Fairlie Yacht Club Season opened this month with some refreshing New Year Races

Monday 2nd January saw nearly perfect conditions for the first events of the 2017 season for Fairlie Yacht Club with the New Years Races from Largs Yacht Haven and Inverkip Marina.

Six boats and 38 people met at Largs Yacht Haven and the course north about round great Cumbrae saw a split in the fleet early on. Neil Forrest helming Solus took advantage of a confused start for some of the fleet and gained an early lead in clear air.

Ian Macdonald on Significant sailed around the fleet and fell in behind but overtook Solus in the strengthening wind. Paul Rae in Suilven was closing the gap but a tactical error in tacking towards Largs saw them and the others fall behind leaving Significant and Solus a large lead in the strengthening wind.

Significant proved to fast for Solus to catch but they maintained their distance ahead of the fleet to record first and second places respectively with Suilven finishing third. With winds of up to 20 knots the passage around the island was fast and challenging with the scenery being seen to best advantage including a full rainbow on the west side of Great Cumbrae providing a stunning backdrop.

On return to the Yacht Haven the crews mustered on board EMCT2 the Ellen McArthur Cancer Trust yacht, for “New Year Refreshments” to see the facilities offered by the charity to young cancer patients to help with their recovery.