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multihulls sail such a different course upwind that you cannot judge accurately where they are. At the end of the first lap, DaveS led, with Steve second, Keith third, and DaveP fourth. On the beat, the choice was of how many tacks to take, and whether to risk long tacks into the bays. I had overtaken Louise just after the first run, and then saw out of the corner of my eye the familiar red trimaran of JohnB, the captain's cap, and I'm sure also a smoking pipe. I nearly caught him at the end of the first lap, as he struggled a bit to round the buoy, but not quite.
On the second lap, I realised on the beat that Keith was on the opposite side of the lake to me, and that I wasn't too far behind. He had chosen to use the east side, whereas the leading three kept to the west. JohnB was crisscrossing me, and I still judged I could catch him. A tremendous battle occurred, with SteveR winning, just, from DaveP. Steve's Dearg (sic - Ed.) had served him well, and I know well that in waves the boat is difficult to keep on course, especially up-wind. Keith paid for his tacking decision, losing out to JohnB. A really good and close race, but a pity that in performance terms, some members chose to retire because of the large gap in times at the end of the first lap.
The afternoon race was a reverse one, with last going off first, to see how this 'Portsoy handicap' worked out. In theory, everyone should end up crossing the finish line together! The one lap produced again some fast and furious racing. I was aware of gaining on the three boats in front of me, and passing them just after the Pooley Bridge buoy, and being aware of the faster boats behind. JohnB appeared again, and on the tacks I could see the rest of the fleet. About two thirds of the way up on the beat, I realised that I was sailing parallel to DaveS, and we battled to the end, Dave, in a similar boat, inexorably drawing ahead. JohnB managed it again, showing both good sailing and his experience.
The results speak for themselves. DaveS won, and had started 3 minutes behind me; JohnB had started 2 minutes behind me; and I beat SteveR by 3 mins 30 secs, but he had started 5 minutes behind, so caught up by one and a half minutes. Fascinating stuff!
Make Your Own Sails (CarolD)
As the wife of an OCSG member may I concur with DaveT that it is indeed feasible to make sails on a domestic sewing machine. Mine is so antiquated it does not even have a zigzag stitch option, but I successfully made the wing sail for Dennis's trimaran Blues Trio. The fabric is rip-stop nylon in a tasteful shade of turquoise which cost less than £2.00 per yard in one of those wonderful remnant shops one occasionally comes across (Felixstowe). Snap up useful looking fabrics when you see them 'cos they won't be there when you make a return visit! For the technically minded the wing sail is just a sleeve with a top panel shaped to match the airfoil ribs over which the sail pulls. I just stitched where I was told!
Race Starts (EddieP)
We seem to have re-occurring problems over race starts, with different protocols used, a shortage of stopwatches, and less than accurate timing. I will offer for Loch Lomond some large numbers, plus a chair to put them on, so that sailors on the water are sure that either a 10 or 5-minute horn/blast/shout has sounded. This is instead of casting around for someone else to ask, when a perhaps strangulated foghorn has been heard/not heard/misheard. Some sailing clubs (Ullswater is one), have electronic lights, so that a sound signal can be checked out re the time. I think a (short) printed protocol for starts should be adopted for the poor wives/relatives/dogs press-ganged into doing the job, for whom I have plenty of sympathy.
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