Sailing: Storm brings challenge

Oct 9 2009 by Mike Wilson

SUNDAY brought the aftermath of the Saturday storm to the Prestwick sea front, but nonetheless competitors at Prestwick Sailing Club managed to launch off the beach in difficult conditions.

The tide was very high, leaving no beach, and huge piles of seaweed had been blown ashore by the storm. But with plenty of team work, the sailors managed to manhandle then steer the boats through weeds and waves and onto the race course.

There the nine boats were rewarded with sunshine and medium winds. The first race was a longer one of over an hour, as part of the club championship or founders series. In a mixed fleet of various boat types, it was the trio of RS300s which found their way to the front.

Peter Carr led all the way round to win, followed by Malcolm Downie, while in third place, Robbie Briggs enjoyed his return to the fray after missing a good deal of the season due to boat repairs.

There was still time for a second race that afternoon, and a smaller fleet remained for this shorter event. This time it was the slower boats which earned the top three places. Murray McDonald took the race win in his Radial, with father son team David and Ruairidh Donaldson next in their Graduate dinghy.

Ruairidh, who recently took third prize at the Prestwick Youth Regatta in his own boat, this time teamed up with his dad to go one better and take second place. Colin Baillie single handed his Magno to third place. The Late Series continues to the end of this month, when sailing finishes.

Results: Founders Series Race: 1. Peter Carr, RS300; 2. Malcolm Downie, RS300; 3. Robbie Briggs, RS300. Late Series race: 1. Murray McDonald, Radial; 2. David and Ruairidh Donaldson, Graduate; 3. Colin Baillie, Magno.