D-Zeros at the Aberdeen & Stonehaven Yacht Club Regatta

D Zeros at the Aberdeen & Stonehaven Yacht Club Regatta © Rona Rose

Fourteen D-Zeros took part in the Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club regatta over the weekend of the 16th and 17th of August and were rewarded with warm sunny weather, close racing and some excellent sailing conditions.

Due to the forecast of very light winds on Sunday, our Race Officer decided to run four races on the Saturday, which was a good call as the sea breeze was slowly coming in from the south and beginning to build up some nice waves.

The fleet was a bit line shy for race one, probably due to the adverse current over the line but it was very tight at the first mark with Ian Baillie first round with Francis Neill close behind, then Ali Higgins, leading the tightly bunched pack. Ian proved just too quick for the rest downwind and built a comfortable lead that he held to the finish and as Francis faded, Ali took over second. Meanwhile Scott Munro recovered from his bad start to charge through the fleet up to third, going particularly well upwind, Tom Atchison sailed very well to hold onto fourth.

The wind had increased to around 12 knots by race two and this time Scott Munro had a great start and led at the first mark. There was a bit of mayhem as some boats overstood on port but penalty turns were done where needed. Scott was chased by Ali Higgins, Ruary Williamson and Tom Aitchison but it was Ian Baillie who passed all but Scott down the first two reaches to challenge for the lead. However, Scott was continuing his great upwind speed and Ian was hampered with lack of kicker tension as he had jury rigged his kicker after breaking the top block on the way out to the race course and couldn't reduce Scott's lead enough downwind. So, Scott won from Ian with Ruary third ahead of Tom and Ali.

Race three, similar wind and still sunny, another crowded start, because going right still paid. Ali Higgins led this time round mark one and was much improved down the reaches. Pete Taylor, Scott Munro and Ian Baillie were following closely but Ali kept his lead until Ian was able to roll him downwind on the third lap and then held the lead to the finish. Scott regained third after falling out the boat while missing his toestraps, Pete in fourth from Tom Aitchison.

There were a few tired bodies by now, as we went into the fourth race and the wind had decreased a bit to more like the first race. This suited Ian Baillie as after rounding just behind Ali Higgins and Ruary Williamson, he passed both down the first reach and was comfortably ahead by the bottom mark and then consolidated his lead for the remaining laps. Ali finished with another second and Ruary gained another third, Pete Taylor was fourth. We then returned to Stonehaven Harbour for a barbeque at the clubhouse.

Sunday was a much lighter wind with sea haar and a bit of overcast. The wind was quite patchy and never really got going, leaving some nasty holes and tantalising gusts that were so often too far away. One of those nasty holes arrived at the pin end, giving those to the right a big advantage, which Scott Munro, Ali Higgins and Pete Taylor took full advantage of, building a substantial lead. The lighter wind meant three laps were sailed and Ali was just able to pip Scott by the finish, with Pete third while Ian Baillie sailed through most of the fleet to finish fourth.

The final race was maybe even trickier as the wind wobbled about and there were some different faces at the front as Dave Kitchen led Francis Neill from Pete Taylor and Ali Higgins. Dave and Francis kept up their positions until the final lap when Pete and Ali slipped past Francis, then Dave didn't cover Pete quite well enough, which allowed Pete to take the win by a couple of boat lengths. Ali was third, Francis fourth and Rob Anderson fifth.

The overall result was Ian Baillie in first, then Ali Higgins, Scott Munro, Pete Taylor, Tom Aitchison. Thanks to ASYC for running a fabulous regatta. The bay was at it's best on Saturday and it showed that a triangle and sausage course suited the D-Zero so well when the angles are set well and the short laps kept everyone close.

Overall Results: