Countdown on for Scottish Series
THE countdown is on for the start of the Silvers Marine Scottish Series regatta which starts on Friday May 26. Based at Tarbert, Loch Fyne, this is the 43rd event and is organised by Clyde Cruising Club (CCC). The four- day race format continues until Monday May 29 with the series prize-giving after the final day’s sailing.
David Denholm, event chairman, said: ‘All seems set fair for a spectacular event and that goes for the weather too. Initial indications are for fine conditions and a light breeze and the wind gradually filling over the weekend. This should provide great sailing and a wonderful spectacle over the bank holiday weekend.’
The regatta provides ‘something for everyone’ – a combination of mainly passage racing for the white sail fleet and highly competitive racing for the One Design, IRC and CYCA fleets.
The white sail fleet (racing without spinnakers) start in Largs and race to Tarbert on Friday. On Saturday there are two options, including one with a lunch stop at the Oystercatcher in Otterferry. Sunday sees all the fleet, other than the One Designs, competing in the Insh Race round Inchmarnock, if conditions permit. Further racing on Monday finishes the series.
The One Design racing sees Sigma 33s, Sonatas and Hunter 707s in action. The Sigma 33 and Sonata classes have been the racing ‘ workhorses’ of Clyde for more than two decades and this year there is an excellent entry of 11 Sigmas and nine Sonatas.
The Hunter 707s saw tremely competitive racing in 2016 and also produced the overall series champion in Dara O’Malley’s Sea Word. A highly competitive fleet of 11 will be on the start line this class, with Scottish Olympian Luke Patience looking for success.
The CYCA handicap classes boast an equally strong field for the 2017 event with a total of 23 entries in two classes.
IRC racing is always attractive to the more competitive yachts.
In IRC class one, the title sponsor owned Eala of Rhu has unfinished business with Aurora, both vying for a class win so some close racing is anticipated between the two.
The Silvers Marine team will be looking for a class and possible series win to round off their sponsorship term. What was better known as class two will race as the RC35 class. This new initiative for boats in this handicap range has put new energy into the Clyde racing scene as results from the recent Kip regatta have shown.
Challenge
A large class three of 41 boats will fight it out over four days not only for a class win but for the Spinlock IRC Scottish Championships – a significant challenge which should elect a worthy winner.
This year the Scottish Series charity is the Clyde Cruising Club’s Seamanship and Pilotage Trust, which will benefit from the eve- of-regatta ice-breaker events.
The trust supports education, safety, training,
Yachting
promoting facilities for the less able and preserving the heritage across all maritime and seamanship aspects – a great cause with the ability to transform lives and promote sailing and seamanship.
David Denholm said: ‘ The CCC, Silvers Marine and our other sponsors are looking forward to welcoming all entrants to what is shaping up to be a terrific event – what Event Scotland would term the perfect stage.’
Entries remain open till racing starts and for those who can’t compete, the journey to Tarbert will be well worthwhile to view the colourful spectacle both on and off the water.