Derek Braid has kindly provided us with the first pictures of the 2023 season, taken on Saturday 21st January. You can view them here.

Here are some pictures from a great days racing, taken during Winter 4 on 03/12/22.

The bar was at its buzzing best again for our annual prize giving for the 2022 season.

You can view pictures of the evening here.

An honours list is available here and we'd like to highlight Rachel's excellent winning entry for the Coates-Walker Quaich, which you can read here.

Well done to all!

Congrats to John Wilson & Laura Glover on winning the RS200 Rooster National Tour!

Sailing is Bullship…

by Jim Sinclair

I’m sorry, what…?!? Welcome to Bullship, America’s Premier Sailing Event (says the banner at registration). You might be thinking that it sounds similar to ELYC’s June regatta, probably Scotland’s premier sailing event. I can confirm that both events definitely involve boats and that any similarity ends there…

Let me explain. The boats in question are El Toro class dinghies, the kind of thing you’d get if an Optimist was bitten by a radioactive spider and sprouted a carbon fibre mast, a carbon boom and a high tech foam sandwich hull. It still looks like an 8 foot long kids boat designed in the 1930’s (because it is) but it now attracts a much more experienced following. As usual, this year’s event included former Olympians, national champions, sail makers and professional boat builders (and me). Ages ranged from under 10 years old up to 78 years young.

The race is hosted annually by Kane’ohe Yacht Club in Hawaii (there is also a younger sister Bullship race in San Francisco Bay). The course is very simple - start from your allocated start line inside the marina, sail around Coconut Island about a mile away across the bay (either direction - you choose whether to race clockwise or anti-clockwise) and back to the finish line inside the marina. 

Allocated start line, I hear you ask? Yup, the race is handicapped based on weight. These are little boats and, in theory, should benefit from a lighter crew (generally the boats are sailed single handed but there are a few who double up each year). So if you weight under 150lbs (it’s America - that’s about 68kg, or 1.05 Jim Sinclairs), you start right next the clubhouse giving the heavy mob a big head start (and subjecting yourself to the torment of the shifty, gusty, patchy conditions inside the harbour). The next start line is 1/3 of the way out of the harbour and is for those up to 180lbs/82kg. At 2/3 distance up the dock, there’s the line for those in the up to 210lbs/95kg. And then, at the harbour mouth, you’ll find the line for those over 210lbs (the Panamax or Yokozuna class……). In case you’re trying to picture the chaos, I should add that this is generally a running start. 

A historic aside which might appeal to ELYC members of a certain vintage; the weight handicapping was applied differently in the past. Only one start line was used but lighter sailors had to carry extra weight to even things up. The weights? Cans of beer, measured out in six-packs. Whether to leave the cans unopened during the arduous and thirsty journey was up to the sailor….

This year’s event - the 71st annual running of the Bulls - was held on Sunday 25 September in slightly lighter conditions than normal. There was no more than 10 or 12 knots at any point and there were big holes waiting to ruin your afternoon. Of course, it was still blazing sunshine and 32 degrees (another difference between KYC and ELYC). Across the Junior and Senior fleets, a total of 55 intrepid souls ventured forth. 

Getting out of the dock was every bit as frustrating as usual with the gusts appearing to carry those on the outer starts away from us as we languished on a millpond. Most headed for the north channel, a bit like our fairway at North Berwick except that it threads through the tropical coral reefs….so nothing like North Berwick, really. This leads to the anti-clockwise course which tends to be the popular choice. Half a dozen boats headed out through the south channel, a bit like our fairway…etc… which leads to the clockwise rounding. Clockwise always looks like it should work and almost never does, hence it’s lack of popular support. 

The broad reach out to the island was glorious and also very kind to your author. By sailing a straight line (often considered to be the shortest distance between two points), I was able to cruise past many of the boats who had opted for the ever-popular “let’s keep luffing each other until we’re all completely stuffed” strategy. More places were gained by sailing a bold (stupid) line over the reef behind the island, trusting the high tide to be higher than the short foils on an El Toro. Things were starting to look promising. Another place was gained when a good friend opted to lasso one of the poles that mark the reefs with the laser-style mainsheet of his boat. Admirably, he continued to look focused and determined as boats streamed past until he realised he was anchored at the stern… 

Us anti-clockwisers met the clockwisers at a point that suggested it was going to be a very close finish. It might well have been but I can’t say for sure - I had fallen too far behind to opine on the matter! However good the outbound leg had been, the return leg was bad. I’d like to blame this situation on a series of external factors but that would be untrue. Operator error appeared to be the cause. I was not in high spirits as I approached the harbour, a place of great pain as the fitful breeze amongst the piers and moorings toys with the brave sailors fraying nerves. Thankfully, the sailing gods decided that they had already layered enough humiliation on me for one day and allowed me serene passage up the dock to the finish line. I even managed to pick up a couple of places from those less fortunate than myself. I feel sure that they saw the funny side of this.

I ended up third in my class, continuing a long run of second and third places, completely unbroken by any first places. I like to tell people that this is by choice because it would be rude to steal victory away from the local members…. 

Onwards to the prize giving which always adopts a Mexican theme (probably the only reason Donald Trump never competes). Sombreros and tacos (again, just like North Berwick). A ceremonial shovel (because, obviously). Glassware and some wonderful old trophies (photographic evidence presented). First overall, Class winners, First Wahine (Hawaiian for girl), Junior winners, Half Fast (whoever finishes exactly half way down the fleet), Most Huli’s (Hawaiian for capsizes), Tail End Charlie (self explanatory) etc. The first time I competed, they added a prize for furthest travelled competitor. I felt a moment of pity as the chap who’d flown in from Seattle sat back down, realising his short hop wasn’t going to win anything.

It’s a unique event. It’s great fun. It’s a little bit bonkers. If you get the chance, do it!

Toro, Toro, TORO!!! 

(as they frequently say)

Full picture album

Well done to former ELYC member, Michael Alexander, on winning the Silver Fleet as the Streaker Nationals and claiming 8th place overall.

https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/254436/Noble-Marine-Streaker-Nationals-at-South-Shields

ELYC Members at Tummel

by Colin Ferrier

Congratulations to Rory Ferrier who won the Scottish Inland ILCA 6 Trophy on the weekend of 17/09.

He attended both qualifying events for the Scottish Inland Trophy (Loch Lomond and Loch Tummel). Rory won at Loch Tummel beating a great fleet in some very challenging conditions with gusts of up to 30knots. There were several retirals but Rory stayed the course and finished in first place. Alistair MacKinnon put in a great series and got 5^th and Scott Logan from  ELYC got a 6^th as he retired from the windy conditions on Saturday.

Last weekend there was the second Inland Trophy event at Loch Tummel SC where Rory came second to ELYC’s former member, Jon Gay (currently of Lochaber SC). Some of the best racing I have seen in a long time. There was nothing in it after day 1 with equal wins under both their belts. On day 2, winds were very fickle and Jon started to take the lead. The penultimate race was amazing to watch – Jon at one point was 20 boat lengths ahead, Rory caught up on the downwind leg, As they rounded the mark with Rory just in front, they tacked off both on different tacks with Rory slightly ahead when they approached each other on converging tacks. They approached the line and within 3 boat lengths, Rory sailed into a windless patch and Jon grabbed not only that race but the win for the weekend. Great to watch and both came off the water smiling and shaking hands on a great weekend of extremely close racing.

Rory won the Scottish Inland Trophy for the ILCA 6 with Jon winning the Loch Tummel event.

Huge congratulations to Jimmy Sandison, who in the final race of the Phantom Nationals at Lyme Regis Sailing Club, grabbed a 3rd place finish! This meant that Jimmy finished 31st overall in a fleet of almost 70 boats.

Well done. Jimmy!

You can view the results here

You can't park that there, son!

A recounting of a perfectly considered decision.

By Bruce Millar

Dinghy Racing is a game of decisions. Making the correct ones not only help you go faster round the track, they generally help keep you out of trouble, too. 

Doug and I decided, very last minute, to sail Doug’s RS400 in the Nationals. Too good an opportunity to miss such an event at your home club. Knowing before the first race had even begun that we wouldn't be able to compete in all 5 days, we decided the priority was to have a laugh, stay out of trouble and just see if we could improve as the week wore on. All good decisions! Not only did we have a laugh, I think we provided a few too. Bonus points!

Compared to club racing, the decisions in a big(ish) fleet come thick and fast. But it was our final decision in our maiden race of the RS400 Nationals which stood out way more than any other we made over the course of the week. I'm sure the committee boat would agree. 

It all revolved around how best to handle the short sprint from the leeward gate to the finish line. A simple question. Kite up, or kite down? 

Like all boats, 400's are easier to gybe in a breeze if you are carrying as much speed as possible. +1 for the kite up option. However, the unknown variable was the sailing angle to the finish line. We knew it would be tight. But how tight? Assuming we complete a nice gybe, would it be too tight to fly the kite across the line? Was there enough time to quickly drop the kite after the gybe, if needs must? 

If you have the misfortune to find yourself behind other boats during a race, something I have immeasurable experience of, there is one small consolation. It's always wise to try and observe, if there is time, what other boats do in certain situations and how they fare as a result. As we roared down a gust (that's what 400's do, they roar) on our approach to said gate, we watched two boats handle the conundrum just ahead of us. One dropped their kite for that final sprint, the other looked to roll the dice and kept theirs up. Both survived and finished. Evidence, inconclusive.

Right, our turn. We executed a decent gybe with the kite up, right beside the port leeward mark and carried good pace. So far, so good. However, it became apparent, very quickly, that the angles were not in our favour. Perhaps of more significance, nor was the gust we were still riding. 

As soon as we pointed the boat anywhere near the finish line side of the committee boat, the kite became rather upset and started to flog. The result, a dramatic drop in boat speed, a huge load through the mainsail and a heeling angle which was enough to send Doug sliding down the boat. I made an attempt to remain perched on the side deck, trying to ascertain if the rudder was still in enough water to be of any use, whilst almost accepting an imminent capsize, or worse. At this point I probably resembled a conductor who had lost his brass band, but kept waving regardless.

As the boat began to approach the point of no return, from my vantage point I recall being able to peer along the sightline of the mast, like a reticule on a sniper rifle. There was no enemy down these sights though. Arguably something much more intimidating. A stern-looking Bill Roberts, arms crossed in typical cool-but-mildly-concerned fashion. Frown in full effect, just waiting to see what was about to unfold. I swear I saw him reach for a fender. Robbie also seemed to be adopting his best mast-catching position.

It was at this point that I felt we had a better chance of hitting the committee boat, three sheets flogging and at a jaunty angle, than we did of crossing the finish cleanly and in one piece. As it tends to do in these situations, time slowed down. Options were few. The committee boat grew bigger in my Selden Spars reticule, the inquisitive looks on the faces of the race committee now very easy to study. Our flogging sails were doing their very best to drag us to the one mark of the course you absolutely cannot hit. In motoring terms, it felt like we had run out of opposite lock.

I contemplated reaching for a pen and paper, as it seemed sensible to begin filling out an application for Dalgety Bay Sailing Club (would they have me after this?). It was very apparent

I wouldn't be able to show my face at ELYC again if, as a home RS400 during a National Championship, we managed to actually mount the committee boat.

Doug however, had not given up hope of rescuing the situation. An un-cleating of the jib and a return to the windward side of the boat didn't quite rectify all of our troubles, but was enough to give us enough forward momentum in a more desirable direction, to drag us across the line and more importantly, removing the need for the committee boat to deploy the roaming fenders. 

We managed to regain full control. Doug dropped the kite while I turned to the committee boat and gave the internationally recognised gesture for "thank ****", a wiping of the brow from one side to the other, followed by a perspiration-removing  flick. 

Committee boat owner David Robertson was seen engaging in a rapturous round of applause in response. As if the rollover jackpot had been won. His pride and joy had been saved and he was able to return the insurance schedule below deck.

Upon reaching the ELYC Bar, PRO Robbie Lawson tapped me on the shoulder to congratulate us on such a stylish finish to our first race of the Championships. He remarked that not only could those onboard the committee boat "smell the fear" as we tried to save the situation, they also "laughed their socks off". Ok, "socks" wasn't the word Robbie used, but it's close enough.

Robbie also informed me that they wanted crews to have something to think about when going for the finish line. A last will and testament, i'm betting, wasn't quite what he wanted crew's to be thing about, but mission accomplished Robbie.

Decisions, decisions.