Regatta 1983

Top

Holm Regatta 1983

Holm Sailing Club held their annual Regatta on Saturday July 30; with the various officials positioned at the end of Holm Pier to super ice the various races.

It was a rather wet day, not at all good for the spectators but with a good breeze, making for fast times by the 40 boats present.

There were also a number of sail boards the antics of which somewhat worried the people in charge of the proceedings.

After an excellent afternoon’s sailing the crews and officials repaired to the Community Centre, where a meal was served by the ladies.

Brian Aim thanked all who had helped- The various visiting boats, the officials from Orkney Sailing Club, the crews of the rescue boats along with Coastguard personnel who rendered invaluable assistance, and the ladies for supplying the meal.

He called on Mrs. W. Laughton to present the prizes to the following winners:

Catamarans:

Snipe:

Merlin Rocket:

Albacore:

Bosun:

Yachts:

Sailboards:

Other Boats:

Mixed Centreboards:

Allcomers:

Top

Ideal Day for 50 craft at Kirkwall Regatta

In ideal weather conditions of sunshine, blue sea and sky and a cracking westerly wind, 51 craft of all shapes and sizes took part in Orkney Sailing Club’s annual regatta on Saturday.

They ranged from sail boards, single hulled boats of all sorts to twin hulled catamarans and came to Kirkwall from Westray, Rousay, Holm, and other parts of Orkney.

The good weather also brought the spectators out in large numbers and in the morning and afternoon Kirkwall pier was crammed with people and cars enjoying the spectacle of dozens of white and various coloured sails skimming across the blue waters of the bay, speedboats trailing wakes of creamy foam, and a miscellany of small craft paying to and fro.

There were individual races for each class, Merlin Rockets, Albacores, Wayfarers, Snipes, Catamarans, sailboards and other types of craft. The wind a moderate westerly to begin with fluctuated in strength and direction throughout the morning before finally settling down to a good stiff westerly in the late afternoon. The course was Crowness, Greenfield and back twice round but the catamarans with their larger sail area had to sail round an additional longer course round Theive’s Holm and Scargun Buoy.

The main race of the day the Allcomers was twice round the Greenfield, Crowness course and the last race on the programme in which 38 boats crossed the line in a spectacular array of sails, wind and blue sea. Under full sail and with spinnakers billowing they made a fine sight as they creamed their way to the Greenfield buoy.

Rescue Boats

Two coastguard rescue boats, the club’s own safety boat and the ‘Jenny Lee’ cruised around but despite the wind’s strength there were few incidents that required their attention, Smyril a Rousay Wayfarer capsized inn one of her morning races but her crew righted herewith remarkable speed and agility and had her sailing on c course in no time at all. ‘Samoa’ a catamaran after completing the race, cruised around for a bit and then turned turtle in the middle of the bay. A few other boats had to retire because of damaged gear of technicalities connected with the racing rules.

In the Girnel the Ladies’ Committee prepared an excellent lunch and later in the afternoon served tea. At 8 pm the prizes were presented in the club by Mrs. C. Brough. An interesting feature of the regatta was the wide distribution of prizes among the competitors with a large number of boats winning prizes of one kind or another. There then followed a social evening with music and dancing bringing to an enjoyable end a very exhilarating regatta day.

The thanks of the club are due to the Ladies’ Committee, the Kirkwall Coastguard Services, the Jenny Lee’s crew and the many others whose help and services contributed to the success of the day.

The Sailing Club has had various functions in the Girnel over the year - dances, a cheese and wine party, a fancy dress dance, clap shot supper, a Mr and mrs. Competition, and a very successful coffee evening. The Club wishes to thank all those who supported these functions.

Merlin Rocket:

Bosun:

Albacore:

Wayfarer:

Catamarans (1st race):

Other Boats:

Snipe:

Sail Boards:

Centre Boards:

Catamarans (long race):

Sail Boards (2nd Race):

Allcomers:

Catamarans (3rd race):

Top

Kemp Cup 1983

The races for the Tennent’s, Kemp and Errol Bruce Cups on Saturday , September 3 mark the end off the sailing season and could perhaps be regarded as a kind of ‘mini’ regatta with two of the races, those for the kemp and Errol Bruce Cups being sailed over longer courses round the Greenfield and Scargun buoys and once round the normal and shorter Greenfield Crowness course, and the Tennent’s Cup race being twice round the Greenfield Crowness course.

Tennent’s Cup

Twelve boats crossed the start line for this race. A very light and variable easterly wind made conditions frustratingly slow, so much so that the course had to be shortened by cutting out the second round to enable the boats to finish the race in a reasonable time. Most of them, however, gave up the attempt and retired. Nevertheless, four boats did succeed in using what little wind there was to complete the course.

Results:

Kemp Cup

The race for this cup was in the afternoon in sailing conditions in sharp contrast to those fort the Tennent’s Cup. The wind had gone round to the north-west and by 2.30 at the start of the race was blowing Force 7. Twelve boats again crossed the start on a broad reach to Greenfield. Skidbladnir set her spinnaker soon after getting underway and was the first casualty, capsizing halfway to the Greenfield buoy. The wind was steadily increasing and then Zendik (D. Glue and B. Sutherland), surging towards the mark, went over and began to drift dangerously close to the Greenfield Shore. She was eventually righted and continued on the beat to Scargun.

Two Lasers, Specky bro and Soggy Slipper, were then seen to capsize, but were soon righted and continued doggedly on towards Scargun buoy. However, as the wind increased, conditions on the hard slog to Scargun became more severe and boat after boat gave up and retired to Hatston slipway until only four were left in the race.

Mizpah (Dan Grieve), skilfully, clawed his way carefully towards Scargun and, not far astern, Samara (D. Pottinger() was putting up an equally impressive performance. But, matching the performance of these two leading boats were the two single sailed Lasers, Specie Broo (G. Ratter) and Soggy Slipper (Mickey Foulis), doggedly butting their way to Scargun until Specy Broo capsized not far from the buoy and retired.

Mizpah rounded the buoy in the lead, with Samara in close pursuit, and then began a two-mile run to the finishing line, with both boats sailing magnificently.

Meanwhile, with the wind still on the increase, it was agreed to shorten the course by omitting the second round, as was done for the morning race. Mizpah crossed the finishing line in the lead, but less than a minute ahead of Samara. Soggy Slipper, with great determination, kept going for Scargun, which he rounded in wind and fog in good style, eventually crossing the finish line a very gallant third.

Results:

Errol Bruce Cup

This race is for catamarans and, as two of the four entrants sustained extensive damage to their sails shortly before the starting line, it had to be cancelled because of a minimum of three boats required.

Finlay Cup

This trophy, raced on June 2, is for the best aggregate of points on one selected night. Due to a slight hitch, it was left over from the Regatta prizegiving. The winner was Skidbladnir (L. Tait), with Mizpah second and Marion Olwen third.

At a presentation of prizes in the sailing club later on Saturday evening, the commodore, Mr. Bruce Dunnet, called on Mrs. Gilbertson to present the prizes and thanked all those whose efforts and help contributed to the success of the day. There followed a dance, during which eatables prepared by members of the Ladies’ Committee were served. It was a pleasant and well-attended function and a fitting end to an eventful and enjoyable sailing season.

Top

Rousay and Wyre Regatta 1983

Twenty-seven boats enjoyed ideal sailing conditions at the Rousay and Wyre Regatta on Saturday

A force 4-5 south east breeze ensured very competitive racing with spinnakers used to great effect. Ashore, the pier was a hive of activities the Youth Club entertained all ages with competitions on greasy poles, with pillow fights, an inflatable trampoline, darts and a bottle stall.

Just off the pier raftists battled to keep their flimsy steeds afloat and in one piece.

Meanwhile in the steamer store the lifeboat guild ladies served teas.

An energetic dance was held in the hall at night. The organisers’ grateful thanks are due to Helen Firth, Billy and Ingrid Jolly, Ivan and Louise Owen, the Bank of Scotland and the Rousay Processors who kindly donated trophies for the racing this year, the safety boat crews, the dinner ladies and the dozens of other folk who worked so hard to make this Rousay and Wyre Regatta the best yet.

Results

Merlin Rockets

Bosun

Wayfarer

Other Classes

Catamarans

Allcomers