Results / Open Prestwick SC - 21/09/2013

Prestwick SC was a first time venue for the penultimate Scottish Tour event of 2013. Crews from as far as Chanonry, Stonehaven and North Berwick arrived to sample beach sailing in sparkling sunshine and perfect 10-15 knot breezes. With several teams starting with an “R” and ending with an “obertson” competing elsewhere (like Notts County and Hawaii!) John Mackenzie / Andy Box and Keith Begborrow / Martin S McCrew took the opportunity to set the pace with flawless 1-2s on Saturday. Best of the rest were newcomer Graeme Henry with local cadet and Laser hotshot Fraser Cameron learning fast in the sharp end. Ever menacing skiff ace Bob Yeamans and Nadia McMinn scored well, and Richard Bolton improved with a 5-4-3, slowly overcoming the wind resistance of his student crew Iain Brown’s abundant barnet.

The club laid on a great supper featuring a Stewart Brewing (Scottish RS sponsor) keg of beer whilst on the telly PSC commodore Peter Carr’s Oracle team whupped the Kiwis in San Fran. Despite it being past his bed time Keith donned his PJs for the inaugural visit to Elliott’s nightclub (aka Cougar Bar of scantily-clad tottie from the Ayr Races) after which (*several* hours after – ED) the fleet kipped/crashed out in the Big Top courtesy of canvas king Phil Britton.

Sunday looked like being a 2 hoRSe race between John and Keith and race 4 finished that way, although Alan Henderson had made Oraclesque overnight improvements to push them to up their game. Order reversed in race 5 setting up the final race as the decider. Meanwhile Bob and Richard were battling for the 3-4 slots in a very tightly bunched fleet. In the last start Keith and Richard found clear lanes and moved ahead with John looking to fend off the rest and find a way back to the front. In the end Keith took the gun despite a late charge from Richard, and with it the regatta, having identical points / discards to John it was decided on last race and could not have been any closer. Jules Thorne got the nod as first lady just ahead of Naomi Moran who had teamed up with the far north’s Simon Grey in Rattlesnake. No Duckhams award this time around because no-one did anything overtly dim. Poor show that. Student Iain came closest by eating most of the curry including the foul bag of spiced onions that NOBODY ever eats and then releasing it gradually as wingwash over the following 24 hours. All agreed PSC had played perfect hosts with outstanding race management, lots of helpers and no hesitation to leave us the key for the clubhouse on the Sat evening.

Elsewhere , in the far north of Scotland , Royal Findhorn held their club champs where 5 400’s competed for the RS400 Tenant Cup in 18-28 knots. The Urquhart twins of East Lothian nationals Benromach Whisky fame posted a comfortable victory . It was good to see past 400-supremo and Feva dad Ian Ellis out in the newly purchased club 400 which RFYC hope to use to encourage others into the class over the coming season (in deference to the club's enlightened attitude to gender issues it is bright pink).

Next chance for Duckhams or glory – Dalgety Bay Saturday 19th October. 5 races, supper, donated keg of Stewarts brew, AGM, annual prizegiving and some music for dancing. All welcome. Pyjama trousers compulsory.

Pics by Alan Henderson