Saskia arrived at Rhu marina on the Clyde in late June 2007 after five and a half weeks on the Hamburg-Sud vessel, the “Cap Valiente”. Through the prodigious efforts of Michael York and the kind offices of Peter Vandenberg of Hamburg Sud, this shipping was obtained gratis. (There were however other expenses of a nature best forgotten!)
2007 marked the 100th anniversary of the implementation of the metre rule. The 12’s had their world championship in Sardinia, the 8’s on the Clyde, and the 6’s on the Solent.
Saskia was the Squadron’s official representative at the 8-metre World Cup. There were three broad categories of boat – the moderns (separate winged keel and rudder, trim tabs etc), the classics and a couple of pre-1920 gaffers. The regatta was sponsored by Chopard and efficiently organized by the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club.
An invitation race on Sunday 21/07/07 was a drifter. Nine races were scheduled after this, and eight were completed. In the first race in an easterly breeze of 12-15 knots, Saskia was up with the moderns and proved the fastest of the classics, both up and down wind. In very light airs however the continental boats were faster, the German boat Wyvern mixing it with the moderns. Very light conditions prevailed in three of the eight races, the last race being an agonizing drifter, starting in 6-7 knots of breeze and fading almost to nothing.
But with three wins, a 3rd and a 4th in the classic division Saskia just managed to prevail and took the Sira Cup narrowly from Windy, sailed by the Fins, and the Japanese boat Aun. No little thanks are due to the sails, the tactical skills and sheer determination of Ian Short and his able assistant Glen (Hedgy) Cooper. Lindsay May as navigator was always on top of wind and tide conditions both on the Clyde and on the Solent, whilst Stu Milburn and Doug Sturrock up front made many fewer mistakes than expected! My brother Michael and I alternated as helmsman/pitman.
Immediately after the last race Saskia was hauled out of the water and trucked south. Two days later she was sailing on the Solent.
The event, run by the Royal Yacht Squadron, was designated the Centennial Metre Regatta and comprised of lots of metre boats ranging from 2.4 metres to the 12’s, and comprising eight or nine eights, all classical.
Strong winds forced the cancellation of the races on the 2nd and 3rd days, so that only three races were sailed. Saskia won all three very comfortably, the competition being less intense than on the Clyde. Lindsay May was in his element with the tidal currents, outshining the rest of the field. His 8am briefings with the officials of the Royal Yacht Squadron were the highlight of his day and reached rare levels of complexity!
Our thanks are due in particular to the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club for their superb organization and hospitality, to Chopard the chief sponsors of the World Cup and to the amazingly cheerful and efficient staff of the Rhu Marina to whom nothing was too much trouble. Thanks are also due to the Royal Yacht Squadron for their management of a highly complex regatta and for their hospitality. And last but not least to our wives for their support and their efforts to feed and sustain a hungry crew!
JOHN STEPHEN
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