Early bird entries

Early entries show regular faces are back with 2017 class winners Alan Jeffrey and Paul Scutt’s Carmen II and Angus Wright’s Aunt Jessie in Class 0. Gordon Lawson’s J122 Moonstruck Too is another regular as is Nick Marshall’s Satisfaction and Ally Paton’s Jammin. Rod Stuart’s fast Corby 37 is fresh from a Round Mull overall win so will be a strong contender, as will Chic Medley in his J92s Jota. Another Round Mull entrant, the Archambault A40RC of Ross Fullarton and John Minnis with his First 31.7 Final Call opt for IRC Class 0, as does Michael Flynn with the Sigma 400 Thalia.

In class 1, local Oban sailor James Hardie returns with his Grand Soleil Taz and John Stanley-Whyte brings his J109 Blue Jay to the series. John Dixon is a newcomer with Monkey Business.

White sail class 2 sees the Chalmers family return in Sunrise to defend their class win last year. Regular also is Angus Cartwright with Golden Fox lining up against Ian Donald’s Tioram. Big Blue with Chris Shelly and Chris Morrison’s Synergie add to the mix in this class. Damon Lindsay with Ionara is also a regular competitor, as is Alastair Torbet with Spirit of May, who finished third in class last year. McGarry and Perratt race Grand Cru, their First 40.7 in Class 2 as well. John Fraser will also be opting for this white sail class with Wookie 2, as will another regular, Mark Curran with Prevail, and Linsday Doig with Firestarter.

Class 3 sees Gordon Hamilton’s big Oceanis Naparima and Jim Dick’s Elan GT Reflection on the start line with the equally familiar line-up of Alan Moore’s Delinquent and Ian MacLachlan’s Dehler 36 Polaris.

Anne Campbell races her

X34 in Class 4.

Class 5 again looks to be one of the most competitive in the fleet. John Rose is

back with Insatiable alongside last year’s class and overall series winner Michael Petticrew with the beautiful Nic 43 Magdaleyne. There will be close racing between Magdaleyne and Oban sailor Steven Forteith’s Shadowfax, runner-up to the Irish contingent last year. Fellow Oban sailor Graham Anderson and team will also contend Class 5 with Lucky Ned Pepper. Marc Ritson’s Sigma 36 Saracen is in this class, as is Paul Green with his Dehler 32 Dealanach. Boyd Tunnock’s Lemerac, Gavin Marshall’s Elan 31 Celerity and Wallace Cuthbertson’s Elan 333 Delta Blue are also contenders.

Team these highly competitive boats alongside the Sigma 33s of Sea-Pie of Cultra, Leaky Roof II and Amber Haze and this will be an exciting class to watch.

Argyll Fleet Class 6 sees Peter Bloch’s Skye and the Sigma 33s Meka II and James Miller’s Mayrise who was last year’s class winner. Stuart MacDonald’s Dehler 34 Fraoch and Ian Nicolson’s St Bridget are also competitive boats and will have to line up against Brian Young’s mighty Mylne ketch Glenafton a former class and overall series winner. Neil Manderson’s First 35s5 Spirit and Sarah Birrell’s Lez Beez Neez (Deux) complete the early entry to this class.

Tunnock’s Fleet Class 7 has the strong Moody 336 contingent with the familiar names of Cool Bandit 2, Piecemaker, Stargazer and Katerina all entered. David Smith’s big Moody 419 Shindig, Tony Wright’s Mustang 30, Respectable and the Laser 28 Farr Out widen the field, as will the new Hunter 707 entries.

It will be a first for Murray MacDonald when he brings his 707 Autism on the Water to the event to raise awareness of autism and the benefits sailing can bring to those on the autistic spectrum. He has competition with Andrew Mckeown’s Partial Pressure and Mike Fleming’s Rammie. Add in Colin Crawford’s Nimrod, Brian Wiseman’s Sorr of Appin and Alan Dunnet’s Valhalla of Ashton and this class is wide open.

Class 8 has class winners Popcorn and the Fyfe family back to defend their trophy with Alastair Pugh’s Marisca also a regular competitor and Andrew Wallace with the beautiful Nicolson 35 Jane Waterman. New this year is the beautiful Scottish Island Class Gigha with Scott Raeburn. Add in Lady Ex with Ben Shelley and the usual suspects of Scintilla of the Sea and Hot Toddy and it will be as highly competitive a class as ever.

Class 9 has Murray Caldwell with his Trapper Oystercatcher looking a favourite although former class winner Judy Orr from Campbeltown with Eureka will give the class a run for their money. Robin Wills brings his lovely Malo 38 Cantata II to race as does Jamie Grant with the kenspeckle Kelana and David Lyon with Voila, his First 29. Fiona Leask races her Contessa 32 Layla and Calum and Jilly McPhee their Moody S31 White Lady. All will have to be speedy off the mark to contend with Alastair Gay’s Orwell Lass, fresh from class victory at the Scottish Series.

Classes are provisional at July 11.