Vice Commodores Cup 2008

Six Enterprises and two RS200s competed in the Vice Commodore’s Cup on Sunday May 18th. Race Officer Nic Odling sent the Enterprises on a fairly short figure-of eight course at the clubhouse end of the loch, while the RSs were sent further up the loch on one of their preferred windward-leeward sausage courses. The wind was a quite steady (by St Mary’s standards) northerly, force 2 – 3.

Charles Morrish, crewed by Alison Geddes, started well and went on to win the first Enterprise race quite comfortably, followed home by Ian Malcolm/Kate Odling and Dave Milroy/Richard Heaton. Gregor Watt managed to get home fifth despite a distinct absence of a crew. The second race was won by Roger and Kim Willoughby, who built up a big lead on the first beat and were never really caught after that. Charles and Alison again showed good speed to finish second, with Ian and Kate third. This set the scene for an exciting (and much longer) third race, in which Charles and Alison established a good lead on the beat up to E mark, only to sail into a very large hole in the wind and watch Ian and Kate steal through. Ian and Kate held the lead at the end of the first lap, but Charles and Alison were not to be denied and eventually climbed through to the lead on the second beat, thus wining the race and the competition. Ian and Kate were second overall, with Roger and Kim third, Dave and Richard fourth, Gregor and occasional crews fifth, and Charlie and Leigh Young sixth.

The RS competition turned into a battle of the sexes, pitching Katie Masterson and Shona Redpath against their respective partners, Graeme Henry and David Redpath. As you might expect, this was a fraught event with no quarter given, and the races were not finally decided until the finish. David and Graeme tried a variety of routes downwind, trying to take advantage of the bands of stronger wind, but in the event it was Katie and Shona who made the best use of the conditions and the female team had the competition sewn up after the first two races. The RS200 Vice-Commodore’s Cup therefore remains on the mantelpiece in the Henry/Masterson household.

Thanks to Nic Odling and his assistant, Ailsa Redpath, for running the races so smoothly. And a special mention to Charlie and Leigh Young for getting round all the races despite some quite tricky gusts.