Weather wipes out day’s racing at Walls, but the show went on
The Walls Regatta was held at the weekend in less than perfect conditions. The whole of Saturday’s racing was postponed to Sunday with the weather forecast predicting up to force eight northerly gales with rain!
Friday night’s dipping lug race went ahead as planned and there were four entries. Results were – 1 Kestrel (John Abernethy); 2 Krak-at (Jim Tait); 3 Bluebell (Andrew Tait); 4 Tempest (Douglas Irvine).
Tempest was trying out a new sail which once broken in should prove to be a success. Bluebell also took the Cheyne Tankard for wooden boats – she was very lucky as her shroud broke just after the finish and the whole rig fell into the sea!
The re-arranged programme started on Sunday morning in excellent sailing conditions with a yacht race around the Regatta Course which Movin-on (JimTait) won from Cynara (Joe Irvine) by the small margin on corrected time of four seconds.
The first dinghy race for the Walls Dinghy Cup attracted seven entries with a range of crafts. It was very encouraging to see some of the younger sailors in the laser fleet putting in a very good show with the island games team having some competitive sailing to contend with. The results from the first race were: 1 Black Fanting (John Manson); 2 Ffireblade (Kenny Leask); 3 Harum Scarum (Darren Forrest).
The second dinghy race was for the Springfield Cup: 1 Black Fanting; 2 Varying Depths (Euan Stirling); 3 Maximus Spreeus (Maggie Adamson).
After an excellent lunch prepared by Margaret Forrest in the public hall the second yacht race had the arrival of another two contenders: Moody Snoopy(Robert Anderson) and Rebellion (Peter Johnson) ensured a good race for the Eynhallow Cup with a circumnavigation of Vaila and then around the two regatta buoys in the voe.
Going out the Westersound the bigger yachts thrived in the choppy conditions and coming in the Eastersound Cynara had a good lead which she subsequently lost most of at the Burrastow buoy where there were difficulties in getting the spinnaker down. The other boats closed up and the final results were: 1 Moody Snoopy; 2 Rebellion; 3 Cynara.
In the final dinghy race for the Currie Cup the wind went more easterly so the course was reversed with Burrastow being the first buoy. This did bring the laser fleet more into contention and made two good tacking legs from Burrastow to Ghaltiskerry: 1 Black Fanting; 2 Harum Scarum; 3 Ffireblade. Special mention should be made of Kirsten Napier in the laser 4.7 Fearless and the laser radial Y-knot (Lewis Anderson), who both showed determination, tenacity and great promise throughout the day. On the shoreside Wendy and co. provided an all day barbecue with a Hawaiian theme. There was a disco on Friday night and May and Mackie in the clubhouse on Saturday night.
The Sunday afternoon sailing was complemented by a daft raft race with the Sansom team victorious. Once the sailing was completed the prize giving took place in the clubhouse along with musical entertainment from local and visiting musicians which was greatly appreciated by everybody. A spokesman for the club said: “Sailing is at the heart of any regatta and the club is delighted to have had local and visiting sailors who have both enjoyed the sailing and provided an entertaining spectacle in Vaila Sound.
The event could not have gone ahead without the helpers who turn out year after year to keep the event running smoothly, our new start/handicap team John and Brian and all the people who provided guard boat duties, shore side support and catering – thanks to all.”
