Results / Scottish Champs East Lothian Yacht Club - 02/06/2012

RS200 Scottish Championships
by  Ronnie Miller

Perfect East Lothian conditions at the RS200 Scottish Champs

East Lothian Yacht Club hosted the 2012 Scottish Championships on 2 / 3 June. They provided the usual great Easterly breeze (10 knots Saturday, 15 plus on Sunday), rolling waves and pie and beans post racing on Sunday. You don’t get pie and beans at Garda!

Reigning champions Burns and Simpson did not defend the trophy, connected to a 9 month sabbatical being undertaken by Simpson. In their absence a close contest between 3 boats ensued – Ronnie and Tor Millar (“Millars”), Graham and Vicki Tait (“Taits”) and Andy McKeown and Ben Wilcox (“McCox”).

Race 1 saw the first of a familiar pattern – McCox led at the windward mark, followed by Chris Perry and Kirsty Lytton, then the Taits. After a poor start the Millars pulled through to take the win, using the waves to create some deeper downwind angles than most crews, with McCox second and Perry third.

Race 2, and the Millars parked and filled with water on the start line, whilst McCox again flew up the beat to lead at the first mark. The Millars had left too much to do over the 3 laps, finishing alongside McCox but about 3 feet behind. Taits took the third.

Race 3 saw some start line discussions that led to McCox taking penalty turns, and the Taits leading at the windward mark. The Millars pulled through them on the first run and took the win, with Andrew Homer, who was reasonably ably helmed by dad Gav, taking third.

Sunday saw more wind and bigger waves. Race 4 and ….yes, McCox led at the windward mark, from the Millars and Taits. These positions remained until the final downwind leg had a gust come in from behind, enabling the Millars soak below and pass McCox, but the Taits get below and past both of them to take the win.

Race 5 and the Millars lead off the line to take the race and the Championship, with McCox second and Taits third.

The final race was a battle for second overall, that saw the Taits lead from Millars at the windward mark. However as these two got in a tacking duel up the next beat, McCox got more pressure offshore and came through to take the win and second overall, leaving the Taits second and third overall.

Many thanks to our sponsor, JP Watersports, for donating the great prizes. Next round in the Scottish series is a one day event at Loch Tummel (with a lot smaller waves!) on 16 June for one day only hope to see a lot of you make it along. This is our 4t event, 4 out of 7 to qualify for the Jib prize draw!