HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Venachar Sailing Club

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Venachar © Julie Leece

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Venachar © Julie Leece

Last year we travelled to Loch Venachar wondering if we would get afloat given the forecast for strong winds, but we did despite the wind howling down the loch. This year a dozen of us travelled with the completely opposite worry, would there be enough wind to sail? In the event there was, but only just, and it was a very frustrating afternoon at times as we crept around the course.

On arrival there was a very light north easterly breeze, certainly not what had been forecast but as race time approached the gentle wafts of wind were from a more westerly direction. Ben Yeats from Chanonry was about to sail his first Solo event in such light conditions and was seeking advice about the best set-up. In the conditions we had today settings were immaterial, if you found a little wind you passed boats. Sailing in these conditions is not comfortable. Some sailors lay across the boat trying to avoid sitting on the cleats. Some resorted to standing up and even directly holding the boom to control the sail. All of us spent a lot of time looking up at our flags. Before we launched someone muttered that there would be 'a lot of snakes and ladders' which turned out to be exactly right. Your scribe optimistically fitted his compass which was a waste of time.

We started the first race in about 2/3 knots of north westerly with Ian Baillie in front. He kept his position through the shifts and wafts of wind despite never having sailed here before. Behind him there was lots of place changing, all at a slow pace. Down the last reach the comment about snakes and ladders came to pass. Ian became stranded in a hole and was left looking forlornly up at his flag as the majority of the fleet glided past 50 yards away. Ross Watson on the other hand found his ladder. Rounding the gybe mark 7th he slipped through into the lead at the leeward mark and found enough wind to stay ahead. Next was Chris Holman in his first ever Solo traveller, followed by Kenny Manderson and Ben Yeats.

HD Sails Scottish Solo Travellers at Loch Venachar - photo © Julie Leece

The course was the same for the second race and the wind seemed even lighter. As the gun went Ian and Ross were well back and Willie Todd found himself parked on the mark. Keith Milroy had borrowed Kevan Gibbs boat for the day and made the best start and despite the conditions led throughout. He was followed by a very consistent Chris Holman and then Ben Yeats. This race finished in almost no wind and with the beach only yards away everyone returned to shore and enjoyed a chat. With almost no wind and what there was coming from the north east no-one would have been surprised if race officer John McPartlin had called it a day. But no, a hooter sounded and we were back afloat.

It looked like a broad reach to start and Ian asked if we were really going round the same course. We were indeed and a reaching start it was. Those that started at the outer limit made the best of it with Jon Bailey leading off the line followed by Patrick Burns and Kenny Manderson. Patrick slipped past Jon to windward to take the lead accompanied by shouts of 'Patrick is in the lead, shorten the course!' Needless to say it did not last and he and Kenny ran out of wind. Chris found his own little waft to sail under three boats to take the lead before the first mark from which he was never headed. It was a single lap race and he was followed home by Bruce Birrell, who had been improving as the day progressed, and then Keith Milroy.

The clear winner of the HD Sails Scottish Solo traveller was Chris Holman from Helensburgh. He was consistently at or near the front in every race. Second was Keith Milroy and then Ross Watson. As well as the travellers event today we raced for the Ben Ledi trophy - sailed appropriately under Ben Ledi itself which overlooks Loch Venachar. No discards allowed for this and Chris was again the deserved winner.

It was a very tricky day for everyone involved and the club did well to manage three races. And as we packed up we glimpsed through the trees a nice 8 knot westerly blowing straight down the loch, much as forecast. The joys of inland sailing! Next in the HS Sails Scottish Solo travellers series is Loch Tummel in three weeks, and hopefully the turnout will be good.

Overall Results: