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Newburgh basked in the glorious summer attracted 14 entries for their annual Scottish Solo Traveller event, with an excellent turn out of 9 entries from the home club. This was a real chance for points to be gained by regular attendees of the traveller circuit, as the current leading boats were involved in their own club’s regatta.
With the hosts heavily dependant on the tide tables, this was one of only two available weekends for the event, which as a consequence disappointingly reduced the number of travelling entrants.
The wind settled down to steady force 2/3 westerly for Race 1. At the windward mark there was nothing separating the first 6 boats at the windward mark. The majority of the fleet followed Jim Allan (4237) down the long run close to the banks of the Mugdrum island, whilst Gordon Tosh (4212), Nigel Orkney(4604), Dave Gordon (3752) and Roy Henderson(3932) headed for the centre of the river above the sand banks. The tide was heavily against the fleet on this long leg of the course and at the second mark the four boats favouring the sand banks had established a substantial lead. The fleet had keen racing for the final places where Gordon Tosh took the honours followed by Dave Gordon and Nigel Orkney. Roy Henderson was disappointed to find out he had been over the line early at the start and was disqualified, after sailing a steady race crossing the line third on the water.
Race 2 followed straight after with the wind in the same direction but a little stronger. Nigel Orkney rounded the windward mark first followed closely by Jim Allan and Graham Keir (4351). Allan and Keir were quicker downwind and at the second mark the places had changed with Allan leading, Keir followed by Orkney. This was the situation till the final mark when Orkney passed Keir using the tide, and Allan on the last beat using the wind shifts. Final places were Orkney followed by Allan and Keir.
After a well earned rest to take on food and water the boats took to the water for Race 3. With the points very close with any one of five boats in close competition for the final places. As the final starting sequence sounded the wind died away to nothing and the boats were left drifting in the tide. Barrie McLean (1645) was the first to catch the wind which filled in from the south west. The bulk of the fleet could see the wind coming but couldn’t get to it and McLean established an enormous lead. It was Allan who was next round the windward mark followed closely by Orkney then Keir and Tosh not far behind. The places remained steady with Jim Allan slowly gaining on McLean throughout the race. At the last mark of the course Tosh gained an inside advantage on Keir and Orkney. The tide took its toll on Keir initially and the three headed for the reed shoreline to get out of the tide with the wind falling again. Orkney was first to find the wind followed by Keir then Tosh up the final beat to the finish. Meanwhile drama was unfolding at the head of the fleet where McLean yards from the finishing line sailed into a hole in the wind and Allan took his opportunity to use local knowledge avoiding the changes in the wind. The final race finished Allan, McLean, Orkney, Keir then Tosh.
A good days racing was had by all in a glorious days sunshine, with the prize winners:
1. Jim Allan #4237; 2. Nigel Orkney #4604; 3. Gordon Tosh #4212; 4. Barrie McLean #1645.
Nigel Orkney #4604
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