JP Watersports RS400 Scottish Tour Round 2 at East Lothian Yacht Club

Getting ready to launch at North Berwick © Alastair Mckintyre

The second event in the 400 Scottish Tour took place at ELYC North Berwick on 2nd and 3rd June. 21 boats competed. The event was also the Scottish 400 Championships, part of the Rooster National Tour, as well as the Eurocup.

Slack pressure dictated very light easterlies for the weekend- if that. Luckily once the Haar cleared on Saturday (with 45mins to spare, about the time of Angus and Imogen's arrival) we received a useful sea breeze of around 3 to 5 knots. If South Shields had provided 'Lambrini sailing'; Saturday's conditions were a concoction drunk on the beach during a North Berwick adolescence (followed by some Sunday morning Irn Bru). But it was none the worse for that!!

Notable starts were Angus and Imogen's perfect port tack stormer off a biased pin end in race 2. And Stewart and Jim's consistently solid stacking up with space below. After considerable deliberation; Phil and Mike concluded that a Committee Boat start was order of the day- and in time honoured fashion; delivered 3 dependable starboard enders.

Race 1- Much of the the fleet went right up the beat to escape the western going tide. However as Phil has pointed out we were all sailing into a deeper channel! From observing Stewart and Sarah's choices (we couldn't see winner Jim) a compromise was needed between tide and pressure: where there were puffs- they were needed.

Race 2- Dave and Fraser made a steady start near the port end.. rejecting Phil’s council! We don't believe they won the pin as there was a certain yellow boat there pulling off magic. Dave and Fraser were not distracted and minimised their number of tacks, committing to the left hand side of the beat. And it paid! They were 1st to the windward mark. They held it all the way to the leeward buoy before letting a few slip by the middle of 2nd beat. Bold can be best??

The first two races didn't seem excessively shifty, there was a relatively constant base breeze (although the more astute might disagree). So the racing wasn't always as much of a snakes and ladders game as it could have been in the light stuff.

Race 3– An individual recall; Ben and Jenny were over. But Neil and Emily followed them back to keep company. The fleet had split early, wind over-riding tide in some peoples considerations. The left hand side of the beat paid. Downwind was a bit of a procession with arguably more puffs offshore. The tide on the buoys didn't appear too extreme. There were a few 5 degree or so shifts. Stewart and Sarah lead around the windward mark, Jon and Amanda 2nd and Jim and Mike 3rd. Stewart and Sarah zoomed away on the 2nd downwind.

Jim and Ben did characteristically good jobs of soaking low on the runs but others also appeared to do well in a higher mode, chasing pressure and dropping down in it. That's if there wasn't a Musto or two with a totally different agenda getting in the way. A notably improving boat was Jamie and Neil showing good speed.

Dinner in the Puffin Restaurant (organised by Nadia) was attended by 25- good feedback. All captured for 400 social media.

Sunday's cool overcast conditions didn't look promising for a sea breeze (the‘North Berwickers’ had a knowing look). Following a long postponement the Oppies were admirably keen. Race Officer Ben tried a far western course- seeking out wind near Lamb island. The Lamb is owned by famous mystifier/ spoon bender Uri Geller; it's claimed to have mysterious and enigmatic powers. Despite Uri's magic the wind remained an enigma and there were definitely no masts bending. The fleet retired for ice creams on the beach, now propelled by a satisfactory breeze- thanks Uri.

So no change overnight- 1: Stewart and Sarah, 2: Jim and long time ELYC 400 man Mike, 3: Jon and Amanda.

The next Scottish event is Prestwick YC on 23rd June.

Thanks especially to Ben Wilcox for his very dependable Race Officer contribution (working magic wasn't always possible) and to Jim for letting him jump ship. Sincere thanks to all at ELYC for the superb hospitality and organisation.

Overall Results: