Fairlie Yacht Club Autumn Points week 5 - 26.10.08

Following on from the storm conditions of Saturday 25th October, the FYC race fleet left Largs Marina on Sunday morning with trepidation, having read the forecast for force 6 to 8, occasionally 9, with squally showers. Race Officer Peter Wright sent the fleet on a figure of eight course, starting with a short beat to Fairhaven, followed by a reach towards Hunterston, then another beat to Cumbrae and a run back to the Marina. Confusion at the start for some proved the value of local knowledge, but once the fleet got under way, the first round passed without incident. However, dark clouds on the horizon indicated the approach of the promised squally showers, which duly arrived on the spinnaker run at the end of the first round. Some spectacular broaches, the most notable of which was performed by Aquasmart, the Hanse 370e, as the wind gusted to 40 knots.

The second round was somewhat shorter, but the fleets were again battered by squalls of 40-45 knots, resulting in some more entertaining broaches, followed by involuntary tacks, with the inevitable soaking for the crew hiked out on the new leeward rail! Nevertheless, close racing was enjoyed by the three fleets, with all boats finishing apparently unscathed. The second scheduled race was abandoned after a 50 knot squall passed through just after the finish of the first race. The wisdom of this decision was evident as a succession of violent rain blasts passed through during the following hour, all watched from the comfort and warmth of the Largs Sailing Club clubhouse.

The six week series reaches its climax next Sunday, when the final two races are scheduled. In IRC class 1, John Corson's Corby 33, Salamander XX seems to have the series sewn up, 10 points ahead of Ken Grant's J109 Tigh Soluis 2. CYCA light displacement class 4 is a two horse race between the Sadler 25s Silenus and Whirligig, (Chris McCondichie and Keith Agnew respectively). Silenus looks to have an unassailable lead going into the final week, but is being chased all the way by her twin sister. The closest battle is in CYCA heavy displacement class 3. Although Brian Wiseman's Westerly Storm Sorr of Appin looks to have won the series, they will still have to sail two solid races next week to make sure. The next 4 boats are separated by only 1.6 points, so the race for second and third places will all depend on the outcome of the final week of racing. Full race results can be found on the Fairlie Yacht Club website (www.fyc.uk.com).

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