2024 Series 2 Race 6

Wednesday evening saw the final race in Series Two, before a well-earned barbecue in the club house. In the white sails class, with one point separating series two leader Judicious and rival Moonlight, it was all to play for in this last race. The shifty and variable wind created an unpredictable outcome. Judicious led round the first mark with Moonlight and Panache rounding together close behind. With the wind lighter on the Kilmun shore Moonlight crept ahead of Panache, but still trailed Judicious. This order prevailed, but with the wind remaining shifty and gusty, and each boat in their own wind, the outcome was still open until the last leg to the finish line. Judicious crossed first, but once the handicap was applied, the win went to Moonlight. This left the series tied on points, but the tiebreak goes to the first of the two boats in the last race, giving Moonlight the series.  It was a rather lonely affair in the Flying Fifteens this week with only Tommy and Susan McGeachie in Efficacious making it out to complete the course.  For the Pipers, with the Second Series already tied up before the final race to add to their success in the first, the crew of Tom Piper led by Fergus Campbell rather carelessly misjudged the start as the wind fell away, to leave themselves two minutes off the pace from the start. Not so Iain Hurrel at the helm of Billie whose blue and white spinnaker led the way off the line to establish a healthy lead by the second mark ahead of Jim Campbell’s Leander. With Graeme Murray and Lorn Campbell pulling the strings, their victory was never in doubt, easing their way home to line honours along with the added bonus of being the first ashore for the largest burgers at the end of Series barbecue generously prepared by Duncan Chalmers and the indefatigable Chris Wilson. Not to be outdone, however, Tom Piper redeemed herself well to recover from her lazy start to take the runners up position.