Flying Scots enjoy the steady breeze at DIYC

I know what you are saying "There's no such thing as steady breeze at Davis Island" which is true 99% of the time. We just did the 1% day! The breeze was both steady in velocity and direction.

Here's proof for the non-believers

One thing about the chart; the yellow directional arrows were off a bit, maybe more than a bit, more like about 100 degrees. We started at 2 pm in a westerly, maybe 270 - 280 (but we left our compass at home) and just enough for some micro-whitecaps. The W/L course was short with only about 20 minutes needed to finish the 4 leg races. I think we did 6 races but it might have been 7, hard to keep track. I do remember we started with a last (we decided it was time to practice sailing over the spin sheet) and finished with a first.

It was a little strange to be sailing again at DI, seems like a really long time since we did. This is our home fleet but it seems there have been a variety of very excellent reasons why we have't been able to sail. Hard to beleive but it may be like 6 months or so...

Here is Andy's official report;

Saturdays practice had 10 teams on the premises and 8 out on the line. Dave and Kim Thinel # 812, Mark Taylor with Dean Bell #4321, Jeff and Amy Linton #4925, Al Thompson and Cameron Salmon # 504, Andy and Lisa Hayward #38, Paul Silvernail and Leslie Fisher # 5026, Dave Bell and Susan Cintron # 4156, Chris Morgan and Crew # 2052, Keith Lockey and Darren sailed # 3185 near us but did not race, and Bill Adikes # 3998, never got it wet.

The weather was the best I can remember, if not perfect, a full hike, vang on Westerly with fairly smooth water. (Although the studs on #4321 did not appear to be hiking!)

Big thanks to Dave Clement and Andrew Fuddy for some super Race Committee! Here is the blow by blow from them;

Race #1

Pack bunched up at the pin for the first start of the day. Amazingly, there was not one boat called OCS. Was this a practice race? A left shift helped the boats on the left get ahead and #4925 rounded first and never looked back, winning the race. They were followed by #2052 and #4321.

Race #2

All clear with #38 winning the start. Nice start! It appeared there was a port starboard issue between #4925 and #4321. You must have a plan in case the other boat does not respond to a ‘tack or cross’ request. It appeared 5026 or 4321 rounded first. At this point there are two packs with tight racing in each. #38 is working low on the run and is looking good until Thomas the train showed up to steal ALL of the breeze. #4321 and #4925 managed to escape the chaos (an understatement) at the leeward mark. #4925 was able to sail a little higher and eventually lee bow #4321 and take the lead which would last till the finish.

Race #3

General recall after RC calling the line stated, “There all over!”.

Second start was clean except for #4321 who was OCS.

We think #504 rounded first, but 5026 definitely had the chute flying first and lead the pack to the leeward mark. Somehow #4925 passed #5026 at the rounding and led the fleet up the second beat. The finish was #4925, #5026 and #38.



Race #4

All clear with Al and Cameron really, really, really close. Nice start! Three boats take the left side and 4 to the right. #38 is the first to the mark from the left hand side. Then #504 and #4321. There is some separation to the next pack. #504 rounds the leeward mark in first. Up the beat, there is better breeze on the left hand side. #4321 is smoking the fleet up the beat and extends the lead. Get the chute up!!!!!!!!! A good gybe coming into the finish and while crossing the line, the skipper hails, “I GOT YA!!!”

Race #5

Clean start, but just barely. Either a very aggressive fleet or better yet, “It was the current pushing us over.” –Al Thompson #4925 rounded first and held on the lead for the win. #504 decided to move the weather mark a little to the left. Thanks guys!


Race #6

There is much debate over whether or not this race counted due to the horrible line and windward mark placement. I guess the RC can’t get it right every time. There are some rumors that the two boats near the pin end of the line were over, but no flags were flown. #812 had a nice beat and were first to the windward mark followed closely by the pack. With blistering speed, #5026 passed #4925 downwind and rounded in third behind #812 and #504. #812 won the race with #504 in second.


Back to Andy; The shorter courses and a practice format kept the racing tight, and brought out the aggressive side of some teams (Guilty!) But we all got in some badly needed reps to help us prepare for the Thanksgiving Regatta.

The Lintons did their thing, but Mark and Deano got them in a race, did someone else get them? and I think most of the teams lead a race or was close to leading.



R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Tot

#4925- 1 1 1 2 1 5 =11

#5026- 5 3 2 6 3 3 =22

#812- 8 5 4 5 2 1 =25

#504- 4 6 5 4 6 2 =27

#2052- 2 4 6 7 5 4 =28

#4321- 3 2 ocs 8 1 dnf 8 dns 7 =29

#38- 6 7 3 raf 8 raf 8 dns 7 =39

#4156- 7 8 dns 7 dns 7 dns 7 dns 7 =43



The gang hit Tates but alas, the Dominoes stayed in the box, next time!

So far it's only the Lintons and the Haywards present on the online registration list for the DIYC Thanksgiving Regatta, it's November 28th and 29th register now!

This is the most words ever for a fleet race, thanks Dave C.!