Scottish RS Feva Championships at Royal Findhorn Yacht Club

Starting in the light airs against a strong tide during the Scottish RS Feva Championships © Matt Toynbee

Scottish RS Feva Championship winners Ewan and Harry working their way upwind © Matt Toynbee

Iona and Jenni approaching the leeward mark in the final race of the Scottish RS Feva Championships © Matt Toynbee

After a successful event at Findhorn in 2013 the RS Feva class returned this season for their Scottish Championships which were held as part of the Royal Findhorn Yacht Club's Regatta Weekend. The Fevas join the slow handicap class racing in the bay with the faster classes heading out to race on the firth. (Not an easy task in light winds against the roaring tide racing in to fill the bay for a few hours before rushing back out again.)

Six boats gathered on Saturday morning with travelling sailors from as far afield as Portobello and Wormit Boat Club welcomed for the event, with many choosing to stay on for the legendary Findhorn Week taking place the following week. With very light winds to start the Fevas stayed ashore whilst the majority of the boats racing outside the bay faced the struggle of a long walk round the cornered against the tide. Whilst waiting for the breeze to fill in the entire fleet tested the competitive spirits with a ruthless game of daring and accuracy in the Scottish Feva Stone-Throwing Championships. Worthy winner was Iona taking the final round with a flourish.

As the morning developed a small amount of breeze flickered across the bay with a bit of assistance from the coach boat helping get everyone out to the starting area in time for the start. With a lot of tide trucking in it was a desperate business staying the right side of the line which was not helped by a one eighty degree wind shift. Most boats made a clean start with Iona and Jenny the only unfortunately boat with the painful slog to re-cross the line once the race had started.

With unstable conditions across the bay it was a battle of the minds as each boat hunted for the best breeze whilst trying to avoid the worst of the tide. Concentration was key with those with the greatest levels of concentration able to get the very most out of their boats. With a first race completed the fleets waited patiently for the breeze to build and a slowing of the tide was warmly anticipated too.

A light breeze filing in from the forecasted direction seemed to herald a change of pace for the second race. The race officer and her team quickly got the course reset and launched into the sequence as quickly as possible to make the very most of the conditions. Sadly the wind dropped off again and it was back to similar conditions to the first race with concentration the name of the game.

The second day of the event dawned with a much more promising forecast and by the time the fleets were ready to launch there was a steady five or six knots of breeze across the course. The stronger breeze made for a ore achievable fight against the time but it was still no simple matter keeping up to the start line as the tide rushed into the bay. It was another strong day for the Wormit boats with Ewan/Harry and Gregor/Rory battling for control of the race. A trapezoid course for the first race of the day gave sailors the challenge of testing their use of transits along the top reach made a marginal spinnaker leg by the cross tide. Several boats fell foul of this needing to drop their kites and beat the last bit back up to the mark. Not helped by the first boats round the leg making it look easy.

By the time of the final race of the series the breeze had built and with a slackening tide made for a great race. The fleet had begun to get the measure of the tide and a good start was made by all boats as they surged up the first beat in sparkling sunshine. For the final race the race officer had set a windward leeward course which gave tight tactical racing both upwind and down with several boats making ground as a result of superior spinnaker handling skills.

A big thanks to Royal Findhorn Yacht Club for hosting another great weekend. Next event in the series is at Dalgety Bay SC on 23 Aug.

Overall Results: