SNECCA Marine Blast Regatta at Holy Loch Sailing Club
by Mark Homer 15 Sep 2011 04:54 PDT
10-11 September 2011
SNECCA held the last event of the 2011 Travellers' Series last weekend at the Marine Blast regatta hosted by Holy Loch Sailing Club. Incorporated also was the single and double handed championships.
With a ferocious forecast, understandably turnout was a tad lower than usual. The forecast wasn't wrong either!
Winds of 20 knots, gusting 30, over outgoing tide and a fetch of near on 80 miles, saw interesting and very challenging racing in large steep and short waves - crews hanging on for grim death, with both Tornado helms having a wee trip overboard for good measure. Dave Parker in particular performed a break dance, apparently trying to stand on his head under water whilst still dangling from his trapeze.
3 races were held in Saturday's boisterous conditions with racing on Sunday cancelled due to 40 knots gusts on the course area.
Lynn and Nesbit revelled in Saturday's boisterous conditions to take the win, counting two firsts and a second. This gave them the Scottish Double handed championship too, not bad for the Helensburgh Helcat duo in their new F18 Infusion.
Newcomers in their first year of SNECCA sailing, Blazey and Kasia Ochman of Oban sailing a Dart 18 had another great regatta with excellent close racing against Helcats FC du Toit and Carl Van Imp, coming out on top in all three races and were recorded as winning the 3rd race overall, this gave them another 2nd overall regatta result.
Dave Parker and Scott Cleary, first of the Tornados and third overall, had done enough to win the travellers' series again. Counting two regatta wins in their scoreline kept the smile firmly attached to Dave and Scott's deserving mooches.
Helcat Rafael Ojuez showed his mettle and steel cahones, to take part as the sole singlehander in his flighty Stealth F16. He was rewarded for his tenacity in winning 'The Ashes' - the trophy for first Scottish Singlehander. His capsizing displays alone were worthy of award and a threat to fellow Helcat 'Flipper' Lynch who is narrowly hanging on to his name.
With SNECCA travellers over for the year, Helensburgh Sailing Club home of the Helcats cordially invite the fleet to take part in the forth coming Open Autumn Series which runs from 2nd October to 20th November with two races per Sunday and boat storage/temp membership included for a steal of a price, infact HSC extend this offer to all dinghy classes.
Next year sees SNECCA introduction of SNECCACAPS a handicap system that shall give ALL a chance at the top spot, more to follow.