditions. After heavy rain overnight, Sunday morning was of different character with a stiff gusty northerly kicking up a steep chop and promising much more action. First away in the General Handicap McKerrachar and Gardiner flew in the RS800 with Baird and Fuller having a good blast in the Laser 2 also. The two Enterprises had a number of close encounters but Harris and Bendall (Largo Bay) got away in a Tasar but failed to do enough to take them on handicap. In the RS200s racing was very competitive with several congregations at the marks with advice being offered and the best of the action being enjoyed by Burns and Simpson who took races four and five to put pressure on overnight leaders Tait and Hill who got a sixth in the fifth race. Jamie and Copland were much improved in the windier conditions and all was ready for a grandstand finish in race six. Burns and Simpson lead in race six ahead of Tait and Hill but a broken halyard meant retiral leaving the Championship open to the Scaling Dam boat which had to see off Jamie and Copland. They pulled in front of them on the final beat but at the leeward mark Jamie and Copland nipped in to take first place allowing Burns and Simpson to retain the title. There was much going on in the Laser fleet too where Malcolm took race four but Steele race five although Malcolm’s second place would prove decisive here. In race six the competition was still tough and Steele found himself locked out at the windward mark on the first lap, capsized and retired rather disgruntled. Malcom took first place with Michael Gorzkowski a good second for the weekend. The Radials had a number of changes and with Lawrence not sailing on the Sunday Skuadas took advantange with a well crafted first and two seconds, although McKearn took the last race to confirm his first place overall. In the last fleet, Reid and Wood overcame impossible hangovers to take the Laser 2000 prize although McCulloch and Cadzow did not sail on Sunday. Jim Blyth and daughter Rebecca (Largo Bay) although not ideally suited to the heavier conditions, handled enough of the gusts to get an overall third place, and everyone was off the water when the real storm blew in. Results RS 200 Scottish Championship 1. Robbie Burns & Vicki Simpson Largs SC 8pts 2. Roger Tait & Georgie Hill Scaling Dam SC 9 pts 3. Liz Jamie & Liz Copland Dalgety Bay SC 15pts Laser Travellers
Laser Radial Travellers
Laser 2000 Travellers
General Handicap Class
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Regatta 2007 Prizewinners
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