Catriona's win

Published 23 Jul 2009 10:57

CATRIONA sailed to victory in the thrilling Gareloch Worlds event and secured the 85th anniversary competition on Sunday.

The racing was keenly contested with all nine boats afloat sailed in all five races.

Catriona made a good start on Saturday, winning the first two races. The second by a whisker in a downwind finish where wind filling in from behind helped her catch Iris.

Iris was second both times and Athene, just in the water and in the charge of Simon Jackson and John Blackie, third.

In the final race of the day, Iris won by a margin, Catriona second and Athene third again.

Iris had the bit between her teeth on Sunday morning and climbed out from under Catriona at the start and set off up the loch at pace.

At the end of the first round, Catriona was second with Athene, sailed single handed by Simon in third.

On the second beat Iris hardened up at the leeward mark before tacking, so Catriona tacked straight away to go up the Shandon shore.

Conditions became very difficult but Catriona almost gained a lead on Iris. Athene had prospered on the Clynder shore and led by a margin.

In the final run-in, Iris had a good lead from Catriona but found poor air. A puff from behind brought the two close.

Iris's luff didn't keep the light blue boat at bay and there was a boat length between them at the finish.

For Iris to win the championship now, she had to win the last race and get another boat between herself and Catriona.

The interest was at the front of the fleet, where Athene showed form again. Hermes went the right way up the beat and finished a strong second.

The overall results, at the conclusion of a superb weekend, first and winner of the trophy, Catriona. 2 Athene, 3 Iris, 4 Zoe, 5 Hermes, 6 Thalia, 7 Teal, 8 Thia. Ceres finished in ninth place to claim the Tourist Trophy.

Meanwhile in the next race, on a wet evening with very variable wind off the east shore.

The course was a fetch to A, off the club, run to D, north of Clynder and beat back. Two rounds.

Catriona covered Iris at the start, which let Thalia, who has a new jib, get away on the Shandon shore.

Catriona could not catch Thalia on the run. Hermes and Ceres showed strongly too.

On the beat back, Catriona made sure of Iris and Thalia kept her lead.

For the second run, Catriona found a fast lane and crept past Thalia.

Catriona seemed to suffer less than most in the huge wind shifts, 90 degrees once, on the final beat. She got some Pipers behind her, too.

Results: 1 Catriona, 2 Thalia, 3 Iris, 4 Ceres, 5 Hermes.

Pipers, 1 Pompous, 2 Piccolino, 3 Mealista, 4 Curlew.

Sonars, 1 Carpe Diem, 2 Kandu.

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