Vibrant Weekend of Water Sports Success
Published 10:01 on 28 Apr 2025
The club buzzed with activity this past weekend, hosting a diverse range of water sports events that showcased the club's vibrant community spirit and the dedication of its members. From national competitions to welcoming visiting groups, the atmosphere was electric throughout the busy few days.
The weekend kicked off with the Radio Sailors national event, drawing competitors from across the country. Sunday, the club's skiff racing enthusiasts took to the water, adding to the lively scene, including the club's competitive and spirited sailors opening regatta, which saw a strong showing, including four boats making the journey from Aberdeen University, injecting youthful energy into the competition.
Adding to the diverse aquatic activities, the club also warmly welcomed members of the Tayside Sea Kayak Club. The kayakers utilized the club's facilities to train their newest recruits, alongside one of the local club's own members, fostering a spirit of collaboration and shared passion for being on the water.
Jonathan, the commodore, expressed his gratitude for the successful weekend. In a statement, he highlighted the "terrific atmosphere" and the fantastic sight of the club being so actively used.
He emphasized that the weekend's success was entirely down to the tireless efforts of numerous volunteers. "None of this could happen without those who gave up their time to plan the events, as well as those who donated their time to feeding, rescuing (good practice today!), and adjudicating," Jonathan noted. "We all hugely appreciate your hard work and commitment. You make our events the success they are, and our club really special."
The mention of "rescuing" hints at the inherent challenges and excitement of water sports, further underscoring the importance of the safety teams present.
The weekend's events underscore the club's role as a thriving hub for water sports in the region, fostering both competitive spirit and a welcoming environment for enthusiasts of all kinds. With such a successful weekend behind them, members are undoubtedly looking forward to more opportunities to get out on the water soon.
Sailing race report:
On Sunday 27th April the forecast was for a light south westerly wind, gusting to 25mph. This made for a difficult course selection for the race officer, as finding a suitable upwind buoy in a south westerly is not easy. The course decided on was F(s), C(p), D(p), X(p), A(p) and fingers were firmly crossed in the racebox.
11 boats took to the water. 4 Aberdeen University fireflies, 2 laser radials, 2 solos, a GP14, a Gull and an Aero (all FSC members).
The first race was in relatively light wind conditions with the odd gust. The start was uneventful but, shortly afterwards a strong gust took Tony Walker (solo) by surprise and resulted in an unplanned swim. After a long, determined struggle to recover the Solo, Tony admitted defeat and was brought ashore by the safety boat. Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet were having varying success at F mark and the fleet spread out along the loch. The gusts made life interesting on the run down from D to X, with a few close calls with Death Rolls. The final places, on handicap, were
- Becci Oosterhoorn (laser radial)
- Helen Brown (laser radial)
- Tess and crew (AUSC firefly)
The second race conditions were more challenging, though the wind direction was closer to true west. The fleet made an excellent start in the brisk breeze and had fewer issues at F. The reach through the gap to C was fast and furious and the run from D to X even more challenging than in the first race. Places were:
- Tess
- Stuart (AUSC firefly)
- Becci
The third race start was equally sharp and the fleet set off in a close knit pack with calls of Starboard and hold your course being heard but no rule infringements. Erwin (solo) also was caught by a gust, but kept his feet dry, righted his boat and continued racing. The fleet stayed close together for the entire race and the final places were:
- Becci
- Tess
- Erwin
The overall results were
- Becci winner of the Inch cup
- Tess
- Helen
Last updated 10:24 on 28 April 2025