Results / Stonehaven SC Open Stonehaven SC - 29/08/2009
RS 200s at Stonehaven
The penultimate event of the Scottish JP watersports Circuit was held at Stonehaven, with the entrants totalling 16 boats this is proof enough that with the nationals at east Lothian next year that Scottish sailors are buying the boats in expectation of a great Scottish event.
Saturday’s wind was blowing off shore – but only after tumbling down the hills and through the streets of the town. The result was that sailing was held in a series of 25 knot gusts, with 30 degree instant wind shifts.
Race 1 (or more precisely the first gybe point) separated the men from the boys. Graeme Tait, JP McCaldin, Sarah Meldrum and Ronnie Millar, opted for the boys club and dropped gennys and tacked round. They stayed upright and sailed away from the men’s club who had all gybed and swam. Ronnie took the lead up the next beat and held on narrowly to win from Graeme and then JP, all 3 of them avoiding the gybe every round. With more daggerboards than masts showing over the racecourse for all fleets, further racing was cancelled and the 200 fleet headed ashore for the barbie and the
Sunday and the wind had dropped (10 to 12 knots), swung further south and stabilised. Race 2 saw Graeme dominate the left side of the first beat, rounding the windward mark well clear. Robbie Burns rounded mid-fleet and worked his way through the fleet to take the win, while Ronnie rounded a bit further back and pulled through to second over the 3 lap course. Graeme took the 3rd.
Race 3 and Ronnie led from Scott Hyslop at the windward mark, from Robbie in 3rd. Robbie took the left lane downwind to take the lead and the win from Ronnie, with Scott maintaining his third.
The end of Race 3 saw Robbie head for the shore to carry on an argument between his slot casket and glue supplier, which the slot casket was winning in its bid for freedom.
With the overall win secured and pressure off Ronnie hit the start mark after a failed attempt at a port start. Emily Robertson, crewed by mum Sarah in a reversal of normal duties, sailed immaculately from the start, controlling the left side of the beat and with good downwind speed won easily. Ronnie pulled through to second to complete the set for Sunday, with Sarah Meldrum in 3rd.
This left Ronnie the overall winner, Robbie 2nd and Graeme 3rd.
The last event will be at Loch Vennacher, where the fleet has not visited for a few years – so come along and enjoy the close competitive sailing that is 200 racing.