Dinghy Section News
April Racing Bonanza!
The Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section is hosting three exciting events in April at Bardowie Loch.
OPTIMIST TRAVELLERS
SOLO TRAVELLERS
Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section, has excellent facilities, in an attractive setting on Bardowie Loch, adjacent to the village of Bardowie, on the A807 between Torrance and Milngavie.
Further information is available from the club’s website on clyde.org
Walk round the Loch on January 2nd 2010
Jan 2nd was a clear and sunny day, though very cold. About 30 members met at the club for the annual walk round the loch. This year's walk was the cleanest in recent memory as we were to spend much of the time walking on the frozen loch, rather than carefully negotiating the boggy areas at the north western corner. The ice was several inches thick, so there was no danger of a cold bath. Then it was back to the clubhouse for hot drinks and mince pies provided by the Captain's kitchen crew, and lots of chat, provided by the club members. It was good to see some neighbours and guests joining us, including Clive, the CCC cruising secretary, and Fergus and Niall Duncanson from Loch Lomond SC. John McGruer.
slideshow
Review of The 2009 Season at CCCDS Bardowie.
Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section held its AGM and Prize Giving for the 2009 season at Bardowie on the 12th November.
This followed a very successful racing season at Bardowie with all three Spring, Summer and Autumn Points Series keenly contested and well attended.
Racing at CCCDS Bardowie starts in April and continues through to the end of September, and in conjunction with the racing programme the club runs a very busy training programme. The club is an RYA approved Training Centre, and runs a full range of courses for adults and juniors, catering for those wishing to begin sailing, to those who want to develop their racing skills.
This year the AGM was particularly well attended, and it was good to see a number of those who had started as beginners training at the club, attend the AGM as prize-winners for the first time.
The formalities of the AGM were followed by an action packed slide show of the season. These can be viewed on the club’s website, clyde.org
And then on to the Prize Giving, the master of ceremonies being the club’s Captain David Whyte, who at the end of this season is standing down after three successful years leading the club.
The Spring Series, sailed mainly in strong westerly’s, was dominated by Stuart Gibson and his crew sailing an Albacore. Revelling in the gusty conditions they won each of the six races they entered. In second place was J.P Noble sailing a Streaker, followed closely by Charlie Frize and Graham Wallace in their Albacore.
The Summer Series was sailed in warmer but more variable breezes and was won by J.P Noble, with second place closely contested to the last race with Brian Kelly and Lorna Dryburgh sailing their new Merlin Rocket, just beating Richard Davies in his Solo.
Richard Davies improved his boat speed during the Autumn Series and finished second overall, closing the gap on JP Noble who again took first. In third place was Alan Weir, who sailed well in his Phantom in the evening breezes to take third.
The club has an active Junior membership who also travel extensively, and prizes were awarded to those who excelled in their classes throughout the season. This included Andrew McGowan, in the Topper fleet, Sophie and Hamish Taylor, plus Rachel Mawer in the Optimist class.
Other prize winners included, Jackie Meldrum winner of the Ladies race, Ali Gordon first Solo in the Spring Points, Simon Shepherd first Laser in the Spring Points, Dawn Crowe The Ladies Trophy for all Series, Andrew Mawer first Topper in all points Series, Donald Aiken for best newcomer and J.P Noble The Club Championships.
To mark the end of the 2009 season, the club held the Closing Regatta for members, and was sailed in champagne conditions with 15 knots of breeze under clear blue skies. Race Officer Alan Cassels decided to waken those living in proximity to the Loch by using a series of canons to start the races. It had the desired effect on Stuart Gibson who woke up sufficiently to revel in the breeze with his crew Gavin Berry and win Class One convincingly. Charlie Frize and Graham Wallace in their Albacore were second with Ruairidh Campbell having to hike hard to hold onto third.
Class Two was closely contested between Alistair Angus in his Streaker, and Ali Gordon and Richard Davies, both sailing Solos, but Ali had the edge in the breeze to win class 2, whilst Richard just beat Alistair for second place.
Class 3, was won by Andrew Tait and his crew Scott Smith, sailing well in the strong breeze, and as keen as mustard, they beat Scott Mackay in his Topper into second place, and Lynn Watson with Morag James into third.
Class 4, the beginners fleet, was won convincingly by Doug Young and Sandra Smith who could not be caught with their three firsts, sailing their newly purchased RS Vision.
The closely contested racing of the Closing Regatta should bode well for the forthcoming Opening Regatta which will be an Open event for members and non members, to be held on Saturday the 3rd April 2010. The event will be open to all classes, including a travellers for Albacores.
Paul Noble
Racing Sec, CCCDS.
   |