Yachts set for new season
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THE new season for the Wick Model Yacht Club kicked off last weekend.
Sarclet was the venue for the first races of the year and conditions were good, starting with a clear day and a breeze blowing almost directly across the loch, slightly off beam.
The four-foot yachts were fitted with their mid-sized sails and prepared at the start line with spinnakers in the contest for the Club Cup.
The whistle blew and the departing boats sailed towards the shoreline near the Scarf Rock, all except the Firewood which ran with no spinnaker.
Once they got past the shed they started to pull into the wind towards the favoured short shore. The Firewood with mainsail slackened struggled to keep up.
The Apollo closely followed by the Aurora were ahead and stretching a lead. With spinnakers removed and sails adjusted they were whipped around to start the return journey
with the Valhalla and Firewood trailing.
With the spinnakers removed the yachts hugged the short shore. The Firewood, positioned in the stronger wind, gradually closed on the leaders as they approached the finish line.Results – 1, Firewood, sailed by Kevin Paterson, 21 mins 15 sec; 2, Apollo, 22.18; 3, Aurora, sailed by Archie Miller, 24.28; 4, Valhalla, 25.41.
The second race of the day was the first leg of the Alliance & Leicester Shield.
All vessels started with spinnakers fitted and much like the first race the boats sailed over towards the far side before pulling in to the wind.
Only this time the sailors endured a brief heavy rain shower to wash the cobwebs away.
Again the Apollo and Aurora led the way, followed by Firewood and Valhalla.
On the return Firewood caught and passed the leaders, finally hitting the shore 20m away from the finish line, awaiting its unfit sailor to catch up. By the time this happened the Apollo had crossed the line.
Results – 1, Apollo, sailed by Donald McWilliam and Willie Thomson, 24.00; 2, Firewood, 24.20; 3, Aurora, 24.44; 4, Valhalla, sailed by Sandy Bremner, 26.27.
Sailing continued on Saturday with the larger five-foot class boats at 2pm on Sarclet Loch. For more details check out the club’s website – wmyc.site90.com
