With a better wind in the Scarness narrows, various sailors were keen to make use of it on Saturday in the Asymmetric Cup/MJM series. With clear blue skies, and 20C temperature, the champagne conditions brought out 23 boats.
Though the wind freshened as the course was being determined, it would not last, and faded to a drift by the end of the first race.
James/Jenny were on the port end at the start of the first race, tacked on to port, crossed the fleet and never looked back, securing 1st place ahead of Oliver in his Tera. Ian in his Solo was 3rd.
While waiting for some tail enders to finish, many of the fleet started to head ashore, then the wind filled in sufficiently for most to return to the start area. With the wind remaining fickle a short windward/leeward course was set for the MJM fleet, and a longer one for the asymmetrics.
The wind was light at the start, and the asymmetrics got away cleanly, but with the wind filling in 30 seconds before the MJM start the fleet powered up and all bar four boats were OCS, none of which reacted to the single recall signal!
The wind faded again so one lap was sufficient to bring the race to an early conclusion. By the time the final two Teras finished, the wind had swung through 180 degrees and filled in, the final beat became a run, and William pipped Andrew to the line, winning the race!
In the asymmetrics John/Banter in RS400 won both races ahead of Oscar/James in a 29er, and lead the series.
AJ/Sue lead the MJM series, with Val/Ken 2nd.
Sunday started with more champagne sailing conditions, with the wind blowing from a southerly direction, though the wind strength turned out to be somewhat fickle again. The numbers sailing were reduced, with only two fleets racing.
Over the lunch break the wind seemed to bed in somewhat, and there was an interest in racing around the lake for the afternoon race. With concerns as to whether the wind would hold, and with Andrew racing his Tera in the main handicap fleet, the course was cautiously set to mark 10. This proved somewhat fortuitous, especially as the wind eased after the leaders had passed through Scarness, though it did strengthen again a short while later. When the leaders were back in the bay, the wind started to swing around to the NW, slowing progress, and turning the final reach into a beat for some!
In the GPs, Val/Ken lead the series having won both races, while Julian/Jane and AJ/Sue each had a 2nd and a 3rd.
Leader of the handicap series Banter/John in their RS400 won the morning race but had to make do with a 3rd after lunch when James/Oscar in their 29er stepped up a gear on the downwind leg to finish 1 min ahead on handicap. However, new member Artur in an Aero sailed brilliantly to beat both asymmetrics by over 2 mins on handicap.