Written by This is the latest version of this year’s sailing calendar. Most items are now confirmed but there may still be minor changes before publication in the handbook.
Sarah Robertson, RFYC Sailing Secretary
Posts in category Racing
2011 Orkney Race
Written by 
THANK YOU to all who helped raise money for St Columba's Hospice by sponsoring Peak Flow
The 3rd Orkney race started on Thursday 9th June with a good spinnaker run out the Forth and most around North Carr before
0200hrs Friday. Sonja from ASC retired on Friday morning and continued to Kirkwall under engine. Peak Flow retired off Arbroath, arriving Kirkwall Saturday evening. (photos here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/28692597@N04/sets/72157626999067018/)
A light wind meant a long, and sometimes slow spinnaker reach/run up the east coast to just south of Peterhead. Erin retired late afternoon and then set off for Stornaway! That left three boats, Moonstruck, Summer Thyme and Smithereen to fight it out for the trophies. The wind turned to the north in the early hours of Saturday and the three were within two miles of each other at Rattray Head. Smithereen chose to sail offshore as the tide was turning early Saturday morning. This
paid off and she was soon at least five miles ahead and was still lead boat at Wick around 1800hrs. Moonstruck had just about caught up at this time and it was soon apparent that either boat could get line honours.
The wind was still from the north and there followed a tacking battle to just south of Copinsay where Moonstruck pulled away. As a result of a foul tide, Smithereen spent many hours tacking towards the finish.
They estimate that they put in almost two dozen tacks in the last ten miles.
Moonstruck was first to finish followed by Smithereen and Summer Thyme.
The final results showed that Smithereen was first overall with Summer Thyme second.
The Prizegving was held on Monday evening in Orkney Sailing Club who provided an excellent buffet and a warm welcome as usual.
2011 Talisker RS Elite Nationals
RS Elite Championships – Final Results
more at:
Duncan Hall: (Photos http://www.northernskyimages.co.uk/photos.aspx?&pf=1f50)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28692597@N04/sets/72157627124304571/http://www.flickr.com/photos/gallery-ecosse/
Photos soon at:
Liz Tulloch: www.clikpic.com/lizpics
Talisker RS Elite Nationals 2011 at the Royal Forth Yacht Club 21 – 24 July
Day 4
21-24 July 2011
By RS Sailing 24 Jul 2011
After a short delay while the wind settled and the tension built the fleet got away with the Brown’s in Aeolus (in the points driving seat) and Wadhams in RSsailing.com lying second dragging out to the left while the Maclean’s in Elixir lying in third got buried on the line and were forced to tack right for air. At the top mark three of the top five overall led round nose to tail, with John McDowell in Sea Breezes in front, Aeolus second and RSsailing.com third, all coming in from the left in the best pressure therefore choosing to go right at the top of the run.
Further back the pack included Simon Brien’s Kin team (the fifth boat in the hunt) and the Maclean’s who had rounded in 15th with their home championship hopes looking very shaky. This group gybed, fed into breeze and gave the leaders a fight to get back across. By the bottom gate More T Vicar had taken the lead with Sea Breezes, Aeolus and RSsailing all losing places while Kin and Elixir were gaining all the time.
On the second beat Kin was onto a charge and motored into the lead – RSsailing overtook the Browns and Elixir pulled right up to 7th and back into the hunt by the second windward mark. By now smoke was coming out of the calculators. On the final run Aeolus, still in control felt their grip on the trophy slip as a band of pressure above them saw a line of boats, including Elixir, roll over them.
At the final bottom gate Kin led, with several boats between them and the other contenders and had done all they could. RSsailing rounded one place in front of Elixir with Aeolus on their tail and still in a winning position. These positions meant Aeolus was safe and Elixir and RSsailing were tied on points with Elixir lying second overall on countback, so RS elected to let the others tack away and bang left to roll the dice in a last ditch attempt. When they converged close to the line Elixir and Aeolus had called it right crossing ahead in 5th and 6th with RSsailing dropping to 7th on the line.
So, after a fantastic finale to an absolutely nerve wracking championship Aeolus deservedly lifted the trophy with Elixir climbing to second and Kin’s win coupled with RSsailing’s last losing gamble put them level on points with Kin taking third overall on countback.
No-one involved will quickly forget this race or this Championship which was so well run afloat, in incredibly difficult conditions, and so hospitably hosted ashore by the Royal Forth YC, with much appreciated input from Talisker whisky.
Top 6 results
1st GBR33 Aeolus, Jono, Lynette and David Brown 21pts
2nd 11 Elixir, Shaun, Donald and Ian Maclean 24pts
3rd IRL 61 Kin, Simon Brien, David Gomes, Roger Chamberlain 27pts
4th GBR55 RSsailing.com, Martin and Amanda Wadhams, Paul Fisk, 27pts
5th IRL50 Sea Breezes, John McDowell, Derek Craig Trevor D’Arcy 33pts
6th Momentary Papse, John Patterson, David Kelso, Stephen 43pts