July Report  2010

Albacore Nationals 2010 at Lyme Regis Sailing Club.

The St Swithens Day photo of the Cob was from Friday's  Daily Telegragh

My first First impression of Lyme Regis Marina upon arriving for the Albacore National 2010 on the Thursday evening was 20 feet high sprays coming off the outer wall caused by high winds and huge waves, and the horizontal rain did not improve on the experience.

Friday saw less rain but the wind persisted and as a result the days races was abandoned.

On Saturday the weather had improved with plenty of sun, above 20mph winds and 6 to 8 feet waves, and 46 boats including some of the world’s best Albacore sailors, set out for the first of 3 back to back races. The course was a triangular circuit with a sausage section which both had to be completed twice.

Getting of to a tricky start the first race did not go well for the team from SLSC. However in second race we got off to a better start and began settling into a routine. Deciding on the right tack coming up towards the windward mark proved tricky and with this many boats in a race you found that you really had to look out for those starboard boats, especially coming up to the leyline for the windward mark. Going down wind turned out to be easier and more successful taking the downwind leg we took several scalps every time. Actually it was a bit strange that no-one discovered what we were up to and followed our example. I guess some sailors are just to set in their own ways.

So at the end of the first day we had achieved a 25th place in the first race, but a 14th in the second and a 17th in the third race.

Sunday morning was very windy and overcast and the white horses were out again. However when it came to going out there was little hesitation. It actually turned out to be a very nice day much the same as Saturday, maybe with a bit higher winds and waves, but the sun came out half way during first race and stayed pretty much all day.

The course was the same although depending on wind shifts the OOD actually changed the course in the middle of the races through blowing in, what could only be described as a duck hunters calling whistle, and replacing the black marker with a yellow marker whilst moving the black marker into its new position.

During the Sunday we achieved one 17th and two 16th places and from that by far the best result was the second race where we were set up for the best start of the regatta but just before the gun we died in the wind and due to in-experience as a team failed to get out of it until every other boat had passed us. Despite being the last boat out the start we fought our way back through the fleet and ended up on a 16th which we thought was not bad going.

At the end of the day, we ended up 17th overall and considering that the top 10 places were taken up with World Champions (from USA)  past European and National Champions as well as Nationals winners from other classes we did pretty well indeed.

Winning The Scotsman Trophy for the highest placed Scottish entry was a bonus, even if there was only three of us.

All in all this was a great weekend with some fantastic sailing in perfect conditions.

Thanks for the report and well done to you  Bjorn and Crawford.

June Report 2010

The club members were pleased to welcome the sailors to the Scottish Open Championship Regatta for disabled  sailors on the weekend of the 19th and 20th of June. This event has been held each year at the Loch since 1989. The club have provided ODs to run the races since that first event. This year Noel Kegg and Isabel McKenzie were in charge of the racing and although the number of competitors was down this year, everyone had a good time. The weather was first class and on Saturday night the Lord Provest of North Lanarkshire hosted a dinner and disco for the sailors. This was the organiser of Sailability Scotland, Gary Philips's last event, as he was standing down. To mark the occasion he was presented with a vase, a gift from North Lanark Council.        

Thanks to Crawford for this report

Albacore Scottish Nationals & European Champs Glorious sunshine and a steady 15 knots greeted the 16 competitors in Greenock for the bi-annual Albacore European Championships, this year combined with the Scottish Nationals. The rolling hills and beautiful setting of the Clyde provided a stunning backdrop to the teams who had travelled as far as Southern England and the Shetland Islands. Race 1 saw Crawford Reid and Issy Martin in 'Ptarigan' first round the windward mark, closely followed by current Inland champs Judy and Paul Armstrong in 'Recklass Rat'. By the end of the first reach Nev Herbert and Mark Fowler sailing a borrowed boat 'Against All Odds' had sailed a lower course to round just ahead of 'Ptarmigan' and 'Recklass'. On the second beat they extended their lead with Shetland sailors Steve Brown and Frank Guthrie in their new Ovington hull 'Storm', sailing a great leg to overtake 'Ptamigan'into 3rd. At the finish gun 'Against All Odds' crossed the line to silence, deemed OCS, gifting the win to 'Recklass' with 'Storm' maintaining their lead over 'Ptarmigan'. Race 2 saw huge gains to be made for those that could read the windbends coming off the hills. 'Storm' rounding ahead of 'Recklass' with 'Against All Odds' in 3rd. 'Recklass' showed impressive downwind speed and pulled clear to win from 'Storm'. The final race of the Scottish Nationals saw the breeze increase. 'Recklass' dominated the race by going furthest right and won by over a minute. Second on the water was 'Against All Odds' just ahead of 'Storm'. Judy & Paul Armstorng win the Scottish title with Steve Brown 2nd overall and Crawford Reid 3rd.

Sunday dawned misty with little breeze but by midday the sun had broken through with a light breeze. Once again 'Recklass' showed great tactics by protecting the right hand side and added yet another bullet. In the lightening breeze 'Storm' and 'Ptarmigan' had a real dog fight with 'Ptarmigan' snatching 2nd place on the last beat. With the 2010 European Champs added to their tally, 'Recklass' headed in leaving the fleet to decide who would take the runners up trophey. Mat Thompson and John Howard in 'Gunship Diplomat' clearly liking the lighter conditions, rounded ahead of 'Ptarmigan'. As the wind slightly built 'Ptarmigan' gained the front and extended with 'Against All Odds' taking 'Gunship' on the line. A huge thankyou to the members and organisers at the RWSABC who proved that a stunning venue, great organisation, and a TV showing the World Cup makes for an excellect championship regatta.

1st Judy & Paul Armstrong 'Recklass Rat' - Scaling Dam (4 points)

2nd Crawford Reid & Issy Martin – 'Ptarmigan' - Strathclyde SC (10 points)

3rd Steve Brown & Frank Guthrie – 'Storm' - Shetland (10 points)

4th Nev Herbert & Mark Fowler – 'Against All Odds' - Tewksbury (12 points)

5th Mat Thompson & John Howard – 'Gunship Diplomat' - Tewksbury (17 points)

6th Eddie & Jane Brooks – Elton SC (19 points)

7th Dick & Alan Dowie – RWSASC (25 points)

8th David Taylor & Ian Brockett – RWSASC (31 points)

9th Gordon Scott & Jackie Reeper – Montrose SC (36 points)

10th Martin Anderson & Dawn Walton – North Staffs (36 points)

9th May 2010       SPRING REGATTA

Despite the light winds we managed two races for the handicap fleet and three races for the Challenger fleet, and a good day was had by all.

Five sailors took part in the Challenger fleet.  

A Total of fifteen Sailors took part in the handicap fleet. 

 21st March 2010
 

After the loss of the Icebreaker Series it is good to be able to report that we have managed to complete enough races in the Commodore A Series and Commodore B Series to give results for both.
 

Commodore A Series:              Winner:             C. Reid & I. Martin

                                                2nd Place:         M. Bremridge & C. Bremridge

                                                3rd Place:  =      B. Hanghoj
                                                                          S. Johnston
                                                                          R. McLean & D. McQuilken
                                                                          C. Paris & M. Paris

A total of nineteen different helms took part in this series with eleven boats starting the race on both 7th February and 21st March and nine helms completing enough races to gain a place in the series. As can be seen from the results, this was a closely contested series with only sixty seven seconds of corrected time separating the first six places in the race on 21st March and only three seconds separating 1st and 2nd place on 14th March.  
 

Commodore B Series:              Winner:            C. Reid & I. Martin

                                                2nd Place:  =     M. Bremridge & C. Bremridge
                                                                          B. Hanghoj

Another closely fought contest with only seventy five seconds of corrected time separating the first five places in the race on 7th March, only eleven seconds separated 1st and 2nd place on 7th March and nine seconds separated 6th and 7th place on the same day. Twenty different helms took part in the series, eight sailed enough races to gain a place and ten boats started the race on 7th February.

It’s good to see that the races are being well attended and that they are closely contested. A few seconds gained or lost can move you up or down the fleet and the handicap system ensures that all helms are able to compete. Hopefully the weather will improve over the next few weeks and we will see even more boats out on the water competing.

See you on the water. 

Martin.

28th Feb 2010

Yes it's true, we were sailing today. 

We achieved our first results in the Club Championship for 2010 after January's race was cancelled due to ice. The loch was clear of ice today and we had a good race in light winds. As ever, the forecast wind came in after we had finished racing, but there's always next week to look forward to. The weather forecast for the coming week looks reasonable at the moment and the loch should remain liquid for next Sunday when we get back to normal club business. It will be a two race day next Sunday when we will be competing in the Commodore A and B series.

I have posted the new handicap list on the website and I'm looking forward to seeing lots of boats out on the water. 

While I'm on, I would like to remind anyone who has not yet renewed their membership for this year that you should have done so before now and that your results will not count until it is.  

On a completely different subject, North and South Lanarkshire Councils, with the help of SLSC and Saillaser, held trials for a development squad with a view to sending two children to the International Children's Games in Bahrain this Summer, and developing a squad for inclusion in the games being held in Lanarkshire next Summer. In Bahrain, the rules dictate one Optimist sailor and one Laser 4.7 Sailor, one boy and one girl, aged 12 to 15. A tight timescale meant an early decision was required and two children have been picked to go. SLSC member Alasdair Logan will sail the Optimist with Cloe Fagan in reserve, and Emma Brown will sail the Laser 4.7 with SLSC member Scott Johnston in reserve. All four children will receive training in preparation, organised primarily by James Logan for the Optimist and Steve Noble (Saillaser) for the Laser 4.7, hopefully with some input from the RYA, and funded by North and South Lanarkshire Councils. In addition, we will be looking for additional members for the development squad who will be offered training throughout the year with a view to being included in the team for next year. If you know anyone who is interested contact Martin Johnston at the sailing club (mj001@blueyonder.co.uk) or Rob Mutlow at Saillaser (info-scotland@sail-laser.com). In order to qualify the children must live or attend school within Lanarkshire and be born no earlier than 1996. See you on the water.

What's new in December 2009.

As you know from the front page of our Web-site, the Christmas Regatta has been cancelled due to the weather. At present the Loch is frozen over. Would all members please check their E-Mail for a good news message from our Commodore. Have a nice Christmas.

November 2009

The Club "Ceilidh Night and prizegiving" was held on Saturday the 14th November in the Castle Rooms in Uddingston. The night started at 7.30pm.  till midnight the photos are on the photo gallery page. 

October 2009 

Crawford Reid & Issy Martin.  Stewart Gibson & Gavin Berry have all been invited to take part in the Champion of Champions event at Helensburgh. They will be representing the Albacore class and flying the flag for Strathclyde loch Sailing Club. Well done. Are there any more of you going? let us know so that we can tell the world.

The Albacore Northern Championships were held on the 12th of October at Winsford Flash Sailing Club, where a fleet of 21 boats took part in the event. Six boats  came from Scotland , two of them  from  Strathclyde Loch Sailing Club and both were among the prize winners. Stuart Gibson & Gavin Berry came in at Second place  with Crawford Reid & Issy Martin coming in Third. Well done to everyone.

The Scottish Champion of Champions event this year is to being held at Helensburgh Sailing Club on the 31st of October and 1st of November. I'm pleased to tell you that Russell Ward has been invited to represent the Finn Class. There may be other Club members who have been invited but are to shy to tell us about it. It would be nice to hear from you so that we can let the other members know. In the meantime all the best to Russell for keeping the flag flying for Strathclyde Loch Sailing Club.   

                                                  OOO

Quite a number of you have attended Traveller events during the year. It would be good if you could share information about the events with us, telling us about the event, your results and send photos. Send them to Scott at jsm.caldow@virgin.net

Training.                                                                                                                         We have received funds from North Lanarkshire council, to assist members who wish to train as sailing instructors. The Club would like to hear from any member wishing to train under the RYA syllabus , in particular the following courses, which could benefit the Club in the future :- For more information contact the Commodore First Aid                                                                                                              Power Boat Level 2                                                               Dinghy Instructor                                                                                              Race Coach