Finn Scottish Championships at Loch Venachar Sailing Club

Finn Scottish Championship winners © LVSC

Finn Scottish Championship winners © LVSC

The 2011 Finn Scottish National Championships was once again held at the stunning location of Loch Venachar Sailing Club and could have been billed as a truly international event with competitors being of Scottish, English, Danish and South African nationalities which added to a great weekend both on and off the water.

The forecast of 12- 15 knots of wind with sunny conditions made for excellent conditions and with the first race getting underway on the Saturday with the Oscar flag flying, the leading competitors entertained the spectators with some pumping and rocking right on the edge. Race 1 had four different leaders at some point as the wind swung across 30 degrees which made it challenging with John Deleeuw of the home club taking the gun in the first race followed by Finn newcomer Dave Love in Second.

Races 2 and 3 where started with no Oscar flag flying as the wind had dropped to around 10 knots and Russ Ward worked out a lead of about a minute in both races to take the gun with Greg Shaw second and John Deleeuw third in both races.

With the conditions excellent for sailing the race officer decided to put a fourth race in on the Saturday which was won in fine style by Kevan Gibb of Largo Bay a newcomer to the fleet from the Solo class who benefitted from his lighter weight as the wind dropped with Russ Ward second and John Deleeuw third.

The now traditional Finn Dinner at the Lade Inn was an excellent and very entertaining event with the International humour flowing along with the real ales that the Inn is famous for.

Sunday dawned with the Loch looking like a mirror but the race officer delayed the start of race 5 until 11.30 by which time a steady 8-10 knots has blown in and held for the rest of the event.

Race 5 was won by John Deleeuw with Greg Shaw second and Russ Ward 3rd which now set up a great final race as Russ needed to ensure he finished in the top 2 with John not winning in order to maintain his lead on the Championship and take the event overall.

Race 6 got underway with Russ sitting to John's windward side on the start which ensured John could not make the pin end and had to gybe away at the gun. The early race leader was Kevan who held on to his lead as Russ covered Greg up the beats from his position in 2nd. John caught Greg at the second windward mark but a collision between the two as they fought for water at the mark resulting in John's tiller breaking with his subsequent retirement left Greg to chase Russ down wind with the breeze filling in from behind. Russ and Greg then matched race each other on the final 2 laps leaving Kevan to sail off to win race 6, with Russ holding on to 2nd with Greg 3rd.

Overall results left Russ Ward crowned Scottish National Champion with 6 points followed by John Deleeuw in 2nd on 8 points closely followed by Greg Shaw in 3rd on 9 points leaving a clean sweep for the three Finn sailors from the home club.

Overall Results:

1st Russ Ward (Loch Venachar S C)
2nd John Deleeuw (Loch Venachar S C)
3rd Greg Shaw (Loch venachar S C)
4th Kevan Gibb (Largo Bay S C)
5th David Love (Strathclyde Loch S C)
6th Bjorn Hanghoj (Strathclyde Loch S C)