Please select your home edition
Edition
Savvy Navvy 2024

Scottish Challenger Regatta at Castle Semple Sailing Club

by Stephen Laycock 13 Jul 2022 22:16 UTC 9-10 July 2022
Scottish Challenger Regatta at Castle Semple © Sailability Scotland

What a fantastic weekend. First and foremost, our thanks go out to Castle Semple SC who hosted this event at very short notice, and in particular to Race Officer Arthur Logan and Vice Commodore Jules Whitestone who not only hosted two of our sailors at their own homes but also provided breakfast and lunch over the two days (with a little help from Jean Watson).

The weather when we arrived on the Friday to build boats was pretty warm and as we built boats, we looked forward to the predicted two days of sun and breeze.

Saturday saw clear blue skies and soaring temperatures AND A BREEZE, great day for our regatta. Race officer Arthur Logan indicated he would like to run two races before and after lunch and possibly the same on Sunday giving us eight races and two discards. A bit ambitious!

All on the water and at 11:22 the horn shouted out the 5 min warning. A light breeze saw the eight competing boats cross the start line together with Duncan Greenhalgh (DG) having a great start with John Hasler (JH) chasing, Rory McKinna (RM) in contention. Although Rory is a highly respected and successful Hansa 303 sailor this was his first sail in a Challenger.

The fleet had stretched out to cover two legs when the leader (DG) lost the wind, the rest of the fleet bunched up behind before also losing the wind and the tail ender caught everyone up like a steam train, but after eventually rounding the mark (DG) continued to stamp his authority on the race After two laps the positions had not changed much although Alex Hodge(AH) made up a lot of ground after a bad start to finish fourth. Positions second/third/fourth were all closely contested finishing within 9 seconds of each other.

Immediately the last person Ronnie Cameron(RC) crossed the finish line the 5 minute hoot was given to start the countdown for the next race. It shaped up into an overly competitive start which resulted in four boats over the line and a full recall. The restart was very confusing and resulted in some getting almost to the first mark before the rest set off. But the finishing positions were almost the same as the first race.

Lunch ashore provided jointly by Jules Whitstone (Vice Commodore) and Jean Watson (my better half). Sailors were not only provided with fab food but also sunscreen and umbrellas; it was hot out there!

Races 3 and 4 saw the breeze become a little more frisky (but multi directional) and (AH) & (RC) improve a bit with Dorothy Bennett(DB) and (JH) slipping a little.

At the end of the first day (DG) was in a clear lead with (RM) in a very creditable second. Only 17 points separated the rest, so the regatta seemed to split in a leaders race and the lower order positions. Everyone had something to race for on day 2.

Day 2 saw the same temperatures (23 degrees Celsius) but only a light breeze. Only two races planned today to give everyone time for lunch/prize-giving and packing up boats to take home.

With only enough breeze to enable the boats to cruise along the last two races were more dependent on skill. Perhaps the most exciting part was when, on the last race of the day (DG) crossed the start line first but then turned around due to a misunderstanding about flags not being lowered. This resulted in him crossing over the start line in seventh position.

What followed was a lesson in skill as (DG) gradually overhauled almost the entire fleet over the two laps to finish second.

Overall Results:

PositionBoat NameSail NoHelmR1R2R3R4R5R 6Pts
1White Knight280Duncan Greenhalgh11111‑25
2Great Scot237Rory McKenna‑32323312
3 252Jon Hasler244‑63114
4Western Challenger116Alex Hodge43234‑616
5Skean Dhu Too238Stephen T Bate5555‑6525
6Hot Scotch233Dorothy Bennett667‑85428
7The Glasgow Merchant158Ronnie Cameron‑88677836
8 253Iain HardyDNCDNC84DNCDNC 
9 253Arthur Black77DNCDNCDNCDNC 
10 253Jules WhitestoneDNCDNCDNCDNC117 

Related Articles

UK Challenger Championships at Rutland
The wind began with a lively F5 gusting F7/8 Sixteen Challengers gathered at Rutland Sailing Club for the 2024 UK Open Challenger Championship on Friday 27 September. Unfortunately "gathering" was all they were going to do that day. Posted on 1 Oct
Challengers at Ogston
Club kindly arrange boats to loan 4 of the visiting helms Usually the Challenger Open at Ogston SC is part of their general handicap event. However, this year the dates didn't work and Dave Driffill generously organised a special Challenger Open for us. Posted on 9 Sep
Challenger Travellers at Loch Earn
"Proper Scottish sailing," they said The strong winds forecast for Saturday 24th did not disappoint. The Westerly wind bounced down the Loch bringing gusts of up to 30mph. This proved to be ideal, with exciting, Challenger sailing, but the shifts demanding concentration from all sailors. Posted on 29 Aug
Scottish Open Challenger Championship
A great turnout at Loch Venachar Sailing Club On Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th August ten Challengers entered the SOCC hosted by Loch Venachar Sailing Club. A great turn out with competitors travelling from far and wide to sail in the heart of the Trossachs in Central Scotland. Posted on 11 Aug
Welsh Open Challenger Championship
For the first time in some years, the visitors were joined by the two local boats Five Challengers travelled to Llyn Brenig for the Welsh Open Challenger Championship. Most had rather trying journeys, especially the two sailors coming from the north. For the first time in some years, the visitors were joined by the two local boats. Posted on 23 Jul
English Open Challenger Championship
Another very successful event at Scaling Dam After a very successful event at Scaling Dam Sailing and Watersports Club in 2023 the Challengers returned in 2024 for the English Open Challenger Championship. Posted on 4 Jun
WISH SC Open Challenger Event
Six Challengers representing five clubs race at Wigan and St Helens SC After a very successful Challenger event WISH (Wigan and St Helens) Sailing Club in 2023 the Challengers returned for the weekend 18-19 May. Posted on 22 May
Challenger Travellers at Castle Semple
Launched on Saturday more in the hope than expectation of racing Seven Challengers raced at Castle Semple SC during the weekend 4-5 May. Chi Chian Wu was kindly loaned one of the Challengers based at Castle Semple SC and Lynn Steward of Wigan and St Helens SC borrowed a Sailability Scotland boat. Posted on 8 May
Challenger Coaching Weekend at Rutland
Led by Brett Cokayne, the RYA's National Sailability Developer The weekend 27-28 April saw the first Challenger event of the season. It was a coaching weekend led by Brett Cokayne, the RYA's National Sailability Developer. On Sunday Brett was joined by Andy Gordon of Scaling Dam. Posted on 1 May
Purple patch at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
Clear the 'in' colour for sailors in 2024 Sailing fashion is a fickle thing, one minute yellow is all the rage, then red, then orange. In 2024 it was most definitely the colour purple. Posted on 26 Feb
Savvy Navvy 2024Maritimo 2023 M600 FOOTER