RYA Scotland RS Feva Event at Royal Findhorn Yacht Club - Overall

A tight battle for position in the final race of the series during the RYA Scotland RS Feva event at Findhorn © Matt Toynbee

Day One

For the second event of the RYA Scotland RS Feva Event Series the class joined RS 200s, Phantoms and Handicap Fleets at the annual Royal Findhorn YC Regatta.

The day dawned with a misty start as sailors arrived bleary eyed to the boat park in time for a half nine first start. Time and tide wait for no man, not even the intrepid feva fleet enjoying their most northerly event of the season. But none of these factors served as a deterrent with this being the largest fleet of the series so far! Launching into a very light breeze allowed some of the fleet’s newer recruits to start finding their feet till just prior to the start when a strong flood tide set up a race before the start with most of the boats racing just to get to the correct side of the line. Ewan/Harry got themselves in the right position to make a great start which saw them get almost a leg ahead of the rest of the fleet by the first mark. However all was to change as the wind faded leaving them battling the strong tide in the channel on the east side of the bay. As the early leaders languished in the fast flowing flood tide hunting for every scrap of breeze the whole fleet compressed leaving all to play for as all the boats inched their way over the ground towards the next mark. Finally the breeze filled in from the east but with the race time at over an hour the race was shortened at the gybe mark.

Just in time for the second race another two boats arrived on the water having travelled to Findhorn from Plockton Small Boat SC on the West Coast. Neither boat seemed particularly phased by missing the drift-athon of the first race but with the breeze filled in both boats made good starts to the second race. Making the most of the conditions the fleet saw some really close racing as they battled round the course interspersed with tussles with the faster boats of the slow handicap fleet sharing the same course. Having to recross the line after both being over at the start Ewan/Harry and Alistair/Murray made good progress to finish first and second, with Isla/Jenny chasing them hard all the way.

After a short lunch ashore the fleet launched again and headed back out into the bay for an afternoon of coaching to make the very most of the perfect sailing conditions. Focusing on getting the most out of tacks the fleet were challenged by the strong ebb tide and moving courses as the coaches kept moving the course to keep it out of reach of rapidly appearing sandbanks. Eventually the sandbanks won the day leaving sailors to return to shore and enjoy the sunshine from the land, with plenty to think about for tomorrow’s second day of racing.

Day Two

The second day dawned to give all the sailors a feeling of deja-vu as they arrived at the club to misty windless conditions and fast flowing flood time. With the race officers making the decision to run the fast handicap, phantoms and RS200s in the bay as well it was going to be a busy course area.

The fleet launched early to get to the start-line and do battle with the strong tide and in spite of their best efforts none of the boats was able to make it to the line on the gun. So once more the race began some distance from the line. The Fevas were not alone in this with a wide mix of boats across all fleets caught out some distance from the line in challenging conditions and with closely spaced starts there was little time for fleets to fight up to the line. However as promised the wind did start to fill in with a light breeze covering the whole race area by half way through the race. Big separations led to a processional race rewarding those who had fought hardest to stay up by the line for the start.

In contrast to the first race the second race saw completely perfect conditions with the tide slackening off, the breeze freshening and bright sunshine to reward the sailors for their patience. A good start from the whole fleet saw a difference of opinion as to which end of the line paid. Ewan/Harry broke from the fleet and made a great start from the pin end picking the pressure up the middle to lead at the first mark. However as the race progressed the fleet compressed with neck and neck racing along the downwind legs as sailors traded gybes and weaved in and out of the faster classes slowly lapping the slower fleets. Isla/Jenny got the best of the final downwind legs to take victory in the final race. In spite of this Ewan/Harry had sailed a strong regatta and took the event by a point.

Next event is on 3rd Aug at Port Edgar Watersports Centre where we hope the great weather conditions of the first two events will continue.

Overall Results: