chas

Well there she goes - finally. I'm glad now to be the owner of just one boat but sad too to see her away. She has been the most fun boat I have owned and that includes the present one. It would have been good if someone had kept her on the Clyde but she's off to Scarborough to a gentleman who is well into the bus pass years and is delighted to get her. He used to have an SJ but sold it for a Hanse which although having a nice cruising interior has not delivered the performance he considers acceptable. Troika will have a bit of money spent on her and I think she'll be raced quite hard. Which is no less than she deserves.

CCC Troon Race

Stephen Bennie

Nice pic this one of Xanadu and Prime Suspect finishing at Troon. Not exactly a short spinny pole on Suspect!

Stephen Bennie

The mighty Sceptre chews a mighty hole in the Clyde

Lemerac - (back in action after significant repairs following a close encounter with the Burnt Islands) and Significant at the finish. Stephen Bennie of Troon Yacht Haven took these photos. Boyd Tunnock won CYCA 3 and also the overall trophy, Significant won IRC 2 & CYCA2 (so no surprises there) with Sloop John T 1st in IRC 1 (no surprises there either). Results are up on CCC website. A big thanks to Jamie McGarry for getting up early to do the start at Port Bannatyne, to John Kelly for finishing and starting at Troon and to Neil McDougall for the Largs finish.

Helensburgh Sailing Club August Regatta

Neill Ross

Helensburgh Sailing Club held its annual august regatta over the weekend 15th /16th with a twist or two ! The club relished the opportunity to show off their new not long out of the wrappers clubhouse with under floor heating in the changing rooms to warm the battle worn sailors. Secondly the wind gods shone upon the regatta and then some with gusts topping out at over 30 knots on both days to provide extremely testing conditions throughout for the whole fleet. On the Saturday ferocious winds coupled with a heavy chop decimated the dinghy fleets with only one race being completed by most classes. Sunday's racing was no less fierce but courses were drawn up into relatively more sheltered waters to help. Launching however proved a battle hard to beat for many although they tried and for those that got to the course 3/4 races were held in the "fruity" conditions.

Thanks to Mark Homer and Neill Ross for the pics. As he says and as you can see above, the conditions were testing for the 11 Sonatas for their Scottish Championships. Blue Tack was first followed by local boat Fiddlesticks helmed by Ross Flatman. More words by Mark and photos here. and some splendid pics from Neill Ross here
It is predominantly a dinghy regatta and the conditions look a little more benign close inshore but that foiling Moth looks like it could give those Lasers a fright. See more of the amazing Moth in the Neill Ross collection. Some of those pics are a must-buy for the sailors involved.

Loch Longs

Loch Long Week is over and was won by Mark Bradshaw in Pamina. This however is Tamaru which has been dragged south by John McMurtrie and Neil Tannahill to join 32 other Loch Longs and a further 200 other boats in Aldeburgh Regatta Week. Seems a long way to go to sail in a muddy ditch but it's where the Loch Longs have been adopted big style. They say they completed their first day in over 20kts breeze and 25deg C with only a couple of breakages.Maybe he'll send an on the water photo.

48th British Open Optimist Nationals at Largs

pic Alan Henderson

Talk about crowded start lines. 350 entrants..Going into the final day it was between Roger Dorr (USA), Josh Voller from Berkshire and Callum Airlie from East Lothian. Many congrats to Callum for coming out on top - a seriously impressive achievement in that company. Some ex Oppie sailor called Ben Ainslie turned up on Thursday to offer advice and hopefully he was heard above the sound of the notorious Oppie Parents.

More West Highland Week

We love wipeout pics - so long as it's not us. Gerry McGarrity has sent in some more pics taken from the more stately platform of Streaker. See them here. Marineblast's 'we wuz there' account is also worth a read. Above is a true demonstration of Celtic Spirit by Brian Robertson in his X332.

able2sail

You remember voting for this cause a wee while back. Well they have made it through to the final 3 of the Lottery Best Sports Project 2009 and it is time to give the final push. "All counters have been reset and we are now competing against 2 other projects for the £2,000 prize. Not only are we the only Scottish project in our category, but also the only sailing project. We would like to thank everyone who voted to get us here and would like to ask if you would be so kind to vote for us again and also to forward this email to anyone you think would vote for us. Voting closes on the 14th of August, but until then you can vote by clicking on the link on our website www.able2sail.org.uk or directly on the lottery's site http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards/shortlist.cfm?id_category=6

The competition has generated press interest so keep an eye out in local papers and tv. A short film has also been made- this can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUYROYuUsgE

The winners will be announced on the National Lottery show on Saturday 5th September. and we would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for your support so far.

WHYW

Gerry McGarrity on Andy Marjoribanks 'Streaker' informs me of a few pics which I have laboured to download from the pitiful website where he has stored his massive images. I could have posted more but ran out of carpet to chew while I waited for them. Gerry says: the Pics are of Scintilla of the Sea, (AKA the Naked Bakers) our principal opponent in a sister Northney 34 on the Croabh to Oban Passage race. Misjif, FTSE (not shown- too boring) Thunderbird, sporting a new dodgy and largely unintelligable graphic for a charter firm on the hull (didn't like the photo)Kev on Animal, driven expertly through the gybes in 30 kts of breeze by young son, Jack, (where?) a nice chinese gybe by messrs unknown and Hoo-Ha making a cock of themselves in front of the whole anchored fleet in Tobs with a spinnaker wrap they couldn't sort out for over 30 min. Streaker won Class 8 with 6x1st and a 2nd, FTSE won Class 1 with 5x1sts and 2 2nd, Cool Bandit won her class with 6x1st and 1x2nds and Glenafton won the series with 5x1st in white sail Class 7. Make of this what you will.

Chas remembers racing against Scintilla in Class 7 at Rover Series way back when she was owned by David Wilkie of Ardfern as I recall. A handsome craft - as is Streaker of course and she was always up there or thereabouts.

CCC Troon Regatta

16th and 17th August brings the Troon Race Weekend from Port Bannatyne to Troon sponsored by Yacht Havens, Scotts Bar and West Coast Marine The continuing success of this event makes the trip down the coast to Troon an absolute must for this year. With a drinks reception sponsored by Scotts Bar & Restaurant and a heated tent sponsored by the marina, the fleet can enjoy a great night of entertainment. West Coast Marine are again putting up their beautiful trophy. This race is an open race, which can be entered by members of any RYA affiliated club. Race directions here

Largs Regatta

Don't let the strain on the faces of the Salamanders put you off. It's usually quite good fun.

GSS CCC Regatta

Morag Machin, CCC Race Secretary writes: The 12th and 13th September are the dates for the GSS CCC North Clyde Regatta sponsored by Garelochhead Support Services. Two days of intensive racing with six races over two days and if you have the stamina, a lively evening social. The fleet will be based out of Rhu Marina where a discounted berthing rate has been negotiated (£14) for any boat taking part in the event. The fleet will race within the East and West patch areas and is to be opened up to allow any class and fleet captains to approach the CCC and request a class start. There will be racing for IRC, CYCA, One Design and a passage race class for those wishing not to fly the kite. Both GSS and the CCC are looking forward to seeing you all at Rhu: make it a date. Jamie McGarry adds: Hope everyone can come along.. we will be putting on a free bar in the newly refurbished RNCYC Club Bar on the Friday night... Notice of Race here. You can find the entry form on the race dropdown on the CCC site and don't whatever you do attempt to hassle Hazel for one. She has set her rotweilers on me for daring to suggest such a thing.

Calves Week (it's in Ireland)

Not that I get sent any useful pics from them or anything. This gruesome effort is Craig Latimer doing his nails in preparation for the Miss Cape Clear competition. Presumably worth it as team Tanit are leading the 3 boat Class Zero though how the beauty contest went is unknown to me. Projectile vomiting all round perhaps. It's the Schull- Fastnet - Crookhaven race on Friday. Makes WHYW look a bit tame does it not?

One Design

But not as we know it. Just a view of day 3 of the 420 Worlds on Lake Garda finishing 5th Aug. Over 200 entries. Obviously, while mucking about there it was necessary to have a nose around the marinas. I wouldn't want to use the term 'IOR graveyard' but the number of rather unloved looking quarter tonners sitting around was unexpected. Here's a sample of them.

Benromach Albacore Nationals/Worlds at Largs

Alan Henderson -fotoboat

The stage was set for the final day's battle for the Albacore International Championship on Friday 24 July. On Monday, GBR's Will Gulliver and Steve Graham took the Albacore Nationals title by just a point, and since then the lead in the Internationals Championship see sawed between Gulliver and the 2007 International Champions Barney Harris and David Byron of the USA. Harris went into the final day's racing with a precious one point lead on Gulliver. Race Officer Chris Nichol decided that the final two races in the Championship should be held in the North race area, where the Westerly winds would come in true. Force 3 winds meant that other sailors came into contention at the front. Chris Turner and Simon Maguire drew inspiration from their win the previous day, to take both races in good style, as they settled into the class. Also coming on to a strong run of form as the week progressed were Jerry Rook and James Wallace, who took a second place then a fourth to secure fourth overall behind Turner and Maguire in third. In a good natured Championship, there was no outbreak of match racing between the two leaders, with Harris/Byron and Gulliver/ Graham merely keeping a close eye on each other's position. In the first race, Harris and Byron always kept ahead of Gulliver/ Graham, and managed to climb to third place, while Gulliver/ Graham's chances suffered when they dropped to thirteenth, their worst score of the week. The result opened up clear water between the two for the first time in the week. In the second race, Harris/ Byron again kept safely ahead of Gulliver/ Graham to clinch the 2009 Internationals title. For Harris and Byron, this was their third Internationals title, having won an Internationals title in Canada in 2003, the USA in 2007, and now in Scotland in 2009. The pair have sailed together since 1995, and scored highly consistent positions all week. The Albacore class finished the Championship in very good heart, with orders for six new boats announced at the Championship as the class looks forward with confidence.

Alan Henderson

Alan Henderson

Benromach Albacore Internationals, final positions
1. Barney Harris & David Byron, Potomac River Sailing Assn, USA. 24pts.
2. Will Gulliver & Steve Graham, Northampton SC. 33pts.
3. Chris Turner & Simon Maguire, Tynemouth SC. 46pts.
4. Jerry Rook & James Wallace, Lyme Regis SC. 49pts
5. Judy & Paul Armstrong, Scaling Dam SC. 60pts.

thanks to Alan Henderson of fotoboat.com for sending the words and pictures

Sonar Team Racing

Neill Ross

The RNCYC hosted the final match for the BUSA-ICSA Tour in Sonars last weekend. ICSA is the US Intercollegiate Sailing Association which is a kind of BUSA equivalent . Their team of six was picked by their coach Nick Ewenson from students all over America. The racing throughout the tour of 4 trophy matches hosted across the UK comprised both team and match racing in a variety of boats. This final match consisted of seven races of two-boat team racing in Sonars around a starboard hand box course. Thankfully the East Patch gave them a good moderate breeze without too many wind shifts enabling the teams to concentrate more on boat on boat tactics. The racing was umpired with a RIB following each pair ensuring that everyone played fair. After some very close racing the American team won four races to two. - Nikki Stewart, RNCYC Sail Training Officer

Neill Ross

Old Warriors

Just a nice pic of the old girl skelping on a bit and one of Kelpie at the Mylne Classic regatta 12-16th July

Neill Ross

NNeill Ross