New Forum Sponsor - The Holy Loch Coffee Shop

I must admit I haven't been in it yet but we're pleased to welcome the Holy Loch Coffee Shop as a new sponsor. Just step ashore in the Holy Loch Marina and there you are. The promise of bacon rolls, home baking and decent coffee sounds just the thing after a bit of sailing and we'll certainly be paying a visit as soon as. I think they talk Flying Fifteens there too so what more could you ask for? Tell them you saw the ad here.

BLSS

The entry list now looks a bit better populated and Troika is now in the correct class - thank you Hazel - although we note the chat on the forum that the entry number is down. I'm sure there are still more to be added and I would imagine that come the time the total will not be too depleted. We've had the Troon discussion before but the word is that the principal sponsor didn't want it and the Irish like Tarbert. The CYCA classes are well down and just possibly cost may have something to do with it. Certainly the new CYCA wideband Class 6 does not look like a very attractive place to be. The Sigma 33 class seems to be fading but it's a pity the Snotties are not hanging in there so well. The comparison with the Irish events - as noted on the forum is interesting. As for marketing it's hard to say for sure. One might speculate that possibly the CCC have had their eye off the ball with internal politics distracting. Whatever, the IRC classes seem to be holding up and looking good. Argie Bargie? They're just asking for a Gotcha! though hopefully without going to the bottom with significant loss of life but no matter, it's the only Scottish entry with an up to the minute cool look in Class1. Class 2 is easily the biggest with 3 Corby 33s, an English one, an Irish one and a Scottish one. Make up your own jokes. I suspect the O'Leary gang in the Ker 39 will set the pace. 4 A35s and 3 40.7s and lots more besides makes this possibly the most interesting class. The 2 J35s should be up there as ever in Class 3 and I'll be interested to see this much modified SJ320 which has presumably spent the kid's inheritance. We see the Elan 340 must now be rated with non overlapping headsails and the 2 First 36.7s will need to be well out in front right on the boundary zone of rating. Class 4 is down from previous years and is a bit of a mixed bag. The Welbourne half tonner that Jonathan Anderson had when he was just a lad has clearly been rescued from decrepitude in Arklow and no doubt the Impala, Orrkid will cause great annoyance by scoring from miles behind in anotherwise closely rated group. You can all follow on from this in the forum in advance of Mr A. Robertson giving the definitive curse in Yachting Life. A bit of wind and sunshine and it'll be great.

CCC Bute Regatta - several photos so this page may take some time to load.

Above is the only picture I have from Saturday's race which started off in winter and finished in summer. Something like 25 entries (although it didn't look anything like that) started from Kip with a stiff beat to Toward in what was gusting at least 30kn and what seemed from onboard a light 31 footer to be a pretty lumpy sea. Things improved somewhat with a reach up the East Kyle and turning into a beat through the narrows. We weren't looking forward to another beat to Inchmarnock but the usual foul wind at Buttock Point was not an issue and we had a fine if rather boring fetch in sunshine all the way to Garroch Head which is where you see Lemerac who had been with us all the way getting ready to overtake as we got set to make another complete mess of the next manoevre. I don't have results recorded as they are supposed to be found on the CCC website. (Incidentally. our Esteemed Commodore, Howard Morrison informs that the new all singing, dancing, self tacking CCC website will be announced after the BLSS - we look forward to that) . After racing, Largs SC was packed with a convivial group who were definitely cobweb-free and ready to get themselves outside the extremely acceptable supper sponsored by Ian MacDonald's WJM Solicitors. I do remember that Salamander MCMXV was announced as the winner of Class 1 and that Significant won Class 2 and Class 3- there being a continuation of the bizarre and seemingly unnecessary practice of calculating dual IRC and CYCA results. Or maybe Freebird won Class 2 - or were 2nd. Or whatever. There were also mentions for the Team Awards for the teams that nobody knew they were in. Maybe that's a solicitors thing. I don't know. That Largs SC sells the very fine Arran Blonde is my excuse. It was a good day to be out anyway.

photo courtesy of Tanit

The limp flag drooping from Be Happy's forestay sums up Sunday's racing. Race Officer Ian Thomson did his very best (did you realise that the Race Officer and his mate inflate those huge orange race marks with a dinghy footpump while most of you are still asleep- I didn't ) and the first race started in a pleasant 8kn breeze and gave 2 good upwind legs in the direction of the wee Cumbrae until it all failed on the second run and became a drift. Much optimism was expressed in detecting new wind and we all processed up to the north end of the Cumbrae where some wind seemed to be coming from a northerly direction. However by the time the course was laid the breeze had all but disappeared again and we had a bit of a drifty race which timed out before the second round could be completed. Still, the sunshine was welcome and there will be some sunburned faces slumping over desks on Monday morning.

Heres' Sloop John T and Slamander having a wee luffing thing.

The red spinnaker not fully hoisted is on the new Mystique-Defiance 40.7. Can't remember what it's called and it has no visible name.

John Highcock shows a clean pair of heels on Salamander XX.

Good to have the dreaded Enema behind for once.

More photos here

Bute Again.