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You are here: Home arrow News & Results arrow Latest arrow Another week of light winds for Forfar sailors and visitors
Another week of light winds for Forfar sailors and visitors PDF Print E-mail
Written by Graham Topping   
Sunday, 31 August 2008
This week's sailing featured low winds allowing sailors ample time to contemplate the wild life as it passed them by. Possibly against logic, low winds demand a lot of sustained concentration if you are not to make mistakes and slow down or miss the elusive puff of wind that would give you the advantage, trying to keep still so that the sail won't shake, all the while your legs are going numb.

The last race in the third Tuesday night series saw several boats struggling to find something that might fill their sails. However the Enterprise sailed by Tony Walker and Laura Geddes together with Brian Finnie in his Europe seemed to judge things well with gentle zephyrs pushing them ever on. With lack of power in the wind the Lasers were at a disadvantage. Meanwhile at the back of the fleet, thinking all was lost, the Heron was delighted to be the beneficiary of a distinct increase in wind improving the handicap no end and coming in first. However the second place of Tony Walker and Laura Geddes was good enough for them to take the series from the Heron by one point.

On Saturday Forfar Loch was pleased to welcome the Scottish Solo traveller series. 21 boats took to the water including four Forfar Sailing club boats. The spread of boats was impressive, from the Pentland Firth in the north, the hinterlands of Glasgow to the west and the Firth of Forth to the south. The south south westerly wind was lighter than forecast and with the clumps of trees on the south shore giving ample interference it was fluky. A good start was essential to have any chance. The first race saw a series of events when the leading boats would get away only for a gust from behind allowing the trailing boats to close the gap and in some cases overtake. Races two and three were of a similar nature. Geoff Henstridge (Pentland Firth) took first place, Gordon Tosh (Montrose) second and Kevan Gibb (Largo Bay) third. Best Forfar boat was Alison Geddes in seventh place.

Sunday morning's practice session started with the with newer sailors trying to remember how to rig their new purchases. A very light wind allowed them the chance to get afloat and check for leaks.

The afternoon races saw the wind coming and going generally from a south westish direction but with some interesting changes when you didn't want them. Not the best of days to start sailing at Forfar but Yvonne Fisher (Laser) obviously knew more than she was letting on and made it round both races finishing first across the line in the last race. However the wiles of the seasoned Forfar drifters saw them finish close enough to beat her on handicap. Malcolm Heron exchanged his normal vessel and caught up on some Solo sailing coming first in both races. Gary Rucklidge showed consistency finishing second both times in the Firefly. Yvonne Fisher (Laser) finished a very creditable third and fourth with John Main (Mirror Miracle) finally beating her on handicap in the last race to come fourth and then third.

We hope for more wind for the closing regatta on the last weekend in September - if history repeats itself we will have more than enough. Life is difficult being a sailor - either too little or too much, or from the wrong direction. How does Ben Ainslie do it?
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 September 2008 )
 
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