The weather forecast in the run-up to the weekend of 28 – 29 September had us digging out the heavy weather sails, but Saturday dawned with a lovely WSW breeze and very welcome flat water conditions on the Forth. The race officer was aware of the lighter forecast for Sunday and combined starts for the Dragons, 707 and H-boats to reduce time between potentially 4 races and make our day more interesting!
Race 1 saw Kismet and Wizz Too both having a good start and the first collision avoidance of the day for Kismet with a port tack pin end H-boat trying to make space. The good news was we were in 6 knots of breeze. Kismet managed to pull ahead of most of the H-boats and find clear air to take the first race from Wizz Too. Race 2 saw a shorter course length as the breeze moved more SW, built, but added more laps. Kismet again managed to find clear air on the first beat and hang onto their lead. Race 3 saw a much better start for Wizz Too who covered Kismet all the way around the race course. Race 4 was close at the windward mark with Kismet to windward of Wizz Too. An H-boat slotted between the Dragons causing Kismet to avoid mounting it and Wizz Too ended up being pushed down and touching the mark.
Sunday had an hour delay for the start time waiting for the expected SE wind to fill in. Race 5 saw Wizz Too take the lead for the first 2 laps but the tricky leeward mark gybe, drop and harden up tested the crews and Kismet managed to squeeze inside and take control on beat 3 with a big left shift. Race 6 was close again but some congestion for Wizz Too at the windward mark allowed Kismet to pull ahead. A full series of 6 races in great conditions saw the Kismet crew take 5 out of 6 races and be handed the Scottish Dragon Championship trophies.
RESULTS
Scottish Dragon Fleet
Sailed: 6, Discards: 1, To count: 5, Entries: 3
1st Kismet GBR 508 RFYC Cathy Ogden Sheena Kerr, Moira Kinnear, Fiona Hutchison
2nd Wizz Two GBR 343 RFYC Henry Boyd Hollie Bartley, Davide Usai
3rd Kestra GBR 731 RFYC Richard Leask
- Cathy Ogden
Image credit: Mark Kisby and Torben Sell