By Jono Shelley
As the ‘newcomer’ to the Class, I agreed to write the event report. Wow what a boat – having never set foot in a VX One before, but having heard very good things, I was not at all disappointed. To set the scene for the perfect bank holiday weekend recipe:
•Beautiful Loch Fyne scenery (hard to beat)
•Famous Tarbert hospitality (new friends and hangovers)
•9 VX Ones (Ovington’s outstanding new sportsboat)
•Sunshine (mostly)
•Force 4-5 (consistently)
•Gusts and shifts (ranging from oscillating to outrageous)
•Tight tactical racing (upwind and downwind)
•15-20knots downhill (nothing could get near the VX’s for speed)
Day 1. The VX One fleet had a shared start with the J70s and this made the starts even more tactical. It turned out that they could point a bit higher but were slower – so key was finding a good lane to leeward. The fleet rarely rounded any of the marks far apart, but Martin Darrar from Howth and his crew on Zhik were fast out of the blocks showing early intent to dominate day one with a 1,1,3 score line. A tricky and gusty wind from the North East gave plenty of opportunity for place changing and with gusts rising into the 20’s it was a sensational ride downwind. Others showing form included family Tait from Loch Earn who finished the day with a 2 & 4, Howard Steavenson with an improving 4,3,2 scoreline and Duncan Hepplewhite and crew on Ovington Boats with a 5,2,1.
Day 2 provided a sunny, stable southerly and more very close racing. After working out what worked and what definitely didn’t work on day 1, it was Jono and Ben Shelley on ‘Robbers Dog’ who won the day with a 1,2,1 score line. Martin Darrar and his crew were never far behind, and often in front, continuing to show their form with a 3,1,2. Hepplewhite also showed some good results along with Tony Lewis of Ullswater Yacht Club in Battlecruiser.
Day 3 was the day of the trapezoid course. With a long, tight, spacer reach and a gusty, variable wind it was a white knuckle ride to the first turning mark. Hepplewhite and his Ovington boats crew were most unlucky reaching the windward mark clear ahead on at least two occasions only to be hit by a big gust and thus having to drop their kite to reach the mark allowing others to catch up. Flat water and big gusts made for top boat speeds, nudging 20 knots, and lots of smiling sailors. Again the Shelley’s won the day, getting the nod in two down wind photo finishes of 3 or 4 boats to count a 1,2,1 score line and nibbling away further at Zhik’s lead. Duncan Hepplewhite had another strong day posting 2,3,2 with Howard Stevenson and Dave Clarke also showing consistent form.
So it was all to play for on day 4 with 3 or 4 boats all in for a shout at winning the event in the sunshine and a cool force 4-5 breeze from the north. In the first race of the day Hepplewhite again rounded first but was quickly overhauled by Steavenson and Darrer who had gybed early into ‘the gust of love’. Howard unfortunately dropped his kite a mark to early letting Darrer sail away and the Shelley’s catch up. Darrer sailed an excellent race and was rarely challenged for 1st with Shelley in second and Steavenson recovering to 3rd.
This left just 1 point in it between Zhik and Robbers Dog so to the final race would decide the championship. Zhik nailed the start and found the turbo button sailing away from the fleet to a commanding and well deserved race and overall victory. Darrer, Nathan Batchelor and Neil Piper were crowned worthy series winners and received some impressive glassware as a result.
My prediction is there will be at least 20 VX Ones sailing at the Scottish next year – a great boat and a great event. (This complete report/results, click here.)