Savill's RWYC Kip Regatta

Exclusive Update :

To whet your slavering appetites here is the official entry list for the Savill's Kip Regatta 2009 as of Wed 6th May. It's not too late to get an entry in but what we have here is the biggest entry for a number of years. The class splits are according to the rating bands stated in the Notice Of Race and could be subject to change depending on the Race Officer's state of mind on the day. We notice that once again Class 4 is that inexplicable weird bastard hybrid of CYCA and IRC. Hopefully the weather on Sat will be better than currently forecast but it's all looking good for a great weekend.

Savill's Kip Regatta:

Info from Duncan Chalmers & edited by me : Entry looks good (40 at time of writing) especially in IRC big guns: Local Hero, FT$E, Grand Cru, Salamander, Spirit of Jacanna, Christie Cancer Care(J 109 also from N. Ireland), Argie Bargie, Animal and Absolutely2 is back this year as well. Bateleur will be having her inaugural race. Nick Stratton is bringing the A31 Aneat Djinn - straight off the truck, delivered Thursday, launch Friday, race Saturday.Chia Chia, the ex Jonathan Anderson Welbourn 1/2 tonner is up from the Lake District and David Walter is bringing Finnesse, his very cool and sexy Finngulf 33 down from Oban presumably with Chris Owen and Co aboard.

If they have time, the plan is to go for 3 races on the Saturday with at least the first race being a windward /leeward triangle course dependent on conditions on the day. The slower boats will have a course laid inside the main course in an effort to have a quicker turn around time between races.

With a Hog Roast ( find out about swine flu here! ) drinks promos and music from the Squashed Frogs (has to be a joke in there somewhere) there is every reason to get an entry in and be part of this event which is arguably the best one on the river all year. Full info on shoreside ents here.

CCC Bute Regatta

Last weekend's CCC Bute Regatta turned out the biggest entry for some years. Class 1 was especially healthy with 15 starters although classes 2,3 and 4 were not so well attended. John Fraser on Wookie set off the race from Kip through a scarily narrow line with a spinnaker run to Toward from which point it was a close reach to the Burnt Islands, a large rotating hole and immense frustration. Some made it through without much mishap. We didn't and waved goodbye to most of the fleet. After that it was another long and somewhat tedious reach down through Inchmarnock Sound to Garroch Head and a beat to the top of the Cumbrae and thence to Largs. Whatever, it was a good sail and a good day to be out on the water. Special Mensch must go to Kev & Debbie Aitken's brand new Elan 380 'Animal' as seen above. They picked up their new Saturn sails on Friday and went out and won their first race on Saturday. Not a bad start. The pic below is some of the faffing about in that dreadful patch between the Burnt Isles and Tignabruiach. The big J 'Spirit of Jacana' also gets a mention for coming all the way from N. Ireland. As has been usual practice in recent years the company WJM Solicitors in which CCC Vice Commodore Ian MacDonald is a partner sponsored the evening hot meal in Largs SC and as ever that was much appreciated by hungry competitors. And as usual I would like to extend the bi-annual grump to Largs SC for ensuring that the excellent Arran ale which they are enlightened enough to carry ran out by 8.30pm. Maybe they were just too lazy to change the barrel, expecting everyone to be happy with Tennent's pish - I don't know.

Sunday was a bit grey, cold and dreich but 2 windward leeward races in about 10knots were set off without incident, except for Playing FT$E finding themselves aground shortly after the first start. Above is Wookie and Freebird starting Class 2. Below is Tigh Solius 2 and I think Jon Fitz is still on board calling the shots. Here they are sporting what we believe to be their new non-class IRC-friendly headsail.

Saturday's results were up on the new all-singing CCC website before the first pint was pulled so no point in me going to the trouble of reproducing them here I thought. However at time of hammering this lot out on Sunday evening, Sunday's results were not apparent. Maybe they'll be up on Monday morning. They should be, because getting stuff up for first thing on a Monday morning is one of the reasons this site gets the hits it does.

This is the old SJ36 'Savage' from RGYC as seen on Sat. She was especially noticeable at the first windward mark on Sunday as could be verified by Tanit amongst others. Not sure why Tanit was underperforming. Perhaps Big Al had not been to the mast head often enough although they did send someone halfway up the backstay.

Here's a few more pics kindly sent in by Dave Roberstson and taken off the back of Carmen II. They had plenty of time to look back and take pics at the rate they were going.

Next up is the Savill's Kip Regatta on 9/10th May. Entries are already looking good so get yours in now for what is always a must-do event.

IRC Icebreaker Regatta sponsored by Geronimo Sailing - 18/19 April

photo Craig Perkins

All of you who missed this - and there were a lot of you- some with good excuses others ?? - lost out on an absolutely superb weekend on the water. The event was faultlessly organised by Chris Dodgshon and the Clyde Marina crew with on the water coaching from vastly experienced RYA keelboat coach Barry Dunning, John Highcock of Saturn Sails and personnel from North Sails. The weather certainly helped with brilliant sunshine both days and mild breezes from various directions but mainly not the south west which meant flat water. All ideal for the purpose with no actual ice being broken although the breeze on Saturday was undeniably chilly. Both days started with a briefing about the day's coaching objectives in Cecchinis restaurant overlooking the marina and from there it was out on the water and set up for the day's short windward leeward races. A brisk 15knot breeze on Saturday morning soon moderated to 10 or less and the full programme of 4 races was completed. Advice was given from the coaching RIBS, coaches would come aboard during the race and the offer was on for trimmers to step onto a RIB and have a look at the sails from the outside. All of this was filmed on video and shown at the debrief meeting after racing. Sunday was pretty light but a breeze filled in allowing 2 races to be completed before it all died away and racing abandoned. The race organisation with Peter Wright as PRO was spot on with friendly information coming over the VHF, no time wasted between races and quick reactions to serious wind shifts and lulls. .

From our own point of view on Troikka it was our first time out racing with everyone new to the boat. However it was just the right time to get the obvious foulups completed and out of the way (we hope) and were were amazed and delighted to find we had won the final race on Sunday and to be awarded the consolation prize for 'most improved boat'. Anyone who had seen us on Sat morning would have known that the only possible way was up. As for the rest it was obvious that everyone was really trying hard to up their game and there can be little doubt that all participants left the event feeling well shaken down and a lot more confident in every respect. Regatta-wise the overall points trophy presented by Geronimo Sailing was clearly in favour of Argie Bargie it not being Playing FTSE's favoured conditions. Salamander XXI was looking good but has not yet found the pace yet be achieved. The venerable SJ30 half tonner Misjif put in a remarkably sound performance and won a round of applause from the assembled fleet for finishing just inside the final race time limit.

It is intended to run this event again next year. Given the Scottish climate, the first weekend may be a step too far but I would say that this mid April regatta really has to be THE start of season target to get your racing under way. Ardrossan faces out onto a great patch of racing water and while it might not be first choice as a Scottish Series venue, for an event such as this it is ideal and I think that this should put it very firmly on the Clyde racing map and indeed the Clyde racing calendar. Here is a results summary

more pics here

Strathclyde win SUSA Yachting Trophy and qualify for Student Worlds 2009

Report from Niall McLeod: The University of Strathclyde Yachting Team has returned victorious from the Solent as the top Scottish team at the BUSA Yachting Nationals, thereby winning the SUSA Yachting trophy and the right to represent Scotland at the Student Yachting World Cup due to be held in Marseille in October. This was a return to form for Strathclyde after failing to qualify last year for the first time in several years, and the team hope to emulate the performances of the 2000 and 2003 teams who were crowned Student Yachting World Champions.

Thirty five university teams from across the country and Ireland headed to Port Solent and Gunwharf for four days of tough yacht racing in the Solent. With the leaders changing daily, Southampton Solent White, skippered by Chris Witty, have won the BUCS/BUSA Yachting Nationals of 2009. Leading for a majority of the week was Plymouth's Tom Phipps who ended the week in second place. In third is local team Portsmouth White skippered by Sam Woolner, who were in the lead at the start of racing on the final day, but failed to continue their consistent results on the last day of racing, finishing 15th and 9th. Strathclyde finished 12th overall and No1 Scottish team

It was a hard fought week with the final winner not being decided right to the end of the event, and the top 4 Scottish teams all finishing within 5 places.

Day one started off badly for Strathclyde after being disqualified from race 2 for being OCS on a black flag start; however they showed how to bounce back winning the first race on Tuesday. Wednesday was the passage race and the result was a disappointing 22nd after a kite wrap around the forestay, however the first on Tuesday and results up until then meant they were still in contention to win.

Going into the final day St Andrews were lying top Scots with a 7 point lead over Strathclyde and Aberdeen second with a 5 point lead, Edinburgh A were a further 7 points behind Strathclyde. After St Andrews crossed the line just ahead in the penultimate race Strathclyde were left with an eight point deficit going into the final race of the week and did it in style, finishing 5th, with 13 boats between them and St Andrews and finishing the week 5 points clear.

The winning team consisted of: Helm: John Mill (of Lorca J), Main/Tactics: Chris Noble (member of RYA Volvo Keelboat squad and Team Aqua RC44), Trim 1: Ben Howett, Trim 2: Tom Gabbott (normally crews on Hops), Pit: Elspeth Keating Float: Nicola Masey, Mast: Fraser Harvey (normally crews Moondance), Bow: Niall McLeod (normally crews on Playing FT$E)

After a couple of weeks of well earned rest the hard work will start again as the team try to put together a viable campaign for the Worlds. This is expected to be especially tough given the current economic situation so any assistance, financial or otherwise, would be gratefully appreciated. The club may be contacted by email to: club -at- screwthenut.co.uk or via the campaign website currently being set up: www.screwthenut.co.uk/worlds

IRC Training Weekend

Marc Turner was out taking pics at the training event at Clyde Marina last weekend. His photography is right up there with the very best and here are my favourite three. The rest are to be found here. If, after seeing these and watching his wee video, (quicktime) your sailing juices are not flowing freely then you may as well give up and buy a Flying Fifteen (only joking guys). Many thanks to Marc for allowing us to display these. Any comments on the photies to Marc on the forum.

photo Marc Turner

photo Marc Turner

photo Marc Turner