Nicole McPherson claims Ceilidh Cup win at Royal Northern and Clyde YC

by Matt Carter on 8 Oct 2014 Nicole McPherson booked her place in the Grand Final of the 2014 RYA National Match Racing Championships after her crew clinched event honours at the Ceilidh Cup/Scottish Student Sailing Match Racing Championships which were held at the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club (RNCYC) this weekend (4-5 October).

Forming part of the RYA National Match Racing Series, the event is a match racing event for Scottish universities with additional non-student entrants, with the Ceilidh Cup being awarded to the best overall team as well as a separate prize for the best university team, which was won by Theo Hoole from the University of Strathclyde Sailing Club.

With nine teams entered, the first round robin got underway after briefings by Principal Race Officer David Denholm and Chief Umpire John Doerr. With sunshine and showers, and the westerly breeze varying between 10-16 knots, PRO Denholm was pleased with completing 10 flights of the round robin by 4.30pm.

RNCYC member Nicole McPherson had six wins and Connor Simms (Dundee University) also had six wins, but having lost to McPherson, the latter was ranked second overnight. Theo Hoole (Strathclyde University) was ranked third with four wins.

Sunday saw a calm start to the day, but with a strengthening breeze forecast, the race committee pushed competitors out to the East Patch without delaying for a morning briefing.

The wind settled to the South at 16 knots, and permitted the final six races of the round robin to be completed. With the breeze building to around 20 knots with higher gusts, the three-race semi-finals were conducted without spinnakers.

First placed Nicole McPherson (RNCYC) took on fourth placed Craig Paul (Edinburgh University), while second placed Theo Hoole (Strathclyde) lined up against third placed Connor Simms (Dundee University).

McPherson won 2-0, while Hoole claimed a 2-1 victory over Simms after he suffered a breakdown after the preparatory signal. With no redress permitted in match racing, this was a painful loss, which cost Simms his defence of the Scottish Student Sailing Match Racing Championship.

A fifth/sixth place playoff between Glasgow University entrants Scott McWhirter and Emily Robertson ended 1-2.

With time running out, racing concluded with single-race finals. Having the favoured starboard starting end, McPherson attacked Hoole in the pre-start, forcing him out to the left 'coffin corner' side of the pre-start area. Thereafter, a clean race concluded her retention of the Ceilidh Cup.

Craig Macdonald, Club/Scottish Student Sailing Liaison, commented: 'We have had a fantastic weekend of Match Racing with the Clyde's East Patch offering a full range of conditions to test boat handling and tactical match racing skills.

'Thanks must go to David Denholm's on-the-water team, and John Doerr's umpiring team, and the various others behind the scenes at RNCYC that made the event happen.'

Final Ranking of Skippers and Clubs:
1. Nicole McPherson*, Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club (Ceilidh Cup Winner)
2. Theo Hoole, University of Strathclyde Sailing Club (SSS Match Racing Champion)
3. Connor Simms, Dundee University Sailing Club
4. Craig Paul*, Edinburgh University Sailing Club
5. Emily Robertson, Glasgow University Sailing Club
6. Scott McWhirter, Glasgow University Sailing Club
7. Alison Morrish*, University of Strathclyde Sailing Club (from round robin)
8. Calum Underwood, University of Strathclyde Sailing Club (from round robin)
9. Josh Bather, University of St Andrews Sailing Club (from round robin)

* denotes teams ineligible for the Scottish Student Sailing prize.

For more information on the RYA Racing Programme please click here.