Scottish Schools Sailing Competition (Brown Cup)
The Scottish Schools Sailing Competition, or Brown Cup as its more commonly know is an annual event run by Loch Earn Sailing Club (LESC). This year saw a huge representation from ASYC members, who made up a quarter of the competitors, making up local school teams from Robert Gordons, Albyn, and Mackie, with ASYC sailors also entering for Ellon, Lathallan as well as individual entries. Well done to all our sailors who made the journey, and to all the parents who supported them.
LESC put on a two day training weekend before the Brown Cup on the Monday. Many of our ASYC junior sailors and support crew took full advantage of what Loch Earn Sailing Club had to offer, fantastic coaching, BBQs on the loch shore, sunshine and good company. The weather over the weekend was variable with lots of sunshine, but both light wind conditions, and heavy wind during a sudden thunderstorm. Also memorable onshore was the “wrecking ball” (you’ll need to ask the juniors about that) and the mighty midge.
Race day on the Monday saw a fairly consistent breeze rising to about Force 4 in the afternoon, and the three races ran back-to-back with little delay.
The results for our ASYC sailors are below. Special mention should go to those who progressed during the racing. In the Topper fleet Shona Coull and Mac Leven improved significantly from race to race and by the last race were close on the heels of some of the more experienced Topper sailors. Harvey Western showed great character to continue in the last race after equipment failure left him without a kicking strap or mainsheet for a period. And in the Feva’s those of us onshore watched the ASYC contest between Nathan McCabe and Isla Collier in one Feva who just pipped Alistair Collier and Hannah McKenzie in another Feva.
For many of our junior sailors this will have been the most competitive racing and the most congested start line that they have experienced. Well done to all, and we hope that it’s given you an appetite to return to the Brown Cup next year and perhaps for some ASYC club racing or even other events in between.
Full results for the ASYC sailors:
Optimist:
Connor Kennedy 8th
Sophie Kennedy 11th
Finlay McGill 13th
Lewis Carter 14th
Lyall Webster 15th
Topper:
Jack van Bergen 9th
Matthew Park 16th
Drew Webster 17th
Shona Coull 21st
Mac Leven 22nd
Harvey Western 26th
General Handicap:
Mike O’Donovan (Laser R) 4th
Matthew McLullich (Laser 4.7) 8th
Tom White (Laser 4.7) 12th
Nathan McCabe/ Isla Collier (Feva) 17th
Alistair Collier/ Hannah McKenzie (Feva) 18th