Yachts tackle the Swarbacks Minn
FOUR yachts braved the elements recently to take part in a race from Brae to Aith and back.
The early leader was Cynara, skippered by Joe Irvine, cutting a sharp path through the flat inshore waters of Swarbacks Minn in a strong, southerly, force six breeze.
Jim Tait’s Movin On fell behind on the beat to Aith but was always in contention and was able to keep a steady speed in the choppier waters of the Rona and the entry to Aith Voe.
During the last part of the beat Roundabout ripped its jib and carried on with only a mainsail for the rest of that leg.
Cynara held an impressive lead at the weather mark, just off Guddataing, and set off on the run back to Brae. Movin On was second to the mark followed by Roundabout with Peter Robertson’s Rebellion in fourth place.
In the fast run back to Brae Movin On quickly closed the gap on Cynara and this was also a better leg for Roundabout as the larger yacht overhauled Movin On and began to catch up with Cynara.
The finish line came too soon for Roundabout. The time lost on the first leg with the torn jib was the telling factor and a fighting fourth place was the outcome on corrected time. Movin On’s downwind speed, at times touching 8.5 knots, meant that Jim Tait won the race in a corrected time of two hours 11 minutes 39 seconds, just over two minutes ahead of Cynara. Rebellion finished third.
This past weekend four races took place to decide the outcome of the Trinity Cup. Again the conditions were blustery, particularly on Saturday when some yachts were heavily reefed for winds that were gusting to gale force.
Five yachts entered Saturday’s races and both were won by Movin On following close competitions with Cynara.
Rebellion, sailing with a female crew before the mast, did particularly well to gain two third spots. Shona Williamson was clearly able to put her Tall Ships Race experience on the Christian Radich to good use in Busta Voe.
The races for fourth place were shared by the Albin Vegas. Valkyria, sailed by Ian Devonald, got the better of Scott Johnson’s Mistral in the first race but Mistral got even in the second by shaking out some more canvas.
The first race on Sunday was won by Roundabout, a first victory at Brae for Drew and his experienced crew. Cynara was second with Tammie Norie, skippered by Ewen Stirling, third and Rebellion fourth.
After three second places in the first three races, Joe eventually won the last race of the weekend to claim the Trinity series. Rebellion finished second and was second overall in the series. Tammie Norie finished third again and Roundabout was fourth.
There will be another four short races for yachts tomorrow, starting at 10am, weather permitting of course.
