Whilst we are having a great time hosting the Merlin Rocket UK Nationals, we mustn't forget that some of our intrepid members are trailing their boats up, down, left and right for their own classes National Champs.

Roo & Oliver recently headed to the south coast for the 29er Youth Nationals at Mount Batten.

John & Laura plus Brendan & Ellen are currently competing in the RS200 UK Nationals at Exe Sailing Club.

Rory has just placed 1st in silver fleet of the ILCA 6 UK Nationals at WPNSC.

Robbie Lawson is about to line up at the RS Aero UK Nationals at HISC.

Jim Sinclair recently made his way to Staunton Harold Sailing Club for the Streaker Nationals which succumbed to 3 days of zero wind and glass-like conditions. Thankfully though, Staunton Harold Sailing Club have rescheduled the event for the 2nd and 3rd October.

Well done to all so far and continued good luck to those still competing!

With the Merlins fast approaching, Yachts & Yachting have a great article which gives a preview of the event we are about to host.

https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/240551/Aspire-Merlin-Nationals-runners-and-riders

Derek Braid has kindly provided some great shots of the coveted Burgh Trophy race which was held on Saturday 24th July.

Congratulations to Bill & Grace Roberts who took the honours!

Congratulations to Roo Purves and Oliver Bull who won the 29er class at the recent one-design Regatta at Largs. You can view a full event report here.

ELYC Keelboat Regatta Report

Hamish Thomson won the keelboat class in his Medina 'Red Herring' and commented:

"Wow what a beautiful day to sail! Thanks so much to all the peeps on rescue boats, race committees and huts that made this day possible! Oh and a special thanks to the lobster pots!"

A fine day out; Maiden Voyage of the Kinsman.

A Classic Race report from a couple of classics, best read in your Peter Sallis - Last of the Summer Wine - voice.

Maiden voyage of the Kinsman having sailed superbly in the boat park for the last two weeks during intensive training which included removal of thermos flask top. Nerves jangling as neither Gerry Hughes nor Mike Rigg had put a big toe in the sea for years, but as was shown these old salts have still go it, not sure what but they got something.

1st race, on the way to the start line skipper says wind the keel down, err won’t go down . Tried persuasion with an anchor , still would not go down. Back to harbour for a sledge hammer, still won’t go down . Ah maybe we screwed those extra cleats on with through the keel box. Cleats off sorted, missed 1st race.

2nd race 2nd last round windward mark, but by the time we rounded the Craig we were into 2nd place, The helming if Hughes was brilliant only surpassed by the superb spinnaker launching and handling by agile Rigg who once had disposed of his Zimmer frame was lightning quick.

Finished a comfortable 2nd over the line but should win on handicap, assisted by Sandison yacht who kept trying to steal lobsters from the creels.

3rd Race

Poor start and it was follow my leader despite walking it round the end of the Craig cutting the corner., by Hughes.

Verdict

More fine tuning plus heavier sledge hammer needed. Plus the boys need an extra pair of hands to serve tea and coffee and to wind in the jib.

Due to exhaustion and an early night Hughes and Rigg couldn’t make prize giving to pick up the over 150 years combined age cup, which Rigg was so looking forward to as the Commodore’s wife had promised him a cuddle.

Always next year.

Mike Rigg.

East Lothian Yacht Club 2021 Regatta Report

East Lothian Yacht Club held their annual regatta 5-6th June 2021. A little different to previous years to meet Covid.

restrictions but volunteers and sailors were delighted the event could go ahead.

The regatta was split into two one-day events with Yachts, Streakers, ILCAs and Aeros on the Saturday, Skiffs and

RS200s on the Sunday, which allowed club sailors to sail one day and volunteer the other.

Lots of hard work, planning and training paid off to deliver 8 high quality races over two days, with ELYC winning 4 out of the 7 classes. Our new race officers got to hone their new skills, our mark team dusted off the rust and delivered pin sharp courses to the degree.

Saturday Race Officer Fiona Rigg kept a cool head in shifting conditions assisted by husband Paul with Bill and Grace Roberts in the race box.

Ffinlo Wright made the journey from Isle of Man to sail the Aero 9 and won the Aero fleet handicap:

"As always ELYC put on a fantastic event, it was a pleasure to sail with you. Many thanks to the race team and the café crew - it wouldn't have been so fantastic without them"

Local sailor Angus Boyd was chasing Ffinlo:

"The light wind for the second race favoured the 9's, all of which disappeared into the distance. The stronger breeze for the last races helped the 7's, although nothing slowed Ffinlo down Peter Craggs and myself in the 7 rigs and had some close racing, trading places quite a few times. A good day, the wind changes weren't that disruptive, arguably helped to give everyone something that suited."

In the Streaker fleet, Jim Sinclair won the class and shared some local knowledge:

"If this is your first visit to North Berwick, it’s always like this here. Always. If you’re wondering, the sea breeze always arrives at 1pm. Not 1.01pm, not 12.59pm. 1pm. If you’re sailing a Radial, it’s the tide!!!! Don’t sail the great circle down the reaches. If you’re the race officer, have a glass of champagne. That was perfect."

Iain McNeil was sailing his Streaker in his first regatta at the age of ...ahem, ahem....: "The crisp visibility was matched only by the crisp race management. The light winds picking up through the afternoon were a delight. Identifying lay lines was ‘interesting', with the wind both against and with the tide."

Local ILCA 6 sailor (speedy) Scott Logan won the class and taught up and coming youngsters a lesson while he still can:

"In Race 1, Scott Logan made the most of a good start to lead at the top mark followed Rory Ferrier. With a close race taking place for second place, Scott extended his advantage with Rory taking second and Maisie Russell third.

Rory Ferrier took an early lead in Race 2 and made the most of the tricky conditions to take the race, followed by Scott Logan and Suzie Homer.

The tide pushed a number of boats over the line at the start of Race 3, including Rory Ferrier. Scott Logan took his second win, with Rory working his way back through the fleet to take second from Suzie Homer in third.

Suzie Homer started well in Race 4 and lead at the top mark closely followed by Scott Logan and Rory Ferrier.

With the tussle for second place behind her, Suzie stretched out a good lead on the run with Oscar Morris moving in to second place. Suzie continued to extend her lead for a comfortable win ahead of Scott Logan and Oscar Morris.

Sunday delivers perfect 15-18kts consistent westerly. Robbie Lawson took over the reigns as Race Officer with speedy Scott as assistant. Robbie shared his views from the committee boat:

"The wind Gods smiled upon us today. We had champagne sailing in glorious sunshine with 15 knots from the west. The gannets put on a freezing frenzy for our entertainment and our local pod of dolphins appeared to show us that they are even faster upwind than a Musto Skiff!

The sailors well well behaved. Only one individual recall all day. I am sure Mr Rigg feels able to blame the race officer for that one with a tad too much port bias.

Incredibly slick work from the Mark layers allowed us to adjust the course as the wind swing right, giving a great course that tested all the sailors.

The smiles from increasingly knackered sailors as they crossed the line told us that everyone’s efforts were very much appreciated. A great step towards normality at ELYC."

Jamie Hilton took the win in the Musto Skiffs, full Musto Skiff report here:

"A really great weekend and the weather/wind definitely helped. Well organised - huge thanks on behalf of the fleet; and especially so for allowing a few of to arrive a day early keeping out of the way of the official goings-on.

The guys in the Musto fleet really enjoyed the racing, the venue and the hospitality; and will be looking forward to a return."

In the RS200s, local heros and Scottish Champions Brendan Lynch and Ellen Clark took the win with three bullets.

The race committee awarded two endeavour prizes to Simon Cowan in the ILCA 7 for smiling all the way round the race course and to Iain Duncan & Catie Warbuton in the RS200 for their determination and attitude.

We are starting to feel like a yacht club again.

Nick Roche

East Lothian Yacht Club

Derek Braid has kindly provided some great shots of both the dinghy and keelboat fleets during our Annual Regatta on Saturday.

More of Derek's images can be viewed on his website, here.

Derek Braid has kindly provided us with some snaps of dinghy racing on 24/04/21. You can view them in this album.