Class Association
MONDAY AUGUST 7TH
Written by Will Taylor
After long journeys for many up to North Berwick near Edinburgh, 93 entries were registered & a fleet of volunteers & sailors geared up for day one of the 2023 Noble Marine Rooster National Championships. Following on from a tactics talk, gate start seminar & championship briefing, we hit the water with all the knowledge needed to attack the race track.
Day one dawned sunny with 15-23 knots forecast. After a long downwind sail to the start area in the western bay we prepared for the race.
Leading the fleet away was pathfinder James & Jess Hammett. With 14-18 knots, tide on the ebb & land factors in play, the majority of the fleet headed left to gain the wind-shift advantage. By the end of the race Arran Holman & James Crossley had stamped their mark winning by a comfortable margin. Second to finish was Ian Martin crewed by Emma Clarke with Ben Whaley & Lorna Glen third.
Race two started in similar conditions with the family team of Will & Matt Taylor as pathfinder. At the top of the course, the breeze built & stayed at 24-26 resulting in lots of ‘thrills & spills’. Downwind was ‘holding on mode’ with Arran commenting that even he had to pull on more kicker to stop the mast inverting! Perhaps that was at the point when the Race Officer, Robbie Lawson, recorded a gust of 29 knots.
Arran & James took the victory again, with local sailors Brendan Lynch & Ellen Clark in second, followed by another podium finish for Ian & Emma.
With the increase in wind this was a true battle to get around the course, & avoid the many capsized boats. After two tough races, the fleet were happy to be heading to shore to repair boats & bruised bodies. The evening social of haggis & ceilidh were surprisingly well attended, considering the demands of the day. A third of the fleet are Scottish sailors so the tartan flowed on the dance floor. Quite a sight.
