Winter on the Forth

Chas was out, unexpectedly, for the last races of the Port Edgar YC Forth Winter series having been invited to make up the numbers on Ian MacLaughlin's most recent acquisition, his J22 Hobbes Express III which he has restored from near abandonment. The wind was pretty light and involved a bit of ghosting along and coping with the fierce spring tide but it made for an enjoyable day on the water. For those, like me, from the Clyde who don't know how things work over there they have AM and PM races forming separate series so that those who want to stay in bed on a Sunday morning can still do so and get an afternoon race. The turnout of small (mainly sub 30ft) boats in the morning was quite respectable but in the afternoon, numbers swelled remarkably with boats like Absolutely (Mumm36), a Corby 29 and an assortment of half ton sized machines among others amounting to about 12 in each of 2 classes - although the series entry is around 15 in each class. Inevitably with darkness falling by 4pm the races were quite short although in the afternoon Class 1 managed 2 rounds. The start is conducted from a hut on the end of the marina breakwater and the racing is around fixed marks so it's hardly Olympic level but it gets plenty of people out and enjoying quite competitive racing. Handicapping is PY with the addition of the Forth rolling system. The advantage of that is that the series is not sewn up halfway through by some super-fast boat and anyone who wants to win has to keep up top effort right to the last race thus maintaining interest. Results at http://peycrace.info/ We're pleased Ian won Class 2 in both AM and PM series - good work with an old boat just relaunched.

Whilst it was chilly it was not totally brass monkeys and being able to go ashore for some food and a warm up between races was most welcome. The PEYC members have a great asset in the form of a clubhouse. It's by no means posh but it's cosy and welcoming and best of all, hot food is served there. (with a proper bar too after racing - happy hour £1 pint )

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Here is Jeanette who dishes up homemade soup, home-made pies (no kidding) and all sorts of other stuff at totally reasonable club prices to hungry competitors. Refuelling in this way makes going out for a second race a much more attractive proposition and I could not help making a comparison with the state of affairs with FYC at Kip and Largs. FYC members may think they have it good with cheap fees and no property to maintain but I think it's great to have a club place where you can go after racing and feel you belong. Unlike the miserable Chartroom where sailors are tolerated at best and the only food on offer is a plate of chips or a burger at 7 quid provided you can order before 9.30. It's time some entrepreneur parked a food van in the Manor Kingdom on Wednesday nights.

How is it that on a dull Sunday in mid December there can be more yachts out racing on the Forth than in some top season Clyde event? Discuss.

Cetacean Beer

I haven't done my usual calendar extract yet but for those of you who want to peruse the entire provisional 2009 calendar in its full horror , it's on the CYCA website as a pdf. The dolphins on those Bell Lawrie flags they gave us last year now make sense. Theye've been brewin them - or something. Welcome to the BDSS.... It's called Re-branding I think.

Traffic

Exasperated by dithering drivers causing jams and obstructions I was moved to wonder if being a racing helmsman make you a more aggressive car driver. We have no worries about slotting our large and expensive lumps of plastic into improbable gaps on a start line and choosing a lane at a busy mark rounding makes heaving a vehicle on to a roundabout without a 10 minute risk assessment seem stupidly straightforward. Discuss.

Vendee Globe

Great news that Mike Golding is now 2nd (at time of writing) in the Vendee Globe. Racing seems extraordinarily close given the distance covered so far. Follow it all at http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/

Sailrocket

I'm sure most of you have already seen the Vestas Sailrocket video where, in the course of breaking speed records, the extraordinary machine does a Donald Campbell. If you haven't, you must. It's here

Yacht Clubs

Whether or not you are a CCC member, if you race on the Clyde you probably owe some thanks to Ian Thomson, the retiring CCC race secretary. Over many years Ian has put a huge amount of work and time into organising and running racing on the Clyde. He has said that his aim was always to bring a good spirit to CCC races and dispel the posh yottie stigma and I think he can count some success in that. He has been influential in developing the Scottish Series into what it is now, carries a lot of responsibility for (ahem) Scottish Series Radio and most recently getting the successful GSS Regatta off the ground. Thankfully he is not lost to us as a practical no-messing race officer as he will still be a RO at the Scottish and probably GSS. Do feel free to second any of this appreciation of his efforts on the forum.

Ian's role is to be taken over by Morag Machin who has actually been involved in the CCC race committee for some 10 years now . She is also Ian Macdonald's sister so so has plenty of background knowledge to fall back on and with the addition of some sensible racers on the committee we should be in good hands.

Looks like an ideal Christmas present - still not too late to buy one.

Well known local photographer and sailor, Marc Turner, has produced a stunning calendar as a celebration of the 2008 Fife Regatta which was held on the Clyde in June. This follows on from the very well received calendar he produced after the 2003 Fife Regatta. The calendar has been designed in a simple and elegant manner, sympathetic to the timelessly elegant lines of these classic yachts and interest in it is expected to be high. More information and ordering details can be found at www.fiferegattacalendar.com and the calendar is also available from major marine stockist across Scotland.