Results 2008

Port to port

The Holm Sailing Club Port to Port race was held on Sunday the 14th September. The race consists of a start at St. Mary's, race to St. Margaret's Hope followed by a race back.

Over all winner Hamba

Only one race was held on Tuesday 2nd September due to the very light breeze. Six boats turned out, Charlie Siderfin and Amy Causer won sailing Hamba.

The Tuesday evening racing continues in St. Mary's. Four snipe took to the water on Tuesday 26th August for the late points series. Three races were held in the light breeze which freshened before dying away. It was good to see Topaz on the water once again, her keel having been recovered from the deep. The results were very close between the finishers.

On Tuesday of 12th August a gusty Easterly breeze gave fine conditions for the 8 boats taking part in the points racing. John Love, a visitor from Budworth, crewed for Robbie Stevenson. Robbie is the youngest helm in the club, and John was probably the oldest on the water on Tuesday.

Four points races were held. Malcolm Tipler, sailing 'Go Faster Blue' did well winning the first two races, but Moonstone got ahead in the later races. The racing was very close, with seconds separating the finishers.

On Tuesday 5th August the light northerly breeze sent the five snipes round St. Mary's bay for three closely fought races. In the first race Moonstone took an early lead, and seemed to be untouchable . It all changed on the final leg when Go Faster Blue made gains from well chosen tacks, finishing 10 seconds ahead. The second race was similar, with Moonstone getting off to a great start ahead of the fleet. On the last tack to the finish Hamba managed to get ahead, finishing first.

In the third race Hamba won. By taking the West side of the beat he gained enough to be well ahead of all the other boats.

The close racing was great practice for the Holm Regatta, to be held on Saturday 16th August. The Snipe fleet is sure to be hotly contested, with good contenders from both Stromness and Holm fleets.

Holm Regatta Forecast

Malcolm Tipler will be defending the Snipe cup, and could be the bookies favourite for the event. He has done well at the both Finstown and Kirkwall regattas. Local Holm contenders to watch out for are Neil Foubister sailing 'No Fear', a refurbished boat new this year. 'Hamba', sailed by Charlie Siderfin, has been doing well on the Thursday night racing and is in the running. 'Moonstone' is another boat that could do well on the day.

'Hassfang', from Stromness is also a quick boat. Hassfang has been away from the Orkney race scene for a couple of years but has now been bought by Chris Moore, and has been doing quite well in the Stromness evening races. Other Stromness boats to watch out for are 'Bonxie' and 'Wild Goose'.

In the handicap fleet 'Best Kens', 'Smyril and 'Ella' are all likely to do well.

Of course anything can happen on the day, it is impossible to predict how the racing will turn out.

Race results, 5th August 2008

Two races were held on Tuesday 22nd July, in a light South Easterly breeze. The breeze died during the second race to give a drifting match between the five snipes taking part.

On Tuesday of 8th July a 12 knot Easterly breeze gave fine conditions for the 9 boats taking part in the points racing. Robbie Stevenson took part in the racing in a Topper, to get a bit of practice before the Yachts and Singlehanders regatta to be held on Saturday the 12th July.

Three points races were held with one crew's race. Neil Foubister dominated the races, finishing first in the three points races. It was good to see a couple of boats from Stromness taking part; Malcolm Tipler sailed Go Quickly Red, while his son Peter sailed Go Faster Blue.

Moonstone capsized in the third race, and retired with a wet crew.

The fresh winds of Tuesday 1st July did not deter six snipes from taking part in the evening points series. As it turned out the breeze moderated, and conditions were fine for racing. Course 4 was sailed, with two beats and many opportunities for place changes. Three races were held, the third race was a crew's race.

On Tuesday 23rd June four boats took to the water in breezy conditions, only two races were held.

On Tuesday 17th June 6 boats took part in the evening racing.

On Tuesday 3rd June nine snipes took part in the evening points racing. The fickle North Westerly breeze died off and then settled into a light but steady North Easterly wind. The first race took quite a long time as light puffs of air teased the fleet around the course. The frustrating conditions were too much for Crewzen who headed home before race 2 started. In Race 2 the more purposeful breeze provided much easier racing conditions. Moonstone lead the fleet all the way, but No Fear finished only a few seconds behind.

On the 27th May seven snipes took part in Tuesday night's points racing. Neil was short of crew so his dog helped out. Courses 3 and 1 were sailed.

On the 20th May nine snipes took part in Tuesday night's points racing. The fine weather allowed good competition, with a crew's race held between two points races.

Eight snipes took to the water on Tuesday 13th May for the second of the summer evening points racing. The fairly light Easterly breeze provided tricky conditions for the new skippers and crew.

The Tuesday evening points racing got started on May 6th. Six boats turned out to race in the fresh conditions.

Malcolm Tipler's new boat 'Go Quickly Blue' won the first race with a close fight for second place among 'Hamba', 'Crewzen' and 'Erma'. Hamba won the second race, getting a good lead over the rest of the fleet. 'Go Quickly Blue' won the third race. The full results are as follows: