Scottish Skiff Grand Prix at Helensburgh Sailing Club
by Martin Wilkie 23 Aug 2010 22:32 BST
14-15 August 2010
The fifth and penultimate round of the Scottish Skiff Grand Prix was hosted by Helensburgh Sailing Club on the weekend of the 14th and 15th August.
Unfortunately the breeze never materialised on Saturday and, despite the race team attempting to get a race underway mid-way through the afternoon, the correct decision was made and racing was eventually abandoned for the day in favour of the barbecue ashore.
Sunday dawned with the lightest of zephyrs coming across the Clyde from Gourock and it took the fleet over an hour just to reach the racing area off Helensburgh. The first race was held in a dying breeze and strong tide and was shortened to just one lap when the majority of the different classes competing became becalmed and bunched at the leeward mark. Ian Renilson (Musto Skiff 334) and Alison Davies/Tobi Lord (49er 445) worked their way through the raft best to take first and second, with Len Read and Frances Lord (29er 1619) taking third.
The second race started in similar conditions before a much needed band of breeze filled in from the South. Henry Dawes and David Lilburn (Laser 4000 4674) made best use of the incoming pressure downwind to take the win on handicap from Martin Wilkie and Andy Rae (International 14 1473) and Renilson.
The third race started in a steadier Southerly breeze with a correspondingly longer course, with Wilkie/Rae enjoying the conditions to win ahead of Renilson and Dawes/Lilburn.
The wind thankfully stuck around for the fourth and final race, which followed a similar pattern to the previous one; Wilkie/Rae stretching their legs to win ahead of Renilson, with Davies/Lord this time taking third.
Despite the difficult conditions, the race team did well to fit in four races; thereby salvaging the event when earlier in the day it had looked like being a lost cause.
Overall Results:
1st Martin Wilkie/Andy Rae, International 14 GBR 1473 – 4pts
2nd Ian Renilson, Musto Skiff GBR 334 – 5pts
3rd Henry Dawes/David Lilburn – Laser 4000 GBR 4674 – 8pts
4th Alison Davies/Tobi Lord – 49er GBR445 – 10pts
5th Len Read/Frances Lord – 29er GBR 1619 – 11pts
6th Angus Winchester – Musto Skiff GBR058 – 17pts