Success for Perth Sailing Club

Jul 9 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TOTAL of three boats contested the Perth Sailing Club ACH racing series this week.

Graham Keir’s Solo led the way to the first mark of a triangular course, followed by John Ferguson’s Streaker with Eric Taylor bringing up the rear – also in a Streaker.

Positions remained similar over the three laps.

Conditions were the same for the second race of the evening.

Eric jumped the start and allowed John to edge ahead, who was closely followed by Graham as they made their way towards the first mark, of a reversed, shortened, course.

Graham managed to pull ahead of John by hugging the north bank of the river, avoiding the pull of the outgoing tide and lessening wind.

Meanwhile, John appeared to be anchored on the windless south bank, but it later transpired that his boat had become caught in the reeds – and was forced to retire.

Graham was first over the line, closely followed by Eric.

Conditions were overcast for Wednesday’s race, but it was dry with a light south-easterly wind.

The two Albacores taking part – sailed by Patrick Dalgety, crewed by daughter Becky, and Eric Taylor’s, crewed by John Ferguson – jostled for position.

Graham’s Solo pulled well ahead as the faster boats got stuck in the tide.

In lessening winds, the course was shortened to two rounds.

First over the line was Patrick and Becky, followed by Graham, with Eric and John in third position.

Eric got off to a good start in the second race of the evening.

Patrick managed to overtake Graham at the first mark, and held the lead until the end of the race – followed by Graham, with Patrick in third position.

Four boats competed in the first of the short Grouse series races on Thursday.

Bill Inches, in his Firefly, lead for most of the way.

He was closely followed by Collin Fullerton’s Solo, then Hunter Williams in his Laser, with Bob Watson, in a Club Feva, to the rear.

Bill gained a good lead when the rest of the fleet were held up by an outgoing ship in the final round.

He claimed the spoils, and was followed over the line by Hunter, with Bob in third position.

Bill repeated the trick in the second race of the series, leading home Collin and Bob respectively.

A trio of boats took to the water for the next installment of the Famous Grouse trophy.

Gary Tait’s Laser sneaked into the lead, followed by John in a Club Feva.

Bob held to the north shore. Gary was first round the second mark, followed by Bob, with John in third position – but he soon fired up his spinnaker and pulled into second.

Bob crept ahead once more in the final round, when John experienced trouble with his spinnaker.

The same three boats took part in the final race of the Grouse series, with Gary leading, followed by John, then Bob.

Gary managed to retain the lead throughout the race and claim the spoils, while Bob became stuck in the middle – finishing third – and John got tied-up at the leward mark, crossing the line in second position.