The UK Cherub is a two-person 12 foot racing dinghy with asymmetric spinnaker and twin trapezes. Just twelve feet long, weighing around 70kgs fully rigged for sailing, the UK Cherub combines spectacular performance with the “on the edge” handling characteristics only found in true lightweight skiffs.
The UK Cherub rules are simple and allow for maximum flexibility for designers, allowing boats to be created to incorporate sailor's own ideas. Also meaning the class develops over time as techniques, materials and ideas improve. All this makes the Cherub one of the most interesting and innovative of all dinghies: The challenge extends from the sailing skills to setting up the boat to suit the sailor, and maybe even designing and building, too.
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Largo Bay Nationals - Day 1
The Nationals kicked off with sunshine, and a light southerly wind. The morning saw some last minute bimbling in the sunshine, then sails started to appear on boats, and the tension rose before launching. Race officer Gordon McGeorge had briefed the competitors about the course, the sailing area and the all important rocks which are best missed upon returning to shore.
Race 1
The Committee set a short course, and despite the light conditions got the first race away on time. The wind had moved from 185 degs to 170 degs during the prep phase so the windward mark had to be moved accordingly. Antidote to Panel Games with new owners Chris 'the scrote' Lewns at the helm got a good start towards the favoured left end of the line, and kept the lead for the rest of the race, with Usagi Yojimbo in second, and Shiny Beast close behind. There were a few points where the wind dropped below 5 Kts, and the stopwatch got up to four minutes before the wind picked up again. Further back there was a good battle between the 97 rules boats with places changing at most marks. Will Lee and Beth Barnes in borrowed Born Slippy had a good start and were first of the 97 rules boats to the top mark, very closely followed by Phil and Carol Alderson in Pocket Rocket who then took the lead on the downwind leg. These two swapped positions again up the second beat, but Phil and Carol pulled out over the rest of the second lap to finish first 97 rules boat by a whisker.
Race 2
The start of the second race was again light and many boats stalled out on the start line, this resulted in chaos at the pin end Riot Van had a coming together with Loco Perro and Antidote, with Antidote getting away. It all sorted it out with with Usagi Yojimbo getting a clear start and holding on to the lead till the end of the race. The Flying Kipper also did well out of the start and were second boat to the windward mark despite not having much sail area, compared to the other boats around them. Antidote to Panel Games were buried at the start and spent the whole race pulling back place after place to finish second. Shiny Beast had a very speedy second lap which got them another third place. In the midfleet there was a small rig battle between The Flying Kipper and The Pasta Frenzy with the Pasta getting ahead on the downwind but being retaken each beat, ending with a close fight to the finish, with kipper just edging ahead.
Frolics
The Commodore gave a speech welcoming the sailors and introducing the Provost of Fife Frances Melville, who gave a short speech welcoming all the competitors, this was followed by an international buffet, to fill bellies ready for the rest of the evening activities.
Nationals Countdown - What to do if you are not sailing
The Kingdom of Fife has many attractions, and things to do when you are not sailing. As you come into Fife over the Forth Road Bridge you can stop off at Deep Sea world in North Queensferry and get a look at all the creatures that might take a nip at you if you were to capsize. (Not all of them will be present in Largo Bay). Dunfermline has an Abbey, and a museum celebrating the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, Kirkcaldy has some attractions, however since the linoleum factory closed it no longer smells of linseed oil, it is however the birthplace of the father of modern economics Adam Smith.
Slightly further up the road from the venue is Anstruther, where you can get fish and chips at a well known award winning Chippy, it is also where you can see how they got hold of the fish in the old days at the Historic Fisheries Museum which houses a number of historic boats and models. If you are after some non floating history then further round the coast is “Scotland's Secret Bunker” - an amazing network of secret underground rooms used during the Second World War.
There are a number of nearby castles, including;
- St Andrews Castle
- Aberdour Castle
- Kellie Castle
- Scotstarvit Tower
Further round the coast is St Andrews which has a nice Abbey, and some interesting buildings, chic shops, restaurants and cafes. Apparently some game with balls, sticks and sand is played there, sounds strange to me.
If you are in the mood for some more nautical history, then a bit further round the coast and across the River Tay Dundee has a wealth of old boats (no longer including the Ashes unless anyone wants to take the remains home for a visit) Ships that still exist in Dundee include;
- The North Carr Lightship the only remaining scottish lightship.
- The 46 gun friggate Unicorn
- Captain Scott's ship Discovery that was built in Dundee for his expedition to the Antarctic]]
Finally, if you fancy a bit of gentle hillwalking, the East Lomond is about 10 miles from Largo, is suitable for smallish children upwards and has fantastic views of the whole of Fife and the Forth and Tay estuaries from the top. Rather more challenging is the West Lomond. After a trip up either, stop at the village of Falkland (after which the Islands were named), and enjoy a sandwich or a pint in the cobbled streets. If it's raining, a trip to Falkland Palace is worthwhile. Now a National Trust property it was a Royal hunting lodge and has lots of interesting history and lovely gardens.