The Scottish Travellers series drew to a close with a visit to a new venue for the class, as they were invited to take part in Clyde Cruising Club’s dinghy section Regatta, held at Inverkip on 16 and 17 September. The event saw a wide range of craft taking part including Optimists, RS200’s, Lasers,Toppers and Laser 2000’s.

Saturday racing was held in a shifty force 3-4 over Olympic courses. The first race saw Bernard Clark and Dean Gillespie lead from John and James Brookes and Brian Kelly and Lorna Dryburgh. The places changed dramatically when the first 2 boats were disqualified after sailing back through the start line on the run. This decision was debated long and hard by Bernard and the on the water judge over wine that evening and it was eventually decided that the 12’s had the moral victory but the disqualification stood. Race 2 saw Clark and Brookes making sure they stayed clear of the start line on the run! Race 3 was sailed over a windward/leeward course, with Bernard leading for the first round but a decision to head left took him into a patch of no wind and allowed John to make the most of his decision to head right and take the lead which he maintained to the end.

Sunday dawned with low cloud, rain and no wind. The OOD postponed for 2 hours and then allowed the fleet to go afloat, only to then hold them under further postponement for another hour. Eventually racing got underway in a gentle breeze, only 1 triangle of the course was sailed and as the wind died away again racing was abandoned for the rest of the day.

With a first overall at Inverkip to add to his recent victory at Derwent, Clark also claimed the Lairwell Trophy for the N12 Scottish Travellers series.

Results

1st Bernard Clark/Dean Gillespie N3447 (Yorkshire Ouse SC/CCC)
2nd John and James Brookes N3162 (Tynemouth SC)
3rd Brian Kelly and Lorna Dryburgh (CCC) N3227