DELTING Boating Club hosted the UK
Mirror Class Association Scottish Championships over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Thirteen dinghies entered and 12 lined up for the start of the practice race
on Friday evening in a force four wind blowing in the voe, so the waves were
quite big.
The race was won by Leiraness, sailed by Allan Doyle and Jeff Dobson
of Annandale SC. Second were Kirsten Gear and Connor Johnston in Cruister
for Lerwick. All other boats either retired or failed to sail the course correctly
and did not finish.
Conditions were much the same on Saturday and in the first race local boat
Olna, sailed by Fraser Hall and Ivor Johnson, took an early lead and
looked all set to win when they capsized on the short final beat between the
leeward mark and the finish gate. This allowed Alan Duncan and Duncan Stove
in Busta, also Delting, and Darren Forrest and Emma Inkster in Knab,
Lerwick, through. Olna was righted and finished third.
In race two Busta had a massive lead at the finish but missed the
gate and this allowed Olna to finish first followed by Knab
with Kilka, also Delting, sailed by Frank Ratter and Debbie Sneddon
third.
Frank provided the only opposition to Ernie Turpie and Rhiannon Inkster
in Gardie for the masters title as Bruce Leask couldn't sail because
of other commitments.
Race three sailed in slightly less wind saw Knab romp home from Busta
and Olna.
On Sunday the wind was blowing out the voe and although it was as strong
the waves were smaller and this made for some very fast reaches under spinnaker.
Knab took an early lead in race four but was overtaken on the third
beat by Olna while Busta came third. This was the most exciting
race of the weekend with each of the first three boats leading at some stage.
In race five the wind freshened a little and this time Busta triumphed
with Olna second and Knab third.
It was then ashore for lunch and counting a discard. Olna, Busta
and Knab each had seven points so it was set up for a nailbiting last
race. The wind had dropped slightly over lunch. Olna led from start
to finish with Knab second and Linga, Martin Wishart and Craig
Forrest, representing Waas, coming third. Kirsten Gear won the trophy for
the best female helm. The best junior host club trophy went to Duncan Stove
from Busta and the most breakages trophy went to Alan Doyle from Lieraness.
JUNIORS
| Helm | Crew | Points |
| Darren Forrest | Emma Inkster | 9 |
| Martin Wishart | Craig Forrest | 22 |
| Ross Manson | Adam Johnson | 51 |
YOUTH
| Helm | Crew | Points |
| Fraser Hall | Ivor Johnson | 8 |
| Nigel Mycock | Paul Forrest | 38 |
| Kirsten Gear | Connor Johnston | 40 |
MASTERS
| Helm | Crew | Points |
| Ernie Turpie | Rhiannon Inkster | 24 |
| Frank Ratter | Debbie Sneddon | 30 |
| Bruce Leask | Carole Forrest | 65 |
OPEN
| Helm | Crew | Points |
| Fraser Hall | Ivor Johnson | 8 |
| Darren Forrest | Emma Inkster | 9 |
| Alan Duncan | Duncan Stove | 11 |
| Helm | Crew | Points |
| Fraser Hall | Ivor Johnson | 8 |
| Alan Duncan | Duncan Stove | 11 |
| Frank Ratter | Debbie Sneddon | 30 |
| Helm | Crew |
| Allan Doyle | Jeff Dobson |