Fife Regatta – 20 May
The Fife regatta was held by our club on Sunday 20th May and what a roaring success it turned out to be. We were blessed with blue skies, sunshine and a good Easterly breeze which augured well for a good day on the water. Photos taken during the event have been added to our Gallery. Full size copies of these can be obtained from alastair@bullions.co.uk.
The entries consisted of;
Three division 1 boats, Hobbes, Kermit and Pink Gin.
Two division 2 boats, Markate and Naiad.
Six white sail boats, Baltika (PEYC), Cerberus, Joint Venture, Meggy, Seeaway (DBSC) and Solveig.
Not a bad turn out considering the date we inherited for this race coincided with an event on the West coast that drew a few of the bigger boats away.
Our new starters hut was a positive hive of activity with Messrs Bullions, Simpson and Thomson synchronised to operate the flags, horns and lights at the same time. At 1400 the racing started and the three fast division 1 boats led the way. It was an exciting start as they had judged their runs to near perfection and the small crowd on the pier witnessed them slicing through the water, side by side and across the start line. Five minutes later and the Division 2 boats started followed five minutes later by the white sails. Those on the start line were particularly interested to see which of our club boats made the best start. There then followed two hours of close racing as the division 1 and 2 raced twice round our cans while the white sails went round ‘E’ and ‘H’ and then off into the distance towards Dods Bank. It really was an impressive sight to see so many boats racing round our course in such fine sailing weather.
Those in the starters hut could then relax for a few moments and congratulate themselves on a job well done with a celebratory can of diet coke! However they couldn’t become too complacent as the task of recording each boat in each division rounding each mark became increasingly complex. The team work by the starting crew was well tested when so many boats approaching the finish line together had to be identified as either, rounding a mark, completing a lap or finishing the race! But a fine team effort once again prevailed and all was well.
First home was Hobbes and congratulations to them on a race well won. They were followed only three minutes later by Pink Gin with Kermit, who bravely endured some spinnaker issues during the race, coming in third. (Full results)
Division 2 turned out to be a more one sided affair with Naiad winning and Markate, who also had spinnaker trouble, retiring. (Full results)
The white sails, however, gave us the closest racing of the day. First across the line were our visitors from PEYC in a rented 707. But with a low handicap to accompany such a fast fin keeler her corrected time would place her a very worthy third place. Next at the finish line, and with only one second separating them, came the first of our club boats. The finishing horn sounded the two signals almost as one as Joint Venture just pipped Cerberus across the line. All three of the starting hut crew witnessed this superb spectacle with bated breath as the boats neared the line, wondering just who would take the honours and there was barely the length of a bow roller in it! So congratulations to George and his crew for a well won battle of the Salty Dogs.
After such a long run up the river only five minutes finally separated our club boats so hearty congratulations to all who competed. The final results were;
1st Joint venture, 2nd Cerberus, 3rd Baltika, 4th Meggy, 5th Solveig, 6th Seeaway. (Full results)
As the Division 1 and 2 boats sailed back to their home clubs our own members returned to Limekilns to enjoy a well-deserved drink in the sun-soaked garden of our clubhouse. There, between mouthfuls of beer, animated discussions could be heard as each skipper shared their experience with fellow competitors. A special mention goes to the skipper and crew of Baltika. Despite being a fin keeler from Port Edgar they took the time to tie-up and come for a drink and a chat at the club before the tide demanded they sail off home. They also, very graciously, thanked us heartily for holding such a fine event and hoped we would continue to do so.
In conclusion the Fife regatta was a great success due in no small part to those committee members who worked so hard behind the scenes. The preparatory works in issuing the N.O.R. and race instructions were well executed. New large course numbers and letters were printed up allowing them to be easily seen by the competitors. The new starting lights and refurbished horns worked perfectly and the replacement flagpole with its three halyards hauled up our freshly laundered flags with consummate ease. Finally, our new starters hut proved itself, in the heat of battle, to be fit for purpose. Those working in it found it spacious and comfortable with excellent views to all parts of the course. It was also pleasing to hear many of our members who came down to watch this spectacle commenting on how fine it looked.
The successful holding of this event has shone a very favourable light on our club. Those from other clubs will take away with them happy memories of a race well run and a friendly club where visitors are always welcome.
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Fife Regatta – 20 May
On May 20th Forth Cruising Club has the honour of holding this years Fife Regatta. This competition is open to all Division 1, 2 and white sail yachts that hold an FYCA handicap. It will be quite a spectacle to see the big Division 1 yachts going round our course and all members are encouraged to come down and watch. Even better, if you hold an FYCA handicap why not enter and compete against other white sail yachts for the prizes on offer!
The links below give - more details of this race and how to obtain an entry form; and sailing instructions:
Fife Regatta FCC Limekilns Sunday 20th May 2012
Additions / Clarification to Sailing Instructions
Start Procedure
For the avoidance of doubt, the first warning signal for Division 2 and White Sail Class is the start signal of the preceding class, there will be a slight delay of two to three seconds on the three lights coming on.
COURSES
There is one additional course
E11 E_H_Blackness_Tancred_W_O (all marks of this course to Starboard)
2012 Fife Regatta sailing instructions
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Masson Trophy 2012 Race Instructions
