Jump Juice and Blondie make their breaks

Andi Robertson reports on another lively day at Bell Lawrie Scottish Series

Blondie III, Eamon Rohan's Cork based Corby 37, retained their perfect record at the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series by posting another two first places in IRC Class 2 in contrasting conditions on Loch Fyne today. The morning race was similar in many respects to the opening day, as squally gusts gave way quickly to a softer breeze. And as it moved still further in direction there was a long delay prior to a short, sharp second race.

Blondie moved themselves sharply into pole position for the Scottish Series Trophy, as the only boat in the 174 boat fleet with four firsts from four starts.

Their Irish compatriots on Jump Juice, the Ker 37, jumped the start gun in the first race and had to return to re-cross the line. Starting last they worked hard to rescue a fourth but blotted their run of victories. Atoning in the afternoon race with a third win from four starts Conor and Deniece Phelan's team still lead IRC Class 1 with a five points lead. Jump Juice was harried up to the start line by their fellow Cork crew, the current Scottish Series Champions on Antix Dubh: "It must have been a close run thing whether the were over as well, they seemed (bow) forwards on us and they were not exactly quick at calling us over," explained Jump Juice's tactician Ruairidh Scott.

The second IRC Classes race saw the first leg shortened substantially. With the classes starting just five minutes apart, successful starts were vital and keeping in clear air when all the classes immediately became mixed up, was vital.

"It was quite simply Loch Fyne at its most testing. The second race was on such a short course, with three runs and four beats, that the key was traffic management. Staying out of trouble was essential," recalled Maurice 'Prof' O'Connel, the helmsman on Blondie III. "The first race we came a bit unstuck but just worked and worked to get back into it. The breeze went from 270 degree to 310 on the first beat and we were on the wrong side of it, while Rosie (nearest rivals in Class) was on the right side off. But it's as we said at our first crew briefing yesterday, on Loch Fyne you just never say 'die'. And on the third beat we got a bit of shift and managed to get back in front of them. But our crew work on Blondie was just fantastic. There were so many corners in the second race, especially, that you just had to be on it all the time, and they were."

Blondie III now lead their class by a very comprehensive 16 points over Keith Lord and the crew of the new A-35 A-Crewed-Interest, which is being steered by sailmaker and past Scottish Series Champion Steve Goacher.

IRC Class 3 witnessed another impeccable display by John Moorehead and Chris Ferres' J/35 Bengal Magic. The Royal Ulster crew lead both races again on the water which converted out to a second and a fourth places to lead this fleet by 10 points over double Scottish Series winner Hamish Mackay and crew on the J/92S True Love.

The needle match between the two J/92Ses continues and they now share the same points tally as third placed niJinsky, Robert Yates' Forth crewed boat.

Sailmaker Murray Caldwell is proving the potential of the Impala under IRC and has driven his Hooch to lead IRC Class 4 by two points ahead of Roddy Angus and Jimmy Houston's revitalised Stephen Jones half tonner Merson Misjif.

Provisional Overall Results after Day 2, Saturday 26 May

IRC Class 1:
1 Jump Juice (C Phelan) 7 points,
2 Local Hero (G Howison) 12
3 Antix Dubh (A O'Leary) 14

IRC Class 2:
1 Blondie III (E Rohan) 4
2 A-Crewed-Interest (K Lord) 20
3 Lafayette (M McKillop) 21

IRC Class 3:
1 Bengal Magic (Moorehead/Ferres) 12
2 True Love (H Mackay) 22
3 niJinksy (R Yates) 22

IRC Class 4:
1 Hooch (M Caldwell) 14
2 Merson Misjif (Angus/Houston) 16
3 Bambi (P Doig) 17

CYCA Class 6:
1 Stoirm Mhor (J MacKenzie) 4
2 Guilty (D Clow) 9
3 Amarilys (W Malone) 10

CYCA Class 7:
1 Valhalla of Ashton (A Dunnet) 7
2 Shoki (J McDougall) 7
3 Mallie (McLelland/McFadyen) 9

CYCA Class 8:
1 Pointer (B Robertson) 8
2 What's New Pussy Kate (S Scott) 9
3 Whirligig (K Agnew) 10

CYCA Restricted Sail Class 9:
1 Zara of Doon (Wilson/Lyall) 6
2 North Star (R Smith) 8
3 Scanne (G Aikman) 14

Sigma 33:
1 Sigmatic (D McLaren) 8
2 Rascal (F Crawford) 12
3 Ziggy Stardust (Hull/Hathaway) 16

National Sonata:
1 Blue Tack (D Boatman) 8.75
2 So (McLure/Stewart) 10
3 Pied Piper (A Harper) 15

Sportsboat Class 1:
1 Buddy Ell (C K Frize) 6
2 Water Tiger (C Macdonald) 14
3 Runaway (D Wilson) 15

Sportsboat Class 2:
1 Wombat 2 (E Mackay) 10
2 Grouse (S Pender) 14
3 Carpe Diem (Patience/Ross) 17

Laser SB3:
1 Firefly (J Smith) 12
2 Laser Scotland (D Hepplewhite) 15
3 Flash (G Patterson) 16