Loch Long One Design National Championship at Cove Sailing Club

by Leeanne DeVenny 5 Aug 2016 01:05 NZST 24-29 July 2016

Loch Long One Design Championship © Shona Shields and Carol Anne Calder

Sixteen boats took part in the Loch Long One-Design National Championships from 24th to 29th July 2016 on the firth of Clyde. The event was hosted by Cove Sailing Club (CSC) and supported by a number of generous sponsors including local businesses and private individuals connected with the class.

The fleet comprised nine boats from the Clyde and seven from Aldeburgh in Suffolk who made the 470 mile trip north to compete on the Loch Long's original home waters for the Clyde Cup – a trophy which dates back to the early 1950's.

The 10 race series got off to a slow start with racing abandoned on the first day as torrential rain killed the breeze. However, better was to come and the rest of the week was sailed in generally moderate winds of 8 to 16 knots which allowed experienced race officer Howard Morrison to set a series of good windward-leeward courses in the mid-firth and Loch Long.

The Clyde Cup was retained by Alan DeVenny in Electra (109) who added to his previous successes of 2006 and 2015. He was crewed by Calum Foulis for the week and the team recorded an impressive four race wins to finish on 14 points and were only once out of the top 4.

Runners up were Class Association commodore Alan MacLeod and crew Erin Maconachie in Pied Piper (20) with 3 race wins and a total of 23 points. Annie Burden helmed Moonshine (102) to a race victory and into third place overall on 32 points with the help of crew Simon Jackson and Malcolm Tucket. The next positions were closely fought, with Alan Harper in Capricorn taking fourth place on 36 points just ahead of John and Catriona McMurtrie in Tarka (117) on 41 points. Both teams secured a race win to take individual trophies.

Loch Long One Design Championship - photo © Shona Shields and Carol Anne Calder

The top Aldeburgh visitor was Bruce Johnson in Hussar (138) who was crewed by who secured sixth place overall and the traveller's trophy. Special mention goes to Zoe Robinson and Claire Watson on Grey Goose (124) who received the Vanduara trophy for the most improved boat in what was Zoe's first championship on the helm.

Jimmy's Cup for Endeavour was awarded to Jill Leats in Finola who was making her first trip north to compete on the Clyde.

The week was rounded off with a prizegiving and buffet at Cove Sailing Club and Association Commodore Alan McLeod thanked all those involved in putting on such a successful regatta. The championships will next year be held on the River Alde and hosted by Aldeburgh Yacht Club.

Overall Results:

Pos	Boat Name	Helm	Sail No	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	Pts
1	Electra	Alan DeVenny	109	1	7	3	4	1	3	2	1	2	1	14
2	Pied Piper	Alan Macleod	20	5	4	4	1	2	5	1	11	1	DSQ	23
3	Moonshine	Annie Burden	102	3	9	1	3	5	2	6	6	6	DSQ	32
4	Capricorn	Alan Harper	66	6	3	2	13	6	1	8	5	5	DSQ	36
5	Tarka	John McMurtrie	117	8	1	6	7	8	4	3	10	4	DSQ	41
6	Hussar	Bruce Johnson	110	2	6	11	5	4	10	11	2	3	DSQ	43
7	Tantrum	Jonathan Evans	139	11	8	10	2	3	6	9	4	8	DSQ	50
8	Whisper	Malcolm Myers	67	10	2	9	8	11	7	5	12	10	8	59
9	Sonara	Keith Hall	92	4	10	7	12	13	14	12	3	13	2	63
10	Slioch	M. McNeilage	113	7	5	14	16	7	11	7	15	12	3	67
11	Grey Goose	Zoe Robinson	124	9	11	8	11	10	9	14	14	7	4	69
12	Elizabeth	John McNeilage	33	12	13	5	10	14	8	13	8	9	5	70
13	Bon Accord	Keith Martin	64	13	14	15	6	9	13	4	9	11	DSQ	79
14	Bruichladdich	Mark Fairweather	90	14	15	12	9	12	15	10	13	15	6	91
15	Iona	James Powell	121	15	12	13	14	15	12	15	7	14	9	96
16	Finola	Jill Leats	23	16	16	16	15	16	16	16	16	16	7	118