National 12 - Scottish Championship
St Mary's Loch Sailing Club
The N12 Scottish Championship was sailed by 13 boats at St Mary's Loch on Saturday and Sunday of the Bank Holiday weekend. The Saturday was wet and misty with a S.W. force 1-2 blowing up the Loch, with force 4 squalls to liven things up. In the first race, John and Jim Whitehead proceeded into the misty distance in their brand new Feeling Foolish. Second were Sue Jones and Henry Mark (Crusader) with Bernard Clark and James Shipley (Final Chapter) third.
In the second race, the Whiteheads again took the lead straight from the start and were never troubled, although the lower places changed frequently in the fluky winds. Sue Jones was second again with David and Jenny Davies third in their immaculate 24 year old Pipedream.
Sunday was bright and sunny with a sometimes brisk Westerly blowing out of the valleys to complicate the wind pattern. However, the race pattern was the same as the previous day. John Whitehead again took a decisive win, Sue Jones was second and the Davies third.
With the championship already won, John Whitehead sportingly sat out the fourth and last race, although son Jim found a job crewing. The race was won by the Davies with a consistent Sue Jones again in second. Chris and Sarah Mark (Crusader) took a hard fought third from Terry and Barbara Spence (Design 8) at the end of the mile long beat.
The overall results were 1st John Whitehead
2nd Sue Jones
3rd David Davies
The St Mary's Loch special prize for consistency and determination went to David and Barbara Darling.
Three points stand out from the weekend. First of all, St Mary's Loch SC were generous and friendly hosts. We were all well and truly fed, watered and entertained. Their hospitality will remain in the mind long after thoughts of the sailing have faded.
Secondly, the degree of family involvement was quite noticeable. Out of 13 boats, nine had husband wife crews, two had a father/son or father/daughter combination and two had young crews borrowed from other sailing families. Is this a good thing? On the surface it certainly seems so, but I wonder if a bit of mixing up would help to bring new faces into the class.
Thirdly, the marked contrast between the two race winning boats. John Whitehead's brand new, state of the art "Feeling Foolish" with epoxy double bottom, carbon fibre everything, controls beautifully laid out, down to weight (and beyond) etc. Then David Davies' "Pipedream", painted and varnished wood, 24 years old and still looking good, bilge keels removed, modern rig and going like a rocket. Just goes to prove what we already know; that in the right hands and conditions, a well prepared older boat still has a chance against the latest designs.
Finally, may I say thanks to everyone who expressed sympathy or concern over Carol's ankle injury, sustained not on the water but while dancing the Dashing White Sergeant on Saturday night. This traditional and harmless (?) recreation could double as assault training for the SAS. A visit to Casualty on Monday morning diagnosed a ruptured Achilles tendon. Carol now has plaster from ankle to hip and must keep it on for at least 3 weeks. I don't know how I will cope.
Alan Thomson