Silvers Marine Scottish Series – all set for exciting racing and great fun - both on and off the water!
TARBERT will welcome the Silvers Marine Scottish Series fleet for the annual racing regatta on Loch Fyne between May 26 and 29 2017. The event encompasses first class racing in a spectacular setting and has become an iconic regatta attracting not just competitors but visitors to Tarbert. The local community enjoys one of its busiest weekends of the year – both in the village and also at Portavadie marina across from Tarbert. For many it’s a ‘must do’ weekend in the UK racing and social calendar. The 43rd event is organised by Clyde Cruising Club (CCC) and the title sponsor is Silvers Marine. Racing is offered over a mix of classes – from spinnaker to non-spinnaker classes, sailing a mix of round the buoys Olympic courses to passage racing and a white sail cruise in company from Largs. The event offers something for everyone from highly competitive racing to family and cruiser classes with the inshore race on Sunday proving a popular addition.
Tarbert Harbour Authority
Tarbert Harbour Authority (THA) hosts the fleet for the duration of the event at Tarbert and looks forward to welcoming everyone as well as hoping for fair winds and sunshine for racing.
The THA team has a rough berthing plan to adhere to on a first-come, first-served basis. The latest pontoon addition has expanded the berthing area and is now described as ‘second to none’. The proposed new toilet and shower block should be completed for next year.
Portavadie Marina
Across the water from Tarbert, Portavadie Marina also welcomes competing yachts for which a regatta rate of £20 is offered. Marina Manager Craig Cochran said: ‘Most of the accommodation is taken by yacht racing teams and we are open for business in our restaurants and café at our Leisure Club.’ As well as being a Five Gold Anchors accredited marina Portavadie is a first class resort destination in itself with infinity pool, spa and a range of shoreside accommodation and leisure facilities.
The Racing
The event format is a mixture of Olympic style and coastal races. All spinnaker classes race on Loch Fyne on day 1. The opening passage race from Largs for white sail, family class and cruisers is on Friday May 27. Saturday sees a passage race from Tarbert towards Otter Spit and return to Tarbert, which is not part of the series. Sunday features the Inch Passage Race and racing continues in Loch Fyne till Monday May 29. The overall regatta prize-giving is on Monday night at the marquee. A Bangor to Tarbert feeder race starts at 8pm on Wednesday May 24. This year Irish interest in the event appears to have been re-kindled with a rise in entries from across the water. Classes range from high tech IRC racers to those sailing CYCA handicaps, both spinnaker and restricted sail.
IRC Championship
New for 2017 is the IRC Scottish Championship which will be embedded in the Silvers Marine Scottish Series for the first time. Event chairman David Denholm explained: ‘It makes sense as the number of competitors at the Scottish Series is considerably in excess of the numbers that have turned out for the weekend championships. We are very grateful to the Mudhook Yacht Club for allowing the MacIver Salver to remain the trophy for the competition’. David added the IRC fleet within the entry list was now sitting at more than 35 boats and could be even higher with late entries. ‘This probably moves it to one of the larger IRC championships within the UK,’ he said.
RC35
A new initiative for the RC35 class is formed out of the Scottish Series Class 2 to improve the competitive sailing in that band of IRC yachts and will see it a mainstay of this year’s event alongside a revived Sigma 33 fleet, the One Design fleet and the strong 707 class. All classes are currently boasting around a dozen entries. ‘Everything is shaping up well for an exciting race series over the end of May Bank Holiday weekend,’ enthuses David. ‘Entries are up on last year and we have substantial sponsorship, not only from headline supporter Silvers Marine, which also provides its barge and marks but prizes from Marlow Ropes, Knox anchors, a youth sponsorship boost from Hempel Paints and six mark buoys from Crewsaver.’ He added: ‘It is again a privilege to link the Crewsaver brand with our One Design fleets which last year saw this racetrack provide some of the closest racing especially in the Hunter 707s. Indeed it was from this class the overall Scottish Series winner emerged. ‘For 2017 we hope the same competitive spirit and expertise will again be displayed.’ Luke Patience may also be appearing again at Tarbert in a 707 and the class association is also making a boat available for a Glasgow University students’ entry. photographs by All Scottish Series www.yachtingimages.co.uk
David added: ’We are hoping for a substantial enlargement of the White Sail fleet through the Scottish Marine Tourism Alliance to interest from Sailing and Cruising Scotland, the Facebook-based group.’ On the startline Class IRC 1 Former several-times, overall-series winner Jonathan Anderson races his new Ker 39 Inis Mor against the famous Howison partnership with their ‘well kent’ Local Hero. Rod Stuart and Bill Ram’s Corby 37.2 Aurora will also be hot contenders in this class alongside the J122 Black Jack of Kip with Phil Moyes at the helm. Jay Colville from East Down Yacht Club brings his First 40, Forty Licks as well as the Mackays in their Farr 30 Wild Haggis. Possible late entries include Steve Cowie’s Zephyr and Jamie McGarry’s Eala of Rhu and both would also be to the fore in this class. Class IRC2 / RC 35s
Competition should be very hot with the new RC 35 interest. The two Corby 33s Jacob V11 and Banshee of John Stamp and Charlie Frize race this class as seasoned and experienced campaigners giving close one design racing. And there are three J109s pitching up – Pat Kelly’s Storm, the Irish contingent with Chimaera and Jim Dervin’s No Worries. Add in three First 36.7s the Aitken’s Animal, Jeffery and Scutt’s Carmen 11 and Altair from Cove, the Balmforth’s Tangaroa and Rob McConnell’s Fools Gold and there are some seriously good sailors in this class. Triple Elf, the First 35 of Christine Murray, is also always up there as is the Thomsons’ Sloop John T, this year racing
against another Swan 40 Can Can IV, of the Thoms. Craig Latimer’s new Wildebeest is a Ker 32 which promises great things. A previous class winner Craig’s boats are always well sailed as is Neil Sandford’s Now or Never 3. Class IRC 3
Trastada, the Andrieu half tonner of Angus and Challis, returns as does Lambay Rules with Stephen Quinn of Howth Yacht Club. The J92s of Peter Doig from East Antrim and Nicholas Marshal’s Satisfaction will also have fellow J92 Samurai J of Cove Sailing Club in close competition. Also battling it out will be the two half-tonner’s Harmony and Kingone, always to the fore. Murray MacDonald is campaigning his Sonar for ‘Autism on the Water’ and the familiar names of the Kent’s Farr e Nuff, Phoenix, Edgy and John Reekie’s Blue Jay from Bassenthwaite SC should all add interest to the mix. The Swan 36 of Chris Frost may just upset the placings if the wind is up. CYCA 4
Long time Scottish Series campaigner Brian Robertson is on home ground with Celtic Spirit, his X332 and Alan Moore’s Dehler 34 Delinquent is also a familiar boat in this class. The Grand Soleil 34 of Bilsland and Campbell will no doubt be the strong contender to win the class but John Corson’s Salamander and Boyd Tunnock’s Lemerac will hope to give the Arran boys a run for their money. Keith Salters from Royal Ulster with Grey Goose and First Edition with Cameron Still, the GK 34 Strike 3 of Mark Taylor and Maria Beattie from Prestwick add to the mix. A class with the Morrison’s Enigma, the Elan 333 Delta Blue of Wallace and Cuthbertson and John Mill’s Elan 31 Vamp should be really interesting to watch. And always in the top placings and several times class winner, Valhalla of Ashton the kenspeckle Swan 36 of Alan Dunnett will be sailing to win again as well. CYCA 5
An open class with six entries to date. Experienced Alastair Pugh with his Contessa 32 Marisca is back again and Alistair Gay takes on the class with his lovely Nicholson 35 Orwell Lass. Colin Wood’s Nic 30 from Largs is another of the classics as well as the Colvic UFO of Oliver Epsom that will have to work with Richard Doig’s Sirius from East Antrim Boat Club and Ravel’s Bolero of Kenny Macdonald. Slowest boat in the class is David Williamson’s Westerly Tiger. This will be a close class to call. White Sail Fleet CYCA Class 8 This class has the widest range of handicaps to contend from 5.25 to 22.95. Owen Mcmanus of Campbeltown Sailing Club sails his X332 Jochr and he will face stalwart Ian Nicolson’s Maxi 1000 St Bridget. CCC commodore Clive Reeves also lines up with his Maxi 1000 Lyrebird. Royal Ulster YC is represented by John Moorehead in his Swan 40 Margarita and Angus Cartwright races his big 47.7 Golden Fox. The Sigma 33 of Stewart Shearer and Elan Impression of Reid and Wilkie and the Oceanis, Whimbrell, like the previous contenders are all quick boats and will have to be some way ahead to keep clear on handicap of the Frigate 27 and Jaguar 25 at the slow end of the fleet.
CYCA Class 9 This class start from Largs and will comprise ‘non series’ competitors who will take part in the passage racing. Anna Mae from Loch Sunart with Dorothy and Stewart Ritchie at the helm are long time SS campaigners. Marjorie Grant’s beautiful McGruer sloop Kelana is entered as is the Moody 31 of the Devonalds of Delting Boat Club and Joe Magee’s Albin Cumulus Torranan. Garth and Erica Wilson will be serious contenders for this with their Moody 336 Shearwater. Sigma one-designs
There has been something of a Sigma 33 revival with 11 of these one-designs lining up for the starting gun. As ever the top three of Donald McLaren and his team on Sigmatic, Leaky Roof 2 of Harper and Robertson and James Miller’s Mayrise will be hard to beat.
Sonata one-designs Old School with Ross MacNish at the helm will have new competition this year with Brian Wiseman of Craignish Boat Club entering Virtuoso with Guy Neville at the helm. Mark Taylor’s Saraband and Wicked Wookie will all be vying for top placings in what’s again, a highly competitive fleet.
VX / J70 and Hunter 707s 2016 Scottish Series Winners overall Dara O’Malley and the 707 Seaword, return to defend their title. The team faces strong competition from More T Vicar of Carl Allen from Port Edgar, a previous class winner and Stewart Robertson’s crew on Cacciatore, 707 Scottish Champions have to rank as a favourite. Glasgow University SC team race Big Boys’ Toys with a boat given by the class association. David Smith’s Rammie from Aberdeen is also a strong contender and Kieran McAllister returns with Wishful Thinking from Lough Swilly Sailing Club. The strength of this class on the east coast should show through with Neil McLure’s Blue Funk, Mad Rafiki, from Helensburgh Sailing Club form the west coast contingent. Please note all class divisions were correct at time of going to press but may change with entry for the event. SPONSORS of the 2017 event The Silvers Marine Scottish Series 2017 would not be able to be run without the
support of the following sponsors:- Silvers Marine
Once again Silvers Marine is providing its invaluable support to Scottish Series. The iconic boatyard at Rosneath is one of the most progressive boatyards in the UK with a highly skilled and motivated workforce. The wide skill base with ISO9001: 2000 qualification and continuous training policy ensures that quality remains Silvers prime concern. Silvers can provide the skills and materials necessary to keep your boat in top condition www. silversmarine.co.uk Crewsaver
Crewsaver is the safety partner and product sponsor edition of the 43rd edition of the series. Crewsaver will be providing a brand new set of inflatable marker buoys for the event and for use at Clyde Cruising Club thereafter. Crewsaver is a world-leading manufacturer of marine safety equipment and clothing for the commercial and leisure marine industries. The company designs and manufactures bespoke safety equipment for several countries’ special forces, the UK government’s Environment Agency and the aviation and oil industries. Crewsaver is part of the Survitec Group. Hempel Paints
Hempel Paints sponsor the Crawford McInnes Trophy for youth. As a global supplier of high-quality marine paints and coatings, Hempel says it will keep your ship in prime condition, both inside and out, throughout its lifetime. With a focus on product innovation, customer service and technical advice, Hempel has been a leading supplier to the marine industry since
1915. Today, Hempel supply a wide range of advanced products, from fuel-saving antifoulings to some of the toughest epoxies in the industry.
Tunnock’s
Legendary biscuit manufacturer Tunnock’s has been a loyal supporter of the series for many years, returning again this year with their survival packs of goodies for competitors. Boyd Tunnock said: ‘Tunnock’s has been associated with the event for more than three decades. It’s a fantastic event in the Scottish sporting calendar giving the perfect blend of serious racing and true Scottish hospitality.’ The Botanist and Bruichladdich
The Botanist, the first and only Islay Dry Gin, supports the event with the spirit described as a ‘progressive exploration of the botanical heritage of the island. Wild, foraged, distilled.’ Bruichladdich joined the sponsors in 2015. The whisky distilled on Islay since 1881 is a sister brand to The Botanist Islay Dry Gin.
RC 35 racer cruiser
The RC35 Class is developed for close, competitive racing within a tight rating band (IRC 1.015-1.040).Yacht racing will be in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Scottish Series is delighted that RC35 has chosen to sail with us on Loch Fyne providing a significant boost to the IRC fleet.
Marlow Ropes
Marlow Ropes is noted as ‘High Performance Rope Experts.’ Marlow produces a fantastic range of high performance cordage for the leisure industry and their dyneema products have fueled advances in both yacht and dinghy sailing. The Silvers Marine Scottish Series is delighted that Marlow are behind the prizes for the event and will provide a bespoke halyard to the ‘Yacht of the Day’.
Knox Anchors
Knox Anchors are contributing an anchor (appropriate size for the boat) as a prize within the series. Invented by Professor John Knox and manufactured in the UK, the Knox Anchor is described as the result of more than 10 years of design and testing for those who want an anchor that sets immediately and holds tenaciously. With a holding power of more than 40 times its own weight, the Knox is claimed to be 30 per cent better than any other.
Argyll and Bute Council
Supporting the event by pointing up the input to the economy of the area.
MarineBlast Multimedia
Keeping the event front and centre of everyone’s thoughts through multimedia channels.
Tarbert Harbour
Tarbert Harbour hosts the Silvers Marine Scottish Series and in conjunction with Tarbert Enterprise Company sponsor the fireworks display on Saturday night.
The Scottish Sailing Institute
The Scottish Sailing Institute has a wealth of experience hosting, managing and supporting sailing events from the international regattas around the world to local events across Scotland and is delighted to be able to support Clyde Cruising Club and the Silvers Marine Scottish Series in 2017 and wishes good luck to all those taking part.
Other supporters include RYA Scotland, and EventScotland.