Roughly sixty boats registered on the Saturday morning and were greeted by flat calm seas and calm air. Racing was postponed as the forecast wind failed to materialise as the prevailing wind and the sea breeze were having the effect of cancelling each other out. A long delay and a wait for wind ensued and the patience of the Race Officer and the fleet was rewarded with the opportunity to get in a single race late on the Saturday afternoon. There was just enough energy expended by the sailors to work up an appetite for the evening’s beach barbecue.

Sunday was less frustrating for the sailors and saw the entire fleet take to the water for the scheduled 11am start. At the start of the first race there was a light breeze blowing from the south but shortly into race the wind dropped and the fleet drifted to complete a shortened course. The second and third races saw the conditions improve with the wind picking up to a gentle breeze and the sea state becoming more choppy.

The Scottish Laser Championships was dominated by Largo sailors Peter Malcolm and Kevan Gibb taking first and second places respectively with Largo’s Martin Gilfoyle finishing in tenth. The Scottish Radial Championships was won by Helensburgh’s Andrew McGowan who won the last two races on Sunday. The Scottish Skiff  Traveller was dominated by Dalgety Bay sailors, Martin Wilkie and Iain McCafferty in an International 14, and Ian Renilson in a Musto Skiff, in first and second places respectively with Largo’s Alistair Reid performing well to take third place. The RS200 was again well represented by Dalgety Bay sailors but the winners were Robbie Burns and Jamie Calder of Largs and Loch Tummel sailing clubs. The Laser 2000 Traveller was won by the well travelled Iain and Sarah Yardley from Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club with Largo’s Steve Wood and Coleman Clark finishing in fifth place. The general handicap class was won by Callum and Drew Airlie in a 420.

Some thirty or so onshore and offshore club volunteers worked hard to ensure that Largo hosted another well run event. Special mention of recognition for their efforts is due to Race Officer Jim Blyth, Commodore Lauri Taylor and Sailing Secretary Kevan Gibb. Finally, special mention of thanks to Graham Kerr for the use of his yacht, Arctic Gold, which served as the committee boat. - Martin Gilfoyle

UK Cherub National Championships 2010 - Largo Bay Sailing Club

The UK National Cherub Championships were held at Largo Bay Sailing Club between August 25th and 28th with some 20 boats making the long trip north with many coming from south of London

The first day saw a very light south westerly breeze moving around and making Race Officer Gordon McGeorge's job very difficult but the first race of the championship was an easy ride for Lewns and Pyall from Whitstable keeping ahead of Andy and Jill Peters (Queen Mary). The conditions were even lighter for the second race with a chaotic start allowing  the Peters to run through the whole race ahead of Lewns and Pyall. The evening saw a reception in the Crusoe Hotel where the Provost of Fife, Frances Melville, welcomed the sailors to Fife.

Day two provided excellent sailing with more wind, some breakages  and rescues and Lewns and Pygall taking firsts in each of the three races to make themselves the ones to beat in the series. After a bad first day Croute and Unerman (Chew Valley) showed their true colours by sailing  their boat 'Atum Bom', a previous double champion boat, into a third and two second places to push the Peters, who had a bad end to the day, into third overall.

Friday 27th was day three with very gentle conditions to start, although it had looked more promising in the early morning, but this didn't stop Lewns and Pygall recording their fifth victory of the series. Croute and Unerman sailed well again but were pipped into third by father and son team G and E Bridle (Brightlingsea). The second race looked more promising as a decent breeze kicked up a sharp sea and caused a general recall. Lewns and Pygall had a bad start and were only sixth at the windward mark but pushed to the front after a couple of laps, ahead of 'Atum Bom'. They were on the brink of a sixth victory when they capsized at the leeward mark allowing Croute and Unerman to record their first victory with the Peters second and the Bridles third. By this stage the exciting wind had vanished and the Race Officer canned the last race postponing it until the next day

The final day was grey with a few good 15 knots gusts going through which was bound to liven things up and cause a few Cherub sailors to fall in the water. Crout and Unerman recorded their second victory in the Championship in the postponed race 8 pushing an off-the- pace Lewns and Pygall into sixth with the Peters getting second and D Ching and N Pratt ((Poole YC) taking third but normal service was resumed in the penultimate race when Lewns and Pygall took the victory that made them UK Cherub Champions 2010; Croute and Unerman were second but the Peters were left in fifth after a collision with Ching and Pratt who brought their bright green boat 'Shiney Beast' into fourth. Job done, Lewns and Pygall retired to the club house for the final race to avoid any risk of damage in the freshening conditions but the rest of the fleet went from capsize to capsize until Croute and Unerman were flagged through as winners of race ten and runners up in the Championship.

Results Cherub National Championships 2010

1. C Lewns & T Pygall (Whitstable YC) 12pts
2. P Croute & T Unerman (Chew Valley) 15pts
3. A Peters & J Peters (Queen Mary) 21pts
4. G Bridle & E Bridle (Brightlingsea SC) 27pts
5. D Ching & N Pratt (Poole YC) 32pts
6. J Hamilton & D Still (Draycote Water SC) 45pts
7. P Alderson & C Alderson (Largs SC) [also first 1997 rules boat] 67pts
8. A Cramp & T Noyce (Roadford Lake) 67pts