After a slightly delayed start, six yachts gathered at the start-line, just opposite Roddy the Butcher's shop in a North westerly wind which gusted between Force three to four and swung increasingly to the North as the race progressed.

The three larger yachts, Amatory, Mhojo and Serendipidy ( a Sadler 32 kippered by John Leiper and crew from Plockton) tussled for first place on the first beat towards Slumbay Island. Meanwhile Ella ( John Murphy from Tornapress' Contessa 26 ), Pegasus and Pegotty fought a rearguard action.

At first Serendipidy took the lead and gave the two larger local boats a lesson in boat handling, but gradually Mhojo and Amatory reeled her in and overtook her towards the end of the first lap. Mhojo had even tried a foolhardy run with her colourful Cruising Chute, but this ended dramatically when the bow attachment gave way and she had to return to her normal headsail.

(Amatory and Mhojo beating up to the windward mark on the 2nd lap -- notice how close they are after 25 minutes of racing. Photo from Alex Ingram. www.lochcarron.tv )

On the second lap Amatory had a close encounter with the windward mark and paid the penalty of performing a 360 degree turn which allowed Mhojo to take the lead at the Attadale buoy. Meanwhile Ella had to change down to a smaller headsail as she ripped the large genoa on her spreaders during a tack. Despite this she showed continued to show a clean transom to Pegotty and Pegasus.

Once again the crew of Mhojo took line honours but Amatory sailed an excellent race to win on handicap, with Mhojo second, Ella third, Serendipidy fourth, Pegotty fifth and Pegasus sixth. 

All gathered on shore at our clubhouse afterwards and vowed to have at least three return matches in 2008!