Mudhook Old Pulteney IRC Scottish Championship
It was Holdfast II which won Class2 by one point but we liked this picture of Carmen II better than the Holdfast one. Carmen sailed a great regatta with 3 thirds on Saturday and two firsts on Sunday.
photo: John Douglas
Saturday was a really good day with superb sunshine and just enough breeze though it was moving about a bit. I wasn't out on Sunday but I think the breeze was rather more fickle. At least the forecast rain never materialised. The entry list came together at the last minute and it was a pity the regatta fell into 2 classes with very wide handicap splits which nobody likes. With 13 boats in Class2 and 11 in Class 1 there was a respectable turnout. In previous years there have been whinges about there not being a Sportboat class but this year there was just one sportboat entry - last year's overall winner Gerry Firth (ex Miss Tuttles) in his Beneteau 25 who was put into Class 2 and took 3rd. The full results are here. Race management was excellent with Johnny Watson in charge and with the informative radio broadcasts which we have come to expect and which help keep everyone on the case.
chas
I liked this one of Argy Bargy living up to her name in a crowded bit of line the first Class 1 start of the regatta.
chas
With a low spring tide meaning we were at Chart Datum just when everyone wanted to leave Kip it looked like a postponement might be necessary. However one way or another we all made it out eventually even if some had more difficulty than others. It really is time that Mr Holt Leisureparks got on and did some serious dredging in Kip if it's going to remain more than just a parking lot for stinkboats.
Open Wide: not sure what Alan Macleod was doing at Tanit's masthead but whatever it was must have been good stuff and worth the considerable effort of hoisting him up there as Tanit took the class off Salamander XX by half a point - having had a draw in the first Sunday race. Here's another masthead shot - any ideas whose minging 3DL mainsail this is?
There was a bit of a delay in getting started on Saturday, down at the Skelmorlie Bank waiting for the wind to settle down which it more or less did at around 9knots tops and often much less. The first race was very short - just one round. I'm not sure if 2 longer races would have been better than 3 short ones. Anyway 3 races were run and all wound up by about 4pm. Troika's performance has been terrible - I fitted a Furlex this season and it is about to be removed again and the Tuf Luf put back. If anyone knows someone who would like an as-new Furlex 200 - complete with unused drum new in box with all the bits at a useful saving on the new price then get in touch with me or Mast & Rigging at Kip.
We haven't seen many pics of the new Argentinian built King Mills 40 - Argy Bargy but here she is and looking very sweet too. We have another page of photos here with thanks to John Douglas for most of them. What about some comments on the forum?
chas
New Sunbird Acquisition
Here's Chris Dodgson, starting as he doubtless means to go on, with the prospective wife doing the cleaning. I bet it won't be the last time Kirsty gets to hose down a Bendytoy. It's Chris's stag night at the Mudhook Old Pulteney IRC on Saturday night so maybe Chris should keep the lifejacket on, just in case.
Even More BLSS photos
A further page of photos, this time of the Luddon One Design/ Sportboat fleet and taken by John Douglas from a committee vessel.
