Beck Trophy final races at Overy Staithe Sailing Club

 

Saturday 2nd May provided a perfect early morning for the Seafarer's Pennant race, which was also the 3rd race of the club's Beck Trophy. The wind was a steady force 2 south westerly and came with brilliant sunshine.

The fleet split on the start line with the sea wall side paying and Alex and Paul in their Sharpie arriving first at the first mark followed by Andy Turner in his OK ahead of a cluster of OKs snapping at his heels. Alex Scoles in his OK set about catching the Sharpie while Bernard Clark and Spike Turner were both trying to figure out a way past Andy on a course with very few beats. Eventually they managed it but not enough to offset the personal handicaps in use. In the meantime Rob Archer in his Laser and Mark Beck in his Europe closed from behind on the OKs.

1st OK Alex Scoles 2343

2nd Laser Rob Archer 2365

3rd Sharpie Alex Smith & Paul Beachell 2367

4th OK Andy Turner 2368

5th OK Bernard Clark 2390

Sunday May 3rd saw the fleet racing for the Shipwrecked Mariners Pennant, which was also race 4 of the Beck Trophy.

It proved to be a very light and frustrating race in which the juniors did extremely well just to finish in their Toppers. The wind was a south westerly force 1, sometimes less.

The OKs started well with Alex Scoles in the lead at the first mark followed by Bernard Clark and Mark Beck in his Europe. Pete Turner went back even though he wasn't over the line at the start. However on the first run a minor luffing match between Bernard and Alex left a nice gap along the edge of the marsh and out of the tide for Pete to sail into, which he did and took the lead, never to be headed.

Further back the Sharpie of Alex Smith and Paul Beachell was doing it's best to catch up after a moderate start but short tacking is not the Sharpie's forte and they struggled to make headway. Andy Turner finished third, only to be informed that he was OCS, rather disappointing after an 80 minute test of patience on the water. Amongst the clinker built boats Paul Goakes and Natasha Dow sailed well to finish 9th with Will Worsley and Sam Britton in 8th in a Family 14.

1st Bernard Clark (OK)

2nd Pete Turner (OK)

3rd Sam Worsley (Laser Radial/ILCA 6)

4th Mark Beck (Europe)

5th Alex Smith/Paul Beachell (Sharpie)

Beck Trophy

Four races were sailed, with 3 to count, with personal handicaps applied. Those undertaking duties were allocated average points for the races which they were on duty. A total of 22 boats competed over the 2 weekends and 4 races.

1st Pete Turner

2nd Bernard Clark

3rd Alex Smith/Paul Beachell

4th Spike Turner

5th Mark Beck

Fireball Leinster Championship at Skerries Sailing Club

 

Ewen Barry and his daughter Thea were clear winners of the Fireball Leinster Championship at Skerries Sailing Club at the weekend.

In a fleet of 16 boats and in a wide variety of conditions they sailed consistently fast to beat the second placed Fireball of Chris Bateman and Bella Waterman by 8 points to 15. Third place went to Josh Porter and Cara McDowell on 15 points. By scoring two wins on day one of the event they beat frequent winners Noel Butler & Stephen Oram into 4th place on tie-break.

The event, in tandem with the 420 Ulsters, took place over two days of the bank holiday weekend.

Saturday's racing saw great conditions with winds of about 12 - 18 knots south-easterly while Sunday's racing was postponed for about 30 minutes to allow the lighter winds to settle in direction and strength. Principal race officer Liam Dineen, assisted by Helen Ryan and Micheline Shiels set trapezoid courses on Saturday. Somewhat constrained by geography these were short sharp courses which for Fireballs involved a long final reach and a downwind finish.

While on the short side of short, this allowed both fleets to enjoy four races on the Saturday leaving Sunday open to two much longer races to complete the series of six.

Sunday's racing over traditional Olympic Triangle courses took place in about 6-10 knots of breeze. Race five was shortened after the second leeward rounding as the breeze became increasingly feeble but the final race saw a steadier wind, especially out to sea. The tricky judgement call all weekend was where to go - wind versus tide, versus possible wind bends and shifts, all the while trying to remain in decent pressure.

On the Saturday there were frequently gains inshore due to a wind bend despite better breezes out to sea. On Sunday heading out to sea seemed to pay best especially in race six. In the silver fleet Jack McDowell & Hugo Micka took first, followed by Alan Henry & Alan Stamp, and Rachel Deasy & Daithi Murphy.

All in all this was a fantastic first summer event for the Irish Fireball fleet, frustrated from seeing the Munsters postponed due to the fuel protests. It was a great shakedown for a very busy season which will see probably the largest ever Irish Fireball fleet head to the UK in July for the World Championship in Torbay. One interesting observation in terms of the fleet and affordability over the weekend - the winning boat was of the newest design with twin poles and all modern bells and whistles- but second placed boat was thirty years old! As always, it's not really the boat, it's the sailors...

Next Travellers Event for Fireballs is the Nationals in Howth Yacht Club 19, 20, 21st June but before that there is a great opportunity for Fireballs (and other dinghies) ro enjoy decent racing at the two-day DMYC regatta 6th & 7th June. All dinghies welcome!

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club Fleet R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts

1st 15183 Ewen Barry Thea Barry MBSC Gold ‑4 2 1 1 3 1 8

2nd 14870 Chris Bateman Bella Waterman MBSC Gold ‑6 3 4 3 1 2 13

3rd 15022 Josh Porter Cara McDowell NSC/MYC/SSC Gold 1 1 8 ‑10 2 3 15

4th 15061 Noel Butler Stephen Oram NYC Gold 2 4 3 2 4 ‑6 15

5th 14855 Matthew Cotter Conor Twohig Howth Yacht Club Gold ‑8 7 2 6 7 4 26

6th 15114 Daniel Thompson Harry Thompson RStG/WHBTC Gold 3 6 5 8 6 ‑12 28

7th 14938 Niall McGrotty Neil Cramer SSC Gold ‑11 5 9 7 5 5 31

8th 14915 Frank Miller Ed Butler DMYC Gold 10 ‑11 11 5 10 7 43

9th 14740 Jack McDowell Hugo Micka MYC Gold 9 8 7 9 13 ‑14 46

10th 15016 Louise McKenna Hermine OKeeffe RStG Gold ‑14 9 10 12 8 8 47

11th 15156 Jack McNaughton Edward Coyne DMYC Gold ‑12 10 6 11 12 10 49

12th 1506 Alan Henry Alan Stamp GBSC Silver ‑13 13 13 4 9 11 50

13th 15060 Rachel Deasy Daithí Murphy Tralee Bay SC Silver 5 12 ‑14 14 14 13 58

14th 146 Jon Evans Aidan Caulfield Sligo YC Gold 7 14 ‑16 15 16 9 61

15th 14691 Pat McGoldrick Paul Ter Horst SID Silver 15 15 12 ‑16 11 15 68

16th 14630 David Mcilwee Peter McMullan Bray Sailing Club Silver ‑16 16 15 13 15 16 75

Bray Sailing Club Lift-In Launches Fleet And Raises RNLI Funds

 

Bray Sailing Club launched 24 cruisers in a tightly timed lift-in on Saturday (2 May), raising more than €1,000 for the RNLI.

The County Wicklow operation was completed in four hours in near-ideal conditions. With Bray Harbour’s tidal limits, organisers worked to a narrow window to ensure all boats were afloat on time.

Members now turn to a full programme of 33 races. The season includes three away weekends and a cruise in company to Knoydart in Scotland. One new boat joins the fleet, alongside a change of ownership.

A club breakfast for more than 60 members, provided by Gerry Rowe, replaced a fee with donations to the RNLI. Contributions totalled almost €1,100 for the Greystones branch.

Cruiser Class Captain Mark Whelan said the result reflected strong teamwork. “These days don’t run themselves,” he said. “The organisation, cooperation and hard work were clear from early morning through to completion.”

He added that safety and coordination were key. “From lifting crews to logistics and public access control, everyone pulled in the same direction to get the job done properly and safely.”

South Staffordshire Sailing Club Welcomes the Public for Free Open Day on Monday 4 May

 

South Staffordshire Sailing Club is throwing open its doors this Bank Holiday Monday, 4 May, inviting the public to enjoy a free day of sailing, family activities, and waterside fun at its annual Open Day.

The award-winning club, based at Gailey near Stafford, is offering visitors the chance to get out on the water with fully supervised taster sessions for adults and children, including complete beginners. Experienced instructors and volunteers will be on hand throughout the day to introduce newcomers to the sport and showcase how accessible sailing can be for all ages.

The Open Day forms part of a national initiative to encourage more people into outdoor activity and grassroots sport. South Staffs, one of the Midlands' most successful and welcoming sailing clubs, has a long history of producing national-level sailors while maintaining a strong family-friendly community at its heart.

Visitors will be able to try sailing for FREE, tour the club's facilities, learn about training opportunities, and speak to members about how to get involved. Off the water, there will be refreshments, children's activities, and opportunities to watch club sailors in action.

Club representatives say the event is designed to break down the perception that sailing is difficult or exclusive. With all equipment provided and no experience needed, the day offers a rare chance for local families to try something new in a safe, supportive environment.

The Open Day runs from 10am to 4pm, with free entry and no booking required. The club draws members from across Staffordshire, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and the wider West Midlands, and is expecting strong interest from the local community.

For anyone looking to discover a new hobby, enjoy time outdoors, or simply experience something different this Bank Holiday, South Staffordshire Sailing Club promises a warm welcome and a memorable day on the water.

For more information visit www.southstaffssailingclub.co.uk//event/1300133

2026 Jura Scottish Series taking shape and on target

 

Entries for the four day event, which runs over the long, holiday weekend 22nd to 25th May, are following a very similar pattern to last year's regatta which attracted 90 boats to Tarbert, Loch Fyne.

Organisers, the Clyde Cruising Club, are confident of being able to deliver high quality, well managed racing for a diverse range of craft, from One Design keelboats and family cruisers to performance race boats and racer-cruisers.

Loch Fyne will again see two main race areas operated each day. With both Principal Race Officers who managed the 2025 regatta on the water returning again, continuity is ensured. And the use of robot positioned buoys should again facilitate efficient, true course management and swift turnrounds between races, ensuring the maximum number of races can be achieved over the four days. The CYCA cruiser classes are promised a varied diet of different course types and distances.

"We fully appreciate the support the Jura 2026 Scottish Series is achieving from so many areas and we are working hard to put on a really great regatta. We have again responded to the feedback we gathered last year and have done all we can to maintain a relaxed, authentic atmosphere ashore whilst maintaining the highest quality of race management on the water." Enthuses the Clyde Cruising Club Commodore Des Balmforth who leads the regatta organising team. "We are content to see a steady stream of entries coming in on cue and it looks like we will have good racing for the IRC Classes and the One Design fleets are getting stronger by the day. We are seeing something of a resurgence of entries from Ireland which is pleasing."

Racing starts on Friday 22nd May and concludes with the prize-giving after racing Monday 25th May.

Further details: www.scottishseries.co.uk

Enter here: clydecruisingclub.org/event/scottish-series-2026

Chichester Harbour Race Week 2026

 The hugely popular family-friendly Chichester Harbour Race Week (aka "Fed Week") has now been running successfully for over 60 years.

With the website now open for entries, you can now reserve your place in this year's 'must attend' event. Starting on Monday 10th August, the five days of racing are hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club, the UK's premier championship venue.

This prestigious five-day event is hugely popular amongst racers across Chichester Harbour and attracts sailors from over 50 clubs across the UK and beyond and often exceeds 500 competitors in 350 boats.

Separate events will be provided for the eighteen fleets, run by four separate race teams. The event includes many parent-child teams and former World and Olympic champions, offering something for all.

After racing there are other events throughout the week to keep families entertained such as the afternoon steel band and bbq, the famous Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club quiz night, gig rowing trials and of course the HISC disco and live band plus hosted evenings at other harbour clubs.

Take advantage of the 'Early Bird' entry (enter by 30th June) which means the five days entry for a two-person youth boat is only £62 and for two adults only £83.

Keeping the event affordable and value for money is key to Race Week's success". Enter now for this fantastic summer regatta:- chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net

The Algarve is renowned for its breathtaking beaches, vibrant culture, and year-round pleasant weather

 

Here is a  7-day sailing holiday itinerary along the Algarve which is a brilliant idea because the coastline is compact, varied, and full of sheltered anchorages—so you can combine relaxed cruising with genuinely interesting shore days. The best itineraries typically move west ↔ east along the coast, mixing dramatic cliffs, historic towns, and nature reserves.

Day 1 – Lagos (embarkation & coastal warm-up)

Sail: Short afternoon cruise along the coast

Highlights:

Ponta da Piedade cliffs (iconic rock formations)

Anchor near Praia do Camilo

Onshore ideas:

Explore Lagos old town (fort walls, cafés)

Sunset drinks overlooking the cliffs

👉 This area is one of the Algarve’s most dramatic coastal landscapes and a common sailing starting point.

Day 2 – Lagos → Sagres (wild west coast)

Sail: 2–3 hrs west

Highlights: Rugged Atlantic coastline

Onshore ideas:

Visit Cabo de São Vicente (south-west tip of Europe)

Explore Sagres fortress

Optional: surf lesson (great beginner waves)

👉 The west coast is quieter, more rugged, and less developed—perfect contrast to the central Algarve.

Day 3 – Sagres → Portimão

Sail: Back east along cliffs

Highlights: Dolphin spotting possible

Onshore ideas:

Marina stroll in Portimão

Beach time at Praia da Rocha

Optional: dolphin-watching or cave boat tour

👉 Boat trips to caves and dolphins are a major highlight in this stretch.

Day 4 – Portimão → Benagil / Carvoeiro

Sail: Short scenic hop

Highlights:

Benagil Cave (must-see sea cave)

Golden limestone cliffs

Onshore ideas:

Kayak or paddleboard into Benagil cave

Walk part of the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail

Dinner in Carvoeiro village

👉 This is one of the Algarve’s most famous coastal sections.

Day 5 – Carvoeiro → Albufeira / Vilamoura

Sail: 2–3 hrs east

Highlights: Long sandy beaches replacing cliffs

Onshore ideas:

Old town of Albufeira (lively atmosphere)

Vilamoura marina (restaurants, nightlife)

Optional: jet ski / parasailing

👉 This central Algarve zone is more vibrant and social.

Day 6 – Vilamoura → Faro / Ria Formosa

Sail: Into sheltered lagoon waters

Highlights: Barrier islands & calm sailing

Onshore ideas:

Explore Faro old town

Boat or bike around Ria Formosa Natural Park

Visit Ilha Deserta for a quiet beach day

👉 Ria Formosa offers a totally different landscape—lagoons, wildlife, and peaceful islands.

Day 7 – Tavira & return

Sail: Short cruise east (or transfer back depending on charter)

Onshore ideas:

Visit Tavira (one of Algarve’s prettiest towns)

Roman bridge & castle views

Relax on Tavira Island

👉 Tavira gives a more traditional, less touristy feel to end the trip.

🌊 Optional Add-Ons (swap into any day)

Wine tasting at a vineyard inland

Jeep safari in Monchique mountains

Cooking class (cataplana seafood dish)

Coastal hiking or cycling

👉 These activities highlight that the Algarve isn’t just beaches—it also offers inland culture, food, and nature.

⚓ Practical Tips

Best bases: Lagos (west) or Vilamoura (central)

Best time: May–June or Sept–Oct (good weather, fewer crowds)

Sailing style:

Bareboat (if experienced)

Skippered yacht (most popular)

Distances: Short—rarely more than 2–4 hours sailing per day

👍 Why this itinerary works

Mixes dramatic cliffs + sandy beaches + lagoons

Alternates active days (kayak, hike) with relaxed sailing

Keeps sailing legs short so you actually enjoy each stop

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Shoreham Sailing Club to host the 2026 Hornet UK National Championship

 

Entries are now rolling in for the Hornet Championship to be held from 29th August to 1st September. This popular south coast club is probably better known for its Merlin infestation, but Shoreham has a long history in Hornet racing, the boat almost being designed for open sea racing and lovely waves.

Several boats have come out of the woodwork for the championship, and many have undergone renovation and conversion to the new layout. FRP, epoxy and wooden boats compete on an even keel and many past champions are expected to attend, such as Michael Macnamara, Dick Garry, Terry Curtis, Chris Bines and even Strangler with his aptly named epoxy machine "Dog's Pollocks" (you have to see the colour scheme to understand!). Current champion Nathan Batchelor is also slated to defend his title.

A full programme of events is planned, including a black tie dinner at Sussex YC - I may have fibbed a bit about the black, and almost certainly about the tie, but a bigly event is planned. After all, Sussex YC was the venue where Terry Wade's Hornet was put on top of a wooden pile in the harbour and was subsequently found six metres above the mud at low tide.

Sheltered launching is from the new slipway in the harbour at any state of the tide, and on turning right, you'll find some of the best sea sailing in the country. The tides are nice and simple. The water goes one way, and, er, then goes the other way, and spring tides have been organised for the weekend. This also means that the tide is in for the families to enjoy the lovely beach at the club and enjoy a bit of paddleboarding and general splashing about. You can even partake of a sauna which is now in the club grounds.

Free camping on site is available - subject to availability, so get your entry in sooner rather than later, and we'll be sharing the venue with the National 12s with their very short and bonkers boats, ensuring a great vibe. Of course, being close to Brighton, a veritable plethora of accommodation, available through the normal online sites along with entertainment options for the yoofs.

Entry is open at members.shorehamsailing.org/event/1349765 so don't delay. Take advantage of the early entry reduction and bagsie your camping now!

The championships will be generously sponsored by Exe Sails & Covers.

Visit Hayling Island Sailing Club for their Bank Holiday Open Day on Monday 4 May

 

This free-to-attend event is open to all ages and abilities and will offer visitors the chance to try sailing and discover water sports, in a welcoming, safe and family-friendly environment.

Visitors will have the opportunity to chat to club members, explore the clubhouse facilities and get out on the water with our taster sailing or RIB sessions to get a real flavour of life at the club.

Visiting sailors are also welcome to join in our Open Charity Pursuit Race in aid of WAVE, a charity that supports young people on Hayling Island.

Juniors can look forward to seeing all of the fun activities HISC has on offer, and open day visitors are also invited to round off the day with complimentary tea and cake, while enjoying the stunning sea views from the clubhouse balcony. The club bar will also be open for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for visitors to enjoy.

Chris Rainbow, General Manager of Hayling Island Sailing Club said: "Our Open Day is a great opportunity for people to see what getting on the water at HISC is really like. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive and friendly club, and we're looking forward to welcoming new faces and sharing our passion for watersports."

New for this year's open event, for those with an interest in windsurfing or winging, there will be live demonstrations, along with the chance to launch your own kit from the club and connect with other enthusiasts.

Hayling Island Sailing Club has a long-standing reputation for providing accessible sailing opportunities in one of the UK's premier sailing locations. The free Open Day aims to encourage the local community to experience life on the water and see what they are missing.

For more information about the Open Day, please visit www.hisc.co.uk or find out more on our social media accounts.

Black Foils to miss two more regattas - return targeted for June

 

New Zealand's Black Foils won't be on the startline at either of May's Rolex SailGP Championship events.

After the May events in Bermuda and New York the league's next stop is a return to Halifax (21 - 22 June) before moving across the Atlantic to Portsmouth (26-27 July) for the start of the European leg of the season.

A final return date for the Black Foils is still being worked on by the team in conjunction with SailGP but the Halifax event remains a clear target for everyone involved.

Black Foils Co-CEO and Driver Peter Burling said the team continued to take a long term view on the time off the water.

"We would like to be back racing as soon as possible but also understand there is an existing boat building programme and logistics timeline the league needs to work with. Based on where things are currently at we are hopeful we can make that happen for Halifax. Huge strides have been made by the league in building resilience in the fleet with SailGP Technologies and we know they are working hard on getting us back out there. It's been great having a member of our Shore Crew also working alongside the team in Southampton on the return."

Black Foils Strategist Liv Mackay raced on loan with DS Automobiles Team France in Rio and will once again be part of the French crew in Bermuda.

Streaker North Sails Northern Paddle Series at Hornsea Sailing Club

 

Saturday 25th April saw the return of the Streaker fleet to Hornsea Mere for the opening event of the 2026 North Sails Northern Paddle Series. With the forecast showing around 7mph building to 15mph and sun throughout the day, it was expected to be a great day for the gathered fleet. However, it proved to be somewhat more challenging!

On arrival, it was obvious that there had been some sort of time shift with the breeze already around the 15mph mark and dark water showing the gusts spreading out across the mere! Restricted by the NE wind direction, the race team set a tight course of "old school" triangles and sausages. With the windward mark falling under the influence of the island, the approach to it was always going to be subject to changes in both wind direction and speed.

The first race set the trend for the day with Giles Therkelson-Smith (Beaver SC) and Pete Gray (Staunton Harold SC) out front, followed by the rest of the Beaver SC contingent and Ian Priest (Ripon SC) also in the mix. The gusty conditions made for some big distance gains and losses as the fleet reached away from the shelter of the island, ready to catch out the unwary at the turning marks.

After a break for lunch, sitting out in the warm spring sun while sheltering from the chilly breeze coming straight off the North Sea, the fleet ventured out for back-to-back races two and three.

Giles and Pete again showed the fleet the way around the course with both Steve Hanby (Beaver SC) and Dave Borrett (Beaver SC) pushing them, ready to capitalise on any error. Further back in the fleet the racing was close with places changing nearly as frequently as the gusts fanning out across the mere.

A wind shift at the start of race three allowed Dave and Pete to break away from the fleet. On the second beat, Giles showed impressive upwind speed to close down the leaders, only to fall foul of an unforgiving wind shift at the windward mark that allowed him to wash his sail before deciding to retire! Pete took the win followed by Dave, Steve and the closing fleet.

Thank you to all the volunteers at Hornsea SC. Everyone agreed that it was a great day, with close racing throughout the fleet in conditions that were testing. The results prove testament to this with ties and close scores down the table. Giles Therkelsen-Smith took the overall win ahead of Pete Gray in second. Dave Borrett pipped Steve Hanby to take third on a tie break.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st 1982 Giles Therkelson‑Smith Beaver SC 1 1 (RET) 2

2nd 2202 Pete Gray Staunton Harold SC ‑2 2 1 3

3rd 1864 Dave Borrett Beaver SC ‑4 4 2 6

4th 2162 Steve Hanby Beaver SC ‑3 3 3 6

5th 2240 Nigel Robinson Beaver SC ‑9 6 4 10

6th 2106 Ian Priest Ripon SC ‑6 5 5 10

7th 2115 Jon Aldhous Beaver SC 5 ‑9 6 11

8th 2194 Stuard Burnett Beaver SC ‑8 7 7 14

9th 2220 Peter Cogill Beaver SC/ Rotherham SC 7 ‑8 8 15

10th 1310 Steve West Hornsea SC 11 (DNF) 9 20

11th 1644 Mike Knight Hornsea SC 10 (DNF) DNF 23

12th 1995 Brian Kelly Beaver SC (DNS) DNC DNC 26

Next up for Streaker travellers this May:

Hunts Open 9 May - Midland Series / East Anglian Series - NEW

Margate Open 9-10 May - South East Series - NEW

Ripon Open 9 May - North Sails Northern Paddle Series

Oulton Broad Open 16 May - HD Sails Southern Paddle Series

St Mary's Loch Open 16 May - HD Sails Scottish Series

Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta

 The Jersey Electricity Gorey Regatta – the oldest sailing event in the Channel Islands – will take place over the weekend of 20-21 June this year.

The Gorey Regatta Association are delighted that JE have decided to continue their title sponsorship of the event – established 169 years ago.

“Jersey Electricity’s continued support is greatly appreciated and allows us to once again offer a full programme of sailing and social events,” said GRA Captain Justin Horton.

The 2026 regatta will feature two days of races for dinghies, cruising and racing yachts, sports catamarans and dayboats, culminating in a prizegiving dinner at the Pembroke Hotel. A popular event on the island’s sailing calendar, it attracts entries from St Catherine’s Sailing Club, St Helier Yacht Club and the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club as well as the host port.

“Gorey Regatta is a vital component of Jersey’s rich maritime heritage,” said Adam Caerlewy-Smith, JE’s Head of Marketing and Communications, “and our support for the event reflects our commitment to celebrating our Island’s unique cultural legacy and fostering a strong sense of community. We are delighted to confirm our support not only for this year’s regatta but also for the 170th anniversary event taking place next year.”

The racing programme and entry details can be found by logging on to www.goreyregatta.org. The closing date for entries is Tuesday 16 June.

Cove Sailing Club's first outing of the season is a success

 

The first sail of the season for the club, based on the shore of Loch Long, had a gentle breeze to play with on Saturday, April 25, as eight vessels made it to the start line.

With the wind flicking between the south and east, there were some tricky shifts to contend with and there were plenty of banana skins to tread on in the shape of holes in the wind.

At the start, Electra and Dolphin seemed to get away nicely with Sula tucked in just behind. By the windward mark, Electra had the lead just ahead of Sula and Dolphin, whilst Ornsay was going well in fourth.

Spinnakers were deployed and the run down to Cove was quite brisk to begin with. On the final approach, the wind suddenly died, then quickly filled from the east. This was an opportunity for some, and Dolphin managed to get back past Sula at the mark with Ornsay now hot on their heels.

Sonara was not far away, just ahead of Allegro and Viva, whilst the Legend was going well under her big red spinnaker.

Spinnakers were raised again for leg two and it was the same drill down to Cove.

There was a repeat of round one, with a sticky patch on the approach to the mark. This time, Electra got stuck in the parking lot and Sula was the one to benefit, moving briskly from third at the previous mark to take the lead.

At the finish, Sula took the win from Electra whilst Ornsay did a great job to bag third.

Sonara had a late comeback to squeeze out Dolphin at the finish for fourth. Allegro just finished ahead of the Legend and Viva rounded out the finishers.

The club said on social media: "It was a beautiful afternoon and there were plenty of refreshments available onshore along with some great live music.

"A great start to the season."