Kestrel Open 2008 - Royal Tay Yacht Club

Report & Results
24th/25th May

Saturday's racing started in an East/North East breeze of 18-22 knots. Race 1 was sailed on an elongated triangle course on the South shore starting around low tide. Steve & Lin Worf made the best start tacking off the committee boat onto Port headed for the shore. It took 2/3 of the beat for Dave Hearsum & Paul Jarvey to catch and pass Steve & Lin and reach the windward mark first. Steve & Lin did not quite make the mark, tacked onto Port and whilst trying to avoid boats on Starboard caught one of them resulting in turns, lost ground and a small hole in the bow. Peter Hay & Richard Harper rounded along with Stewart & David Murdoch to chase Dave & Paul. The short leg was two sailed before popping the kites at the wing mark. Dave & Paul stayed in front to the finish; Stewart & David moved into second by the finish and Gus & Rory Broadhurst took third. Peter & Richard claimed fourth place. Sadly, Alan & Penelope Cook damaged their mast during a capsize putting an early end to their racing.

Race 2 was sailed on the same course with the tide building. Dave & Paul reached the windward mark first in the very consistent breeze. Gus & Rory and Stewart & David chased. Dave & Paul managed again to stay in front to the finish. This time Gus & Rory took second and Stewart & David third. Peter & Richard claimed another fourth place.

Race 3 in the still increasing ebb tide was sailed on the traditional triangle/sausage course with the start line moved closer to the shore. This encouraged the fleet to hug the shoreline. Dave & Paul got themselves to the front but were being chased hard by Stewart & David, Peter & Richard and Malcolm & Dannielle Worsley. Stewart & David had a quick capsize. Dave & Paul rounded the windward mark first, they then hit the windward mark next time round, caught out by the tide, and took the normal 360 penalty. Stewart & David and Peter & Richard having regained some ground were wearing Dave & Paul down on the last beat. A tacking battle ensued on the second half of the beat as each of the three boats took turns in leading by gaining at the shore and then losing as they sailed out into the tide. Peter & Richard got to the windward mark first, with Stewart & David just to windward and Dave & Paul to windward of them, all overlapped. Stewart & David sailed over Peter & Richard and shot off down the two sail reach. Dave & Paul rolled Peter & Richard as they accidentally dumped their kicker. All three boats gybed and popped their kites. Stewart & David held the lead to take first. Peter & Richard regained and held second as they pulled off a slicker gybe and spinnaker hoist. Dave & Paul settled for third having run out steam.

The evening was spent recovering from the hard day's sailing with the help of a three course dinner, after dinner speaker, impromptu guitar playing and singing by Ivor Fletcher and good company.

Sunday's racing was postponed until the tide turned, hopefully for the chop to settle. The forecast was for the wind to build and the decision was made to go afloat to attempt to get at least one race in. Race four was sailed on the North shore in 20+ knots. The direction made the beat very hard work as it was shifty and gusty. Philip Trevelyan & Ivor Fletcher had to retire with a breakage. Stewart & David having started slightly late tacked onto Port and picked up a large shift and led at the windward mark followed by Gus & Rory and Peter & Richard. Dave & Paul moved into third by the end of the first beat and then got inside Gus & Rory last time round the windward mark. Stewart & David had established a comfortable lead and took the win. Dave & Paul held second. Gus & Rory took another third and Peter & Richard another fourth.

Overall first was to be decided by the last race as Stewart & David and Dave & Paul each had equal placings as well as points.

Race five started in the rapidly increasing tide with a keen fleet. Dave & Paul found themselves at the line too early and having sailed down the line at the committee boat end. They caught the anchor chain with the centreplate and stopped dead. Fortunately for them, the majority of the fleet were too keen and a general recall made. At the re-start Stewart and Gordon Forbes were caught out by the committee boat anchor chain. Gus & Rory headed Dave & Paul to the windward mark. Dave & Paul had a quick capsize and recovery following a gybe but held second. Stewart & David slogged away to get back to third. Towards the end of the last run, Gus's tiller extension came off the tiller and due to the surprise he dropped it over the side of the boat. As he circled to pick it up Dave & Paul were promoted to first and Stewart & David to second. Gus & Rory managed to take third place. Malcolm & Dannielle Worsley took a well deserved fourth.

Royal Tay Yacht Club certainly know how to make their visitors very welcome and the excellent sailing was a bonus. Following the prize giving, the "yellow jacket" was brought out and after several stories from the weekends racing it was awarded to Gus Broadhurst for dropping his tiller over the side due to his "surprise". A big thanks to Dorothy as race officer, the safety crew, bar and catering staff, Gordon Forbes for organising the dinner, the RTYC and the Kestrel fleet for making us so welcome and getting so many club boats on the water.

Paul Jarvey.