2024 Series 2 Race 4 - what an evening!

Hopefully you have been reading the weekly reports in the Standard - blogs are a little behind but will soon all be here  It was quite the evening in the Holy Loch with some saying it was the worst conditions they had ever sailed in there. Almost in tune with Race Officer Bill Aitchison’s starting horn, the westerly breeze suddenly piped up, and within minutes the Piper crews were realising that, instead of a close race they were also now involved in a war of attrition with the elements. Fierce squalls began to sweep across the Loch and Iain Hurrel’s Billie, which had become overly familiar with the first mark, and required a penalty turn to exonerate herself, decided to remedy the situation by hoisting a spinnaker on the second leg to Strone  which gave her opposition, if they could afford the time to watch Billie’s inspired performance while keeping their own charges intact, the opportunity to take part in some excellent and exciting spectating. Up ahead, the Gordon/Brown syndicate’s Tom Piper, in the reliable hands of Fergus Campbell, held a familiar lead at Strone and looked a safe certainty for line honours as the appalling conditions initiated a shortened course signal to be raised. However, this was the opportunity for Robert Towart to exercise his expertise to mount a response and once more this season, he chose his favourite ‘Strone Shore’ gambit to find his successful way to the finishing line with the able assistance of Caroline Clark and Ellie Judd in Stay Puff to beat, not just the excessive weather, but also a strong and determined opposition. The Flying Fifteen and dinghy fleets too found it became a case of survival for the evening to get back to their moorings or ashore. Conditions were fine at the start, but worsened as they progressed towards Mark D and as most rounded the mark, there were extreme wind gusts of 25-30 knots. Jim and Frances Maclean in Woffle had a brooch filling the boat full of water and had to bail running with the wind to empty the boat, causing damage to its main sail. They ran for their mooring thinking the race had been abandoned, so Tommy and Susan McGeachie took the win for the Flying Fifteens. The Great Gonzo was recovered by the support boat and in the white sails class, Nigel Scriven in Moonlight had a Chinese gybe which damaged his rigging and had to retire. The club house was a welcome sight for everyone after that.