Apollo sails to victory in inter-county contest
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WICK Model Yacht Club hosted the annual Inter County Challenge which comprised eight races over two days competing against the Kirkwall Model Yacht Club on Loch Sarclet, near Thrumster.
Rain during the week made the pathway around the loch wet, muddy and slippy while the weather on the first day was rough, with high winds and persistent rain. The second day brought an improvement with it staying dry with brief interludes of sunshine.
The Wick club, sailing their 4ft class vessels, comprised: Apollo sailed by Donald McWilliam & Willie Thomson; Aurora, sailed by Archie & Fiona Miller; Pioneer, sailed by Michael Sutherland & Louise Sinclair; and Firewood, sailed by Kevin Paterson & Louise Sinclair
The Kirkwall club’s sole entrant was Highlander, sailed by Ian Kirkness, Alan Walls & Bill Drever.
The first race was the first leg of the Thrumster Estate Cup when Apollo, sailing into the wind, led the fleet, closely followed by Firewood. The wind picked up in strength, causing Highlander’s main sail to lag behind after its main sail slackened. Pioneer’s main sail unhooked several times and it withdrew.
On the return with spinnakers fitted, Apollo only touched the shore twice, finishing quickly. Firewood and Aurora were struggling to sail a straight course and bounced along the short shore. Highlander (with no spinnaker) sailed upright but the deficit created by the slackened sail was too great.
Result: 1 Apollo 26m41s 2 Firewood 33.15. 3 Aurora 42.29. 4 Highlander 46.42. Pioneer DNF.
The second race, the first leg of Quatercentenary Cup, saw Pioneer leading with the Firewood and Highlander chasing as the fleet tacked their way up the loch. Aurora and Apollo were falling behind with Firewood, with a quickly fitted spinnaker, first to return, followed by Pioneer. While the pair contested the lead, Highlander skipped along the top of the waves, easily passing the leading boats as though they were standing still. Firewood hit the hole but bounced back crossing the finish line with Pioneer close behind.
Result: 1 Highlander 24.54. 2 Firewood 27.11. 3 Pioneer 29.59. 4 Apollo 33.18. 5 Aurora 33.29.
At the start of the second leg of the Thrumster Estate Cup, Highlander, Aurora and Apollo collided, allowing Firewood to sail away. Though first to return, the gusting wind caused it to bounce along the shore and lose time. As the first race, Apollo, with its sails reduced, was in its element sailing quickly under spinnaker with Highlander chasing and passing Firewood to take second place.
1 Apollo 27.37. 2 Highlander 28.53. 3 Firewood 30.40. 4 Aurora 33.39.
The second leg of the Quatercentenary Cup saw Apollo establish a lead with Aurora and Highlander in hot pursuit. Firewood, with its smallest sails, fell behind. On the return with the increased wind, Apollo was uncatchable. Highlander landed in the hole to end its hopes. In the meantime, the trailing Firewood passed Aurora, which was overdriven by the wind, causing it to nosedive and have to return to shore. Firewood headed towards the hole where it hit a rock, turned and went straight across the finish line. The rough weather, which damaged the Orcadian yacht’s vane gear together with a disconnected jib, flapped its way back across to the opposite shore before being scratched from the race, as was Aurora.
Result: 1 Apollo 24.14. 2 Firewood 26.58.
The fifth race, the first leg of MayDay Shield, started with Apollo ahead, moving swiftly but not sailing as high as Highlander. The overpowered Firewood, pinching, was falling behind. On the return, Highlander was ahead of the under spinnaker Apollo which was wandering from side to side, even though, luck was on its side as it caught and passed Highlander. Aurora bounced along the short side with Firewood trailing on the long shore before blowing across the finish line.
Result: 1 Apollo 25.45. 2 Highlander 26.27. 3 Aurora 28.56. 4 Firewood 30.15.
The sixth race, the first leg of the SMYA Northern Trophy, saw Firewood, with smaller sails, start fast but not high while Apollo was high and quick. Highlander was pinching due to the jib flapping and Aurora was oversailed for the now windier conditions. Firewood was first to return but fell away towards long shore, normally a time-consuming path. Highlander gained prime position and led Apollo passing the shed. Firewood turned when it hit the rocky shore and sailed straight into the goal ahead of Highlander which again headed to the hole. Aurora struggled to get off shore short.
Result: 1 Firewood 24.17. 2 Apollo 25.44. 3 Highlander 27.53. 4 Aurora 31.52.
In the second leg of the MayDay Shield, a minor shift in wind direction gave advantage to the well-positioned Highlander which sailed very high, achieving a huge lead.
Apollo followed with Aurora lagging and Firewood suffering the lack of sail with the lighter wind. On the return, Highlander sailed back and forth across the loch with slackened sails. The time lost allowed Apollo and the now steadier Aurora to pass.
Result: 1 Apollo. 32.00. 2 Aurora 33.56. 3 Highlander 39.20. 4 Firewood 51.10.
The final race, the second leg of the SMYA Northern Trophy, saw Highlander get everything right. It led from the start, with the chasing fleet falling behind. On the return, the improving Aurora was keeping pace but Highlander achieved the cleanest run of the weekend, sailing from end to end. Result: 1 Highlander 25.06. 2 Aurora 28.20. 3 Firewood 31.10. 4 Apollo 33.15.
Trophy placings: Thrumster Estate Cup – 1 Apollo 12 points. 2 Firewood 9. 3. Highlander 8. 4 Aurora 7.
QuaterCentenary Cup – 1 Firewood 10. 2 Apollo 9. 3 Highlander 6. 4 Pioneer 4
MayDay Shield – 1 Apollo 12. 2 Aurora 9. 3 Highlander 9. 4 Firewood 6.
SMYA Northern Trophy races – 1 Highlander 10. 2 Firewood 10. 3 Apollo 8. 4 Aurora 8.
Viking Cup (overall points) – 1 Apollo 41. 2 Firewood 35. 3 Highlander 33. 4 Aurora 26. 5 Pioneer 4.
Bill Drever Cup for best Orcadian vessel – Highlander.
