Scottish Champion Hall to Lead Strong Irish Challenge at Tarbert

 

Defending Scottish Series champion Brian Hall will return to Tarbert later this month aiming to retain the title he won in 2025 aboard the J/109 Something Else.

The National Yacht Club entry headlines a growing Irish and Northern Irish challenge for the 2026 Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne from May 22nd to 25th.

Organisers say entries for the four-day regatta are tracking closely with last year’s fleet of 90 boats, with Irish participation notably on the rise across IRC, coastal and one-design classes.

Hall’s Something Else is among a strong Irish IRC contingent that includes Indian from Howth Yacht Club, Snoopy’s J from Courtown Sailing Club, and Arklow’s Humdinger.

Northern Ireland clubs are also heavily represented. Royal Ulster Yacht Club appears prominently across several fleets with entries including Caesium, Succession, eXcession, and Blacksmith. Carrickfergus Sailing Club sends the J/133 Spirit of Jacana, while Ballyholme Yacht Club combines with RUYC on the First 31.7 Caesium.

The spread of entries underlines the continued strength of east coast Irish Sea racing links between Scotland and Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s influence is especially strong in the Sigma 33 one-design fleet where RUYC features on both Mithril and Squawk. Strangford Lough Yacht Club is represented by Dark and Scary, while Cushendall Sailing & Boating Club enters Quaich in the Restricted Sail division.

In total, Irish and Northern Irish crews are represented from clubs stretching from Arklow and Courtown to Howth, Dun Laoghaire, Ballyholme, Carrickfergus and Strangford Lough.

Organisers, the Clyde Cruising Club, say the resurgence is encouraging as preparations continue for the long-running west coast regatta.

“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,” said Commodore Des Balmforth.

“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.”

Two main race areas will again operate daily on Loch Fyne, with returning principal race officers and robot-positioned marks expected to maximise racing efficiency across the weekend.

The regatta runs from Friday May 22nd to Monday May 25th with racing for IRC, CYCA, coastal, two-handed and one-design fleets.