Scottish Championship 2009 - Royal Tay Yacht Club

Report & Results
9th/10th May

The Opening Regatta of the Royal Tay on May 9th/10th once again welcomed the Kestrel Class as it hosted the Kestrel Scottish Championships and UK Travellers. A slightly disappointing turn out from the hosts of seven boats were boosted by travellers as four committed boats trekked up from south of England.

The first race took place in strong westerly winds which deterred many of the class from flying their spinnakers up the first reach, not among these people was Dannielle Worsley who despite being arguably the lightest crew in the UK Kestrel fleet threw up her spinnaker without a moments hesitation. After a close race it was Stewart and David Murdoch who took first in front of last years champions Dave Hearsum and Gareth Fay who were followed by Steve and Lin Worf into third.

The wind began to lighten for the second race but the fair, if slightly grey, weather was replaced by heavy rain as the boats set off. Adapting to the changed conditions Stewart and David once again took first from Dave and Gareth but this time Ian Hunter and Pam Kelly took third.

After a short break where the wind continued to lighten and the rain continued to pour the third race got underway. Despite poor decision making on the final beat Stewart and David scraped into first place once again with Dave and Gareth once again hot on their heels. Making the most of the light winds Malcolm and Dannielle Worsley took third this time.

The dinner held on Saturday night brought good conversation and cheers as well as rampant crew recruiting. Notable events included Donald Carmichael departing from Alistair Hood to join up with Gordon Forbes and Rory Broadhurst recruiting Hayden Edwins to go head to head with his father. After a speech by Stewart Murdoch and a toast to absent friends Ian Hunter became the recipient of the infamous “Yellow Jacket”. Feeding his spinnaker sheets the wrong way round in the ratchet blocks Ian made it almost impossible for his crew to play the spinnaker on the first two rounds. Unable to take anymore Ian took his knife to the spinnaker sheets (and not Pam thankfully) so he could re-thread them the right way only to discover there was no third round!

The sun returned on Sunday for race four with the wind shifting round to the east. Making a good start Stewart and David led from the outset around a course which included the newly laid P mark, a buoy that it became clear none of the local Kestrels had visited before as Stewart and David lead most of them round the wrong mark. Ian Hunter and Bill Wright one of the few free thinking Kestrels were able to take advantage of this and gain the lead. The race finished with yet another Stewart/David and Dave/Gareth one, two with Malcolm and Dannielle finishing third again.

The weather changed once again for the final race as the rain returned and the wind began to lighten. As with all the other races Stewart and David came first with Dave and Gareth Fay second. Malcolm and Danielle had been on course to achieve a second but unfortunately they hit a mark near the end relegating them to third prompting an outburst of physical abuse from Danielle towards her father/helm.

Overall Stewart and David Murdoch of Royal Tay came first bringing the Scottish Championship north of the border for the first time in many years. Dave Hearsum and Gareth Fay, the first travellers, from Alton Water came second with Malcolm and Dannielle Worsley third.

Rory Broadhurst.