New IRC Weapon

Here's Alan Hogg's new KingsMills 40 fresh from the bag at Kip. If they get it ready in time the opposition will be toast. And it should be lots of fun for the helmsman steering downwind with that skinny rudder.

Clean sweep for Fairlie YC in 3 Peaks Race

Pictures and words from Andrew McLaren (sailing and running) on Hot n Tot. All these pics were taken within an hour of the start at Oban.

Blue Chip (Graham Goudie et al) won class 1 (multihulls) and first back to Troon. Class 2 was won by Aquasmart also of FYC. In Class 3, Hot N Tot, Pete Mackenzies's Moody 33 took class 3 after a very close finish under oars into Troon harbour with last year's winner Calypso the Contessa 32. Global warming?? It was damn cold where we were! The full results are posted here

Serpent Spring Muster

While others were preparing their boats for BLSS or even assembling newly delivered ones, Chas and Mrs S. set off with the mad bad bruvvas and sistas of the Serpent Yacht Club on their spring muster to Tarbert. We had a cracking sail round Garroch Head and if we'd not been sailing spinnakerless we'd have been nearly planing in the easterly breeze of up to 25 kts. Tanit surfed off on a total horizon job but still only beat the Moody 31 November Lady by 50 secs. On Troika we did a similar sort of thing to most of the white sailors (only just holding off Dugald Glen in Tulla, his Maxi 1100) but from far far back theToys in their Moody 346 Out Of the Blue had us by 6 secs on corrected time. Isn't CYCA a funny thing? The fast passage meant an early arrival and early opening of bottles which is not always a good thing.....On Sunday the sun came out for the hotly contested Ladies Race back to Kames making for two perfect sailing Sundays in a row and a great weekend. Judging by their tacking angles we think Tanit better stick with their usual helmsperson. Lets hope this weather hangs on for next weekend. Also, we hope the Tarbert toilets have some minor repairs in time. More photos here.

Scottish Islands Peak Race

Started today. Here's the view at Oban from our correspondents on Firebird 5. Their runners should be off Ben More before midnight. Then groping their way to the Paps during the small hours.