Loch Lomond trip June 2008
June 14th & 15th saw a dozen CCC Bardowie members enjoying a weekend sailing
on Loch Lomond, organised by John McGruer. The Loch Lomond Sailing Club
generously allowed us to use their facilities, so we launched from their slip
north of Balmaha and left the boats there overnight. We took three laser 2000s,
a privately owned Laser Bahia, and RIB98.
Saturday started with gentle north-westerly winds and sunshine, and we headed up
the loch past Cashel then across towards Luss. Once out of the shelter of
Inchlonaig the wind freshened and Luss appeared quite quickly. We then turned
south amongst the islands and landed on Inchmoan for lunch. Peter, not being
content with sandwiches, had brought a barbecue and proceeded to offer burgers
all round (after entertaining the rest of us by trying to wash sand off some
dropped burgers in the loch).
After lunch the wind strengthened and we decided to practice gennaker sailing,
broad reaching from Inchconnachan to Millarochy bay and beating back. Ian
Buchan was very keen to try the big red 'dustsheet' on Gary's Bahia so they set
out first. Up went the kite and off went the dinghy in a flurry of spray. Very
soon after down came the kite again as they closed Bucinch at a rate of knots.
The big red 'dustsheet' proved too exciting in the strengthening winds so that
was its only outing on Saturday. The three laser 2000s all enjoyed scary fast
runs, with John McGruer's GPS recording 12 knots in the gusts. All of the 2000s
capsized at least once during the day. The 'capsize with style' prize goes to
George Ennis who demonstrated a new body surfing position. He slipped while
helming and went over the
transom backwards, surfing on his back for several meters with his feet still in
the boat. Amazingly his two crew stayed dry as the dinghy capsized slowly and
gracefully. Overall it was good experience of fast asymmetric sailing on open
water. Returning to shore, we were invited to join the LLSC cheese and wine
party to round off a great day.
Sunday proved to be a much gentler day with sunshine and light winds. We sailed
down to InchMurrin and back, passing through Hells Gate in both directions. With
gentle northwest winds, this narrow passage did not cause any concern and people
were able to get a good look at the bus-sized rock that sits just below the
water in the middle of the channel.
The CCC participants on the weekend were Jackie Meldrum, Laura Cammidge, Anton
Zhyzhyn, Bill Gray, Derek Anstee, Gary McMorrin, George Ennis, Ian Buchan, Ian
Franklin, John Day, John McGruer, Nathan Taylor, Peter Knowles and Sam Torbet.
Thanks to everyone for a very enjoyable two days.
To see the
Photo
Gallery of the weekend click
here.
To see a GPS track of the
weekend click here.
John McGruer
Funday Sunday 1st June 2008
The first Funday was held on Sunday June 1st The event was
well attended with twelve youngsters arriving to enjoy what started as a
pleasant dry day with gentle breezes.The youngsters practised basic sailing
skills before the conditions made further on water activities less desirable.We
hope to break the weather mould on 6th July at the next Funday Sunday!
Ali (Hill)
CCC Model Yachts at Port Dundas - Sunday 27th January 2008
Members of the Clyde Cruising Club
travelled to Glasgow to race their Victoria Class model yachts on the Forth and
Clyde Canal courtesy of British Waterways.
Three races took place in a blustery
westerly breeze at the Port Dundas basin adjacent to the M8 motorway, chinese
gybes and over canvassed rigs tested the skippers and entertained the small
group of spectators who had come to watch the racing.
The Victoria Class has been establishing
itself at the CCC’s Bardowie Loch over the winter with of racing being taking
place on Sunday mornings; the fleet now numbers around 15 boats. The boat is 30
inches long with a mast height of 42 inches and draught of 7 inches, it comes as
an easily assembled kit with a building time of around 5 evenings, total cost on
the water including the radio transmitter is around £125.00, the series racer
can upgrade their boats with racing sails and carbon rigs although none of these
have appeared at Bardowie –yet.
Alan Cassels, a Senior Instructor at
Bardowie intends to use his boat to demonstrate the points of sailing to his
classes, with other instructors looking into the advantages of these boats as
teaching aids for such things as the racing rules in action, approaching a
mooring under sail and other seamanlike maneuvers.
For
full printable report
click here.
Dinghy Section Prizegiving and Curry Night - 1st December
2007
1st of December saw an exciting and enjoyable Prizegiving and Curry Night
take place at Bardowie. This was the second Curry Night to be held at Bardowie,
building upon the success of Hugh MacLean’s first of such nights a year or so
ago. Let’s hope that this can become a regular feature of club activities.
As we waited for the Kirky Tandoori to deliver, an informal quiz was held to
test the intelligence of those present, with stunning questions such as: "How
far can a dog run into a wood?" and "How many animals of each species did Moses
take into the Ark?" With nine questions, the best two scores were six out of
nine and two teams tied at that figure. Helen Kirk and Hugh MacLean were then
nominated by respective teams to contest a single arithmetical tie-breaker.
Unfortunately Hugh thought that 4,000 add 10 made 5,000! Helen fortunately had
the correct answer.
The curries arrived very promptly at 8.30 and for the next hour or so we fed
and watered ourselves and enjoyed the chat. Commodore Jim McIlraith arrived just
after the starters. It was very good of him to forego the remainder of Daughter
Greta’s birthday party at home with a dozen or so of her friends plus Karaoke
machine!...or perhaps he was seeking shelter from the storm.
The prizegiving took place immediately after the meal with all the club’s
gleaming silverware on display. Paul Noble collected the Deas Trophy for the
Spring Points and the club’s premier trophy, the Lyall Trophy , for the overall
points championship. Alan Weir took home the Wallace Trophy for the Autumn
Points Series.
John McGruer collected both the Opie (not Oppie) Quaich (donated in memory of
brother and sister, John and Jennifer Opie) and the Thursday Trophy (donated by
the Thursday evening racers of the 60s,70s and 80s) for the Gents race and
Stewards’ race respectively, in the club regatta. The Captain collected the
Nicholl Trophy for best Laser 2000 in the Points Series; Diane Wink, the Ladies
Challenge Cup; and Emily Whyte, the Bonzo Bell for best Optimist in the club
regatta.
The Dinghy Section also has a couple of special, non-sailing awards: the
Workers’ Salver for exceptional contribution made to the club by an individual,
and the Captain’s Award, for that made by a family. John McGruer was a deserved
winner of the former and the Hill family ( Iain, Hazel and Ali, together with
Ali’s fiancée, Kate McGill) deserved winners of the latter.
On a lighter note, some fun prizes were also awarded - some festive gifts and
vintage wines and acknowledgements for the work of "the Top Dog" and "Big
Cheese"!
The unique silent movie of Bardowie’s 1963 season was then shown with a
number of well ken’t faces there to be recognised. It is hoped that this may be
available in due course in DVD format and with a commentary.
Thanks for everyone who helped to make the event a fun night for all.
Laird Trophy 2007
The 2007 Laird
Trophy competition was sailed at Bardowie Loch on Saturday 17th November. The
Trophy is competed for amongst invited teams from schools in the West of
Scotland. There were 15 entries in this year’s competition which was taking
place during the 75th season of the CCC Dinghy Section, based at Bardowie Loch,
to the North of Glasgow. Sailing took place in the club’s six identical Laser
2000 racing dinghies.
The team and crew
to beat were last year’s winners from Lenzie Academy - Michael and Rebecca
MacLennan. Hutcheson’s Grammar School were known to be keen to make up for
losing last year’s event by a matter of inches, and Tarbert Academy had
travelled from Loch Fyne, determined to put up a good show.
Racing began around
10.00am in a light but unpredictable South-westerly with increasing wind and
heavy rain forecast. Racing Secretary Diane Wink and Race Officer Alan Cassells
were determined to get the programme of eight heats and a final through before
the bad weather set in.
By midday, the
event was half complete, despite a couple of capsizes in some unexpected gusts.
Fortunately hot showers, drinks and food were readily available to competitors
and helpers alike. Racing continued without interruption until all heats had
been completed. This allowed the top six teams to be identified and they then
sailed off against one another in a longer, two-lap final race.
Lenzie A took an
early lead but lost out in the flukey conditions. Amy Buchan for Bearsden
Academy worked her way to the front of the fleet for a while only to be passed
by Lomond and Hutchesons’ A team during the second and final round. At the last
mark Lomond were leading Hutcheson’s by two or three boat lengths but let the
latter through on a wind-shift, allowing Hutcheson’s to snatch a well-deserved
victory. Bearsden A had unfortunately capsized at the last mark thus allowing
Lenzie A to secure third place.
Final placings were
therefore as follows:-
1st Hutchesons’
Grammar School A team – A. Cooper & R.Jarvis
2nd Lomond School –
K.Stanley–Whyte & L.John
3rd Lenzie Academy
A team - Michael and Rebecca MacLennan
1st Ladies team –
Lenzie Academy B team – S.MacLennan & C.McGuire
For the
Event
Photo Gallery click
here
David D. Whyte
Captain
Brazill Trophy - 2007
A very successful
Brazill Trophy was held at Bardowie on Sunday 21st October. Once
again the breeze was very light and fitful but not enough to prevent some close
and exciting racing. Once again the Dinghy Section team retained the trophy - a
fitting final curtain on the section’s 75th anniversary season.
The Flag Officers’
team comprised Commodore Jim McIlraith, crewed by Bernie Curran, Ian Macdonald,
crewed by Ian Thomson, and Kevin Aitken crewed by Charlie Craig. Ian Abernethy
was present as travelling support and first reserve. Fortunately there were no
“blood injuries” and he was not required to don a lifejacket in anger, only an
apron!
The Dinghy Section
team were led by Michael MacLennan, crewed by his sister Rebecca, and ably
supported by Nathan Forrester, crewed by Victoria Holdstock, and by Robert
Gibson, crewed by his younger brother Alastair.
Despite the Dinghy
Section team taking the first three places in race 1, this was not the ritual
humiliation Commodore Jim had been predicting. The race of two rounds in a light
Sou’westerly was closely contested and, contrary to predictions, it was Ian
Macdonald who showed his colleagues how to sail a dinghy (thus substantiating
earlier rumours that he’d been seen practising at Strathclyde Loch).
The second race was
sailed in almost identical conditions but with positions far closer at the
finish. The Gibson brothers took first ahead of Nathan Forrester and Victoria
Holdstock, but with Ian Macdonald and Commodore Jim in third and fourth places
respectively.
Combining the
scores from both races, the Dinghy Section won more convincingly on paper than
appeared on the water, but another win nonetheless. Well done to all: to the
Dinghy Section team for yet another victory in this unique event and to the Flag
Officers for giving them an excellent run for their money.
The day’s racing
then concluded with a novel event - the first ever Flag Officers’ dinghy race,
where the Flag Officers’ team members each helmed their own dinghy, crewed by
members of the Dinghy Section team. This was sudden death: a single round, on a
shortened course with personal pride and reputations at stake! Ian Macdonald
made an almost perfect start at the port end, but Commodore Jim, crewed by
Bardowie’s own “Louisville Lip”, soon made his way to the front of the fleet at
the other side of the course, a position he held to the finish. Ian Macdonald
held on to second, to cap an excellent day’s dinghy racing. Ian Thomson sailed a
cunning downwind leg to pick up two places and narrowly miss out on third,
beaten by half a boat’s length by Bernie Curran. Either these guys have raced
dinghies before or you CAN teach an old sea dog new tricks!
After sailing
everyone adjourned to the clubhouse for a late lunch from resident chefs, the
Dinghy Section Captain and Racing Secretary, aided and abetted by the CCC
Honorary Secretary who had at last found his true vocation - eat your hearts out Nigella, Gordon and Jamie!
Thanks to David
Mollison, John McPartlin, Charles Craig Jnr. and the ubiquitous Ian Abernethy
for Safety Boat cover. For the
Event
Photo Gallery click
here.
David D.Whyte
Captain
What do you want to do in Sailing
At the tail end of 2006, I felt that I
needed to improve my personal sailing and take a bit of time
away from Instructing. I also had a couple of things that I
wanted to achieve for myself.
In early May, I and a few friends sailed
over to Millport in a Laser Stratos, in Light winds, a very
sunny day, had lunch on the beach.
Then in early June sailed over to the Holy
Loch from Cove, wind strength was about force 3 with occasional
light rain we moored in the middle of The Holy Loch having
lunch, watching the seals and birds diving into the water, and
saw 2 porpoises.
During some discussion with others in the
Club, I set in motion a couple of events. I contacted The Benmore Centre who were happy to run a Day Sailing course,
taking a party of 13 sailors.
In May I was given the opportunity along
with another 7 of us from the Club, to Sail on the Clyde
Challenger (Clyde Sail Training Trust) a 60ft long 35 tonner,
racing in the Bell Lawrie Series at Tarbert Loch Fyne. We didn’t
win any races, but we had a great time. 5 days of big boat
racing.
During a phone call, I and another member
of the Club were given an opportunity to sail to Bangor on
Saboo
(The Green Boat) in the North Channel Race and on return to
Largs the Ziguener. Our Captain being Jim McIlraith. "Commodore"
The race started at Kip about 7.15pm with
light winds, by the next 6.00am we were off the end of Arran
windless, but if you wait long enough the wind will come along
and we had a Super sail to Bangor, taking about 10 hours,
arriving well beat, dinner, a few drinks, and collapse into bed.
Our return race started about 3:00pm with a
heavy sea all the way up to Arran and then fairly light winds
sailing into Largs Channel in the dark (Spooky) arriving after
midnight. What a way to spend a few days, great sailing, great
company, great Boat.
My first ever pint of Guinness. I would
like to get my 2nd Guinness next year in Bangor. Hint, Hint.
In August I spent a week instructing kids
and adults at a Scripture Union Camp.
At the September weekend, a few friends and
I had a sail on a Drascombe Gig across on the Forth. Our sail
was round Inchcolm Island and up through the Bridges on a
pleasant sunny day with a fair wind. Sail forth.co.uk This
Company organises full and half day trips, as far as you want to
go (weather/light dependant) you can either sit back or take the
helm.
As you can see I have done quite a few
things this year and it is all thanks to lots of people who have
given me an opportunity to do something a bit different.
The other thing that I found important is
that I was able to communicate to others within the Club, and
the easiest way is by e-mail, if you read this and you don't
receive any information through your e-mail then pass your
e-address to John McPartlin and/or Helen Kirk at
Bardowie@Clyde.org and you will be in the loop.
Just to finish, can I just say that the
best way to improve your Sailing Skills is to be involved in the
Race training and Race nights.
I look forward to being involved in the
Club again next year.
Hugh McLean
Dinghy Section AGM
This will be held at
the Clubhouse on the evening of Wednesday 7th November 2007 -
full details will be in a notification to be sent out by post
with Tidelines.
Brazill Trophy
This has been postponed until probably next week 21st October
2007.
This was a very successful event won by a Bardowie team representing Lenzie
Academy - Michael and Rebecca MacLennan - Michael has written a
Full Report which you can see
Here.
The Summer School at Bardowie proved to be a great success this year but don't
take my word for it have look at the
Photo Gallery here.
The final ranking event of the season. After 6 races at the Inlands (James doing
well, Nathan not so well), the 12 strong wind races at the Nationals (James not
so well, Nathan well), everything hangs in the balance - James occupies
last qualifying position for a GBR squad berth, Nathan a little further down the
list. Both need to sail their socks off! 240 boats in the fleet.
And, in tandem, there were 6 CCC regatta fleet sailors at
the EoS. All did well. CCC is becoming the significant junior racing club at a
national level. We should celebrate this!!
The 2006 Brazill Trophy was decided over three races at Bardowie Loch on
Saturday 30th September and, for the eleventh year in a row, the
Dinghy Section were successful!
The Brazill Trophy,
originally donated by Mr E Brazill in appreciation of the enjoyment he and his
wife had from watching dinghies sailing on the loch, was competed for between
teams representing the current Flag Officers, led by Commodore Jim McIlraith,
and the Dinghy Section, captained by Neil Tannahill and crewed by Dean
Gillespie. Jim was crewed by Ian Abernethy and ably supported by helmsmen Ian
Macdonald and Scott Chalmers crewed by Ian Thomson and Kevin Aikman
respectively. The other Dinghy Section Helmsmen were Nathan Forrester and Gavin
Dunlop crewed by Michael MacLennan and Emily Whyte, respectively.
Though the day was
bright and sunny it started off with next to no wind. A brief briefing was held
due to the short attention span of the visitors. A practice race was also held
to allow them the opportunity of familiarising themselves with the steady
breezes (just like Loch Fyne) and highly tuned racing dinghies that are the
club’s Laser 2000s. Fortunately by the time the practice race had completed a
light breeze had appeared, allowing racing proper to begin. In the first race,
Nathan and Michael led the fleet around the course with Neil and Dean second.
Commodore Jim and Scott Chalmers were a creditable third and fourth. The wind
didn’t permit a second round and so the teams and supporters adjourned to the
clubhouse for a very welcome lunch provided by the Bardowie Diner.
After lunch two
further races were held in a better breeze. Both were won by Nathan and Michael
with Commodore Jim collecting a further third place and then a second -
unfortunately for the Flag Officers, not enough to prevent another Dinghy
Section victory. Notwithstanding the defeat, they performed very creditably, not
only staying upright - an improvement on previous years - but improving their
performances with each race. Next year the Dinghy Section will need to be on
it’s guard!
Thanks to everyone
who competed and assisted in any way and to the Diner Crew for their catering.
All contributed to making this a most enjoyable Brazill Trophy 2006 (for the
Event Photo Gallery click
here).
Bardowie hosted
the Sailability Scotland Scottish Challenger Traveller series over the 26th
and 27th August. The event, which was the fifth of the six event series,
was again supported by Duncan Yacht Chandlers and attracted entrants from
Helensburgh and Cramond who relished the opportunity to take on the home
flotilla. (for the
Event Photo Gallery click
here).
Saturday
started very calmly, almost too calmly, with hardly a ripple on the loch.
In those conditions once the fleet had drifted across the start line for
Race one there was only going to be one winner, Alex Hodge (CCC) as Alex is
a past master at finding wind where nobody else can. Behind him the race
was keenly contested with the fleet closely bunched with Liz Eaton (Cramond)
eventually emerging in second place ahead of a gaggle of home sailors. Only
Alex Richardson retired as he failed to round a mark, a mistake which was
spotted by the eagle eyed race officer, Joe Berry and accepted with good
grace by Alex. There was always race two but first lunch - a question of
priority.
The wind picked
up for the post lunch races and it was agreed to run races 2 and 3 back to
back with a short interval in between to allow for emergency repairs and
relief! The increased wind made no difference to Alex Hodge who won both
races. Behind him there was little change in the finishing order though
Graham and Anne Ritchie scored two fine seconds showing the benefit of the
new lightweight rudder and sail. Liz Eaton finished third in race two and a
somewhat sluggish fifth in race three. The cause of this poor performance
was discovered when the boat was beached for the night. It was full of
water, and I do mean full! Now if only we can get that into Alex Hodge’s
boat!!
At the back of
the fleet Mary Donald and Glenn Curtis suffered steering problems and having
been hit by Jamie Scott and Ron Cameron decided to retire. Unfortunately by
the time the problem was sorted there was insufficient time to make the
start of race 3. Still there was always Sunday or so we thought!
Yes there was
Sunday alright but with the new day came new wind and lots of it. Too much
of it in fact! The problem was that the strength and direction of the
wind prevented safe launch and recovery so a postponement was called until
after lunch, in the hope that the cloud and rain that was forecast would
materialise and the wind would abate. Sadly, despite much rumination and
chin rubbing, the hoped for improvement did not happen and the Race
committee took the decision to abandon racing for the day. This was the
first time that a whole day had been lost in a series which in recent years
has seen blizzards and tropical heat at Loch Venachar (not on the same day)
and gales at Loch Earn and Lochaber.
The next event
on the Challenger calendar is the UK Championships at Largs on 23rd and 24th
September with the sixth and final traveller being held at Lochaber Yacht
Club, Fort William on 14th and 15th October.
Results: Gold
Fleet: 1st Alex Hodge, 2nd Liz Eaton, 3rd David Chalmers
Bronze Fleet: 1st Graham Ritchie, 2nd Ruth Foley, 3rd Lorna
Turnbull
Gary Phillips,
Chair, RYA
Sailability Scotland
Cruising
