Blaze Frostbite Port Edgar 20 November

Six Blazes raced at Port Edgar in a frostbite series.  Although Bill Soudan Scottish Blaze Rep, had been responsible for the idea he was laid low by a winter bug and the local sailors from Port Edgar and Cramond took part.

Weather conditions were absolutely lovely with a blue sky and sunshine although with light winds and sub zero temperatures. Jim Scott, race officer, consulted the fleet and decided that a number of short races were preferable to two longer ones. The first four races lasted only 20 minutes each and were a windward leeward up to a mark on society bank and back. On Race 1 four of the fleet were well back from the line leaving Nick Lines and Peter Collings to establish a good lead. The NW wind on became SW and those who elected to sail inshore picked up the wind shift well. Racing was close.  On race two boats were over lapped at the end finishing within seconds of each other and there were quite a few little tactical battles on the course. However by race four the wind had swung well south and the race turned into a fetch and reach. The race officer really didn’t have the time in a Scottish winter afternoon for a committee boat start to be organised  (PEYC sits on the south of the River Forth and racing was run off the pier) Therefore Jim elected for a race over the river with a running start out the harbour. In a light wind Malcolm Stewart got away well, sailing in his own private breeze. However he was only a couple of boat lengths ahead of Peter Collings at the turning mark with Pete Sykes not far behind. A long beat back to Port Edgar followed Nick Lines elected to tack early and took advantage of a shift and less tide to catch up well. However, this final race went to Peter Collings, who won the series with three firsts and a second.

Results