Category Archives: activity

Training day

This Sunday (16 April) we have a training day for beginners and anyone that would like a refresher. The syllabus for this first session will be focusing around the initial introduction to sailing with teaching focused on rigging and sailing (with a competent helm/crew) double-hander boats. The plan will be to use the club Wanderer, Feva’s or members’ own double-hander boats.

Skiff sessions in the new year

If you haven’t been to the club recently, you might not be aware that the skiff rowing sessions are back after the ice on the loch has disappeared. Here are some photos from a recent session.

If you would like to take part, try it out or want to have a chat with some of the rowers contact the club to find out when the next session is.

“Sticks 🚣‍♀️ and Rags ⛵️ on Forfar Loch”

The FSC Midsummer Madness – a day of fun in the sun on Forfar Loch dawned cloudy and blustery with the threat of a shower or two. The North Queens Ferry visitors arrived first with the St Andrews visitors not long behind and the weather was soon forgotten as the skiffs were prepped and launched and after a coffee and cake the first crews took to the water.

As the day progressed the visitors utilised the hosts and other Forfonians on the oars who where all willing crews and very little pressing was needed. Once the skiffs had been tried some of the sailors took to the water for a blast in the blustery north eastish-north westish breeze with some exciting reaching getting the sail dinghies planning nicely, with only yours truly wetting his sail.

A rowing skiff seen through some grass on the shore, the name 'Blue Bay' and number 122 at the bow. 4 rowers and a cox

As the afternoon drew on the gauntlet was thrown and what can be thought of as the Inaugural Forfar Skiff race (now there’s an honour) saw a St Andrews vs North Queens Ferry race start with St Andrews making a powerful start and leading to the turning buoy, an admirable effort from the N Queens crew saw them close the gap on the turn but not quite able to drive the power through on the second half to over take the St Andrews team who finished first – well done. No prizes (this time) but bragging rights for the First Skiff to win a race on Forfar Loch go to St Andrews. 👏

This was a great day with lots of people on the water and at the club, huge thanks to the visiting clubs we are very grateful and with the opportunity to chat to other local skiff clubs the beginnings of new club relationships and friendships have been commenced. As always thanks to FSC members for the great showing on the cake front and come down to try ‘pulling the sticks’.

rowing a skiff

Here is a video of some of us rowing a visiting skiff, want to find out more? Come and see us this Sunday (19-06) when there are more skiffs to see. Coffee and tea will be available, with a piece of cake or a biscuit.

A visiting skiff with members of the sailing and water sports club having a go.

Race report

Tuesday series 3

Tuesday 3:4 was sailed as a 40 Min Pursuit race, ZFC all on port, in a generally Easterly light 1-2

With the start line significantly misaligned with A mark. Becci in her laser radial was due to start 10 seconds ahead of the solos but using A mark was well down on the line so one solo headed for the line ahead of the laser causing confusion – the second gun @10 sec was assumed by the second solo to be a recall which created an unsatisfactory start. Eventually, Tony, Becci, Erwin, Bill, and Dennis who appeared to be well handicapped on start time came through to eventually take all but Becci on the run to F.

After Tony hit Z in a still mark in a drifting moment and did his turn Becci regained first later in the run but Dennis made good on the beat. Tony almost caught Becci and had to duck on Port within the last 30 sec. Bill enjoyed the sail, however, Erwin did not recover from the starting confusion.
A lovely summer evening, but not for consistent sailing!
Result:

Dennis 
Becci/Tony
Erwin
Bill

Race report

Sunday series race report

Wind direction: All over the loch
Speed: 1-3 Miles p/h
pursuit race, course: F, E, D, C all to starboard. Starting at normal start line.

The wind dropped away just as the race started. With the Solo start just 10 seconds after the Laser and the Streaker only 25 seconds after that, the Lasers had hoped to make more ground. The so called windward leg to F was very slow Becci and Conor stayed in the lead but Helen fell behind as she drifted closer to the spit. Fortunately the breeze picked up just a little as the boats all headed to E. Conor was in the lead approaching D but somehow Becci managed to sneak past just as the wind dropped. Conor sailed backwards for a time allowing Helen to move into second place. From D to C Bill moved into third place and Conor managed to stay ahead of Erwin as the final whistle blew.

  1. Becci
  2. Helen
  3. Bill
  4. Conor
  5. Erwin

Race 2
Wind speed: 4-7 Mile p/h
pursuit race, course: F, C, K

Again the lasers started first, this time with a reasonable breeze to get going up to F. Helen made a good start but seemed to struggle going across to C allowing Erwin and Becci to overtake. Heading back through the gap Erwin took the lead and stayed ahead down to K. Helen and Becci were close behind, followed by Bill and Conor. The breeze filled in a little and it was close as the leaders rounded F and headed back to C. Helen managed to stay upwind of Erwin and rounded C just ahead and kept the lead until they were back through the gap and the final whistle blew.

  1. Helen
  2. Erwin
  3. Becci
  4. Bill
  5. Conor