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Fifteen Solos competed in the Scottish Solo Travellers event at Bardowie Loch near Glasgow on the 19th August 2006.
The forecast showers did not materialise but the gentle East, North East and South East winds kept everyone on their toes in the two races held before lunch.
Race one, a clean start and Kevan Gibb of Largo Bay SC moved into the lead until the end of the first round when he mistook the start finish line and had to return to cross correctly allowing Keith Milroy of East Lothian YC to take the lead. The fleet compressed on the run but by the end of the second lap Kevan was once again in the lead which he held to the finish followed by Keith and Barrie McLean of Loch Ard SC who had worked his way up from eighth place at the end of the first round in a boat some thirty years older than the other competitors at the front of the fleet.
Race two saw Kevan once again in the lead at the windward mark but by the end of lap two he had been overtaken by his brother Derek who worked the shifts to his advantage as they tacked their way up the beat from the bottom end of the loch. Kevan fought back successfully in the third lap and led Derek over the line followed once again by Barrie McLean in his vintage nineteen seventies Solo.
A hot and sticky fleet retired for lunch and returned to find that the wind had swung more to the south requiring a change of course. The start/finish line was now between the windward and first leeward mark and we were about to see who had read their sailing instructions requiring competitors to cross the line only on the windward leg. We already know that Kevan had problems with the line in the first race so it should have come as no surprise when he took the direct route to the leeward mark through the line! Kevan is a very talented sailor and knowing this many of the fleet followed in his wake. Richard Davies of the home club had the benefit of local knowledge and the confidence not to follow the herd. He left the starting pontoon to starboard immediately sailing into the lead with all those in front unaware of their disqualification. Six perceptive sailors behind Richard recognised the reason for his change of course and avoided crossing the line thereby improving their results dramatically. By the end of lap two Kevan had built up a substantial lead to no avail as a stony silence greeted his crossing the line. First toot went to Richard Davies who should be congratulated for acting on the courage of his convictions followed by the perceptive Ali Gordon of the home club and Gordon Tosh of Montrose SC.
Fortunately for many, a discard was available after three races so the event was deservedly won by Kevan Gibb with brother Derek in second and Barry Mclean in third proving that you don’t need a shiny new Solo to compete in the Travellers Circuit.
Alistair Angus (Race Officer)
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