Regatta 1974

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Longhope Regatta 1974

18 boats and dead calm at Longhope

The Longhope Regatta originally fixed for Saturday July 13, was postponed until the next day, Sunday the 14th - a day that should hardly be worse for sailing, wet and for the most part flat calm.

A large number of spectators watched the 18 boats present drift and move around the short 3 1/2 mile course in fitful flukey puffs from every point of the compass.

The redeeming feature of the day was, perhaps the lunch- a really five star affair with service to match, turned on by Mrs. Isa Budge, to whom the Longhope Club is indepted, and to the timekeepers and judges, Willie Schollay and John Sinclair of Kirkwall.

In spite of the imperfections, the day seemed to be largely enjoyed by crews and spectators alike.

Results were as follows:

Fixed Keel Class

Inside Ballast Class

Merlin Rocket:

RNSA:

Catamarans

Centreboards (handicap)

Allcomers Catamarans

Allcomers:

Trophy winners were: Jack Kirkpatrick Cup Valkyrie (W. Black). LSC Cup for Catamarans- Spindrift (P. Thomson), J & W Tait Cup for Centreboards - S3 (S. Pottinger). Longhope WRI Cup for Rockets - Rock n' Roll (B. Dunnet). 'Seamud' Cup for RNSA class S3 (S. Pottinger). LSC Cup for fixed keel class - Esmerelda (Captain Sutherland).

Allcomer: Mrs. Taylor Cup for Catamarans - Spindrift (A. Walls), Dr. Foubister Cup for fastest time in Allcomers - Mizpah (D. Grieve), Jorome Wilson Cup for first fixed keel in Allcomers - Esmerelda (Captain Sutherland). Swona Cup for 1st ballast boat in Allcomers - Irene (J. Merriman).

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Holm Regatta 1974

27 boats compete in Holm Regatta

After a not too promising morning, conditions were ideal for Holm Regatta held on Saturday July 27.

There was a fresh south-south-easterly wind, and on occasion the sun came through, to the delight of the pierhead spectators. Many of those took advantage of a trip round the bay later in the afternoon on board the Longhope lifeboat, which arrived at Holm Pier just before the first race.

Occupants of cars all along the frint of the village witnessed some excellent sailing, and teas were on sale all afternoon in the Community Centre.

In all 27 boats participated, including six catamarans, five Rockets, nine Snipes and seven other boats.

The course set was a reach to Ayre buoy, a beat to No. 2 Barrier, a reach to No. 1 and a reach home.

First off were the catamarans, and as has been the practice in previous years the aggregate of two races is taken to determine the prizewinners. In this case some great sailing took place in that only thirty seconds separated the first prizewinner from the second, and only seven seconds separated the third from the fourth after sailing four times round the course!

Next off were the Merlin Rockets and Tyste, rounding the buoy first at No. 2 Barrier, gradually increased his lead, crossing the line seventy-one seconds ahead of Njord.

It was remarkable at the start of the Snipe race that all were coming line abreast when the starting gun went off, so that all crossed the line almost together. Tyro, the winner of the weekly points races, gradually drew away from the field and crossed the line well ahead of Kontiki, closely followed by Teeick and Valhalla.

The next race was for all the other boats, and though sailed under handicap, did not affect the positions of the first three across the line.

When it came time for the third Catamaran race, which has a separate cup, and the fact that the crew of Tern changed over also changed their luck, for they brought her over the line first.

Wind Dropped

The wind was still fresh for the start of the centreboard race, when all boats took part. But because of the cloud formation suggesting that the wind was likely to drop, it was decided to sail only once round the course in order to complete the afternoon's programme. This race was also sailed under handicap, and resulted in a win for the Snipe Tyro- only the second Snipe ever to win the trophy in 17 years, the last time being Valhalla (skipper H. McKenzie) in 1963.

On previous occasions it has been customary for the crews to have a break for tea before the start of the Allcomers race, but because of the steadily dropping wind it was decided to press on with the programme, and without delay the start of the last race was signalled.

This was the Allcomers, which was again sailed twice round the course and under handicap, though this made no difference to the first placings.

It was fortunate that the organisers had decided to press on, because the wind did drop so much that before the end several boats had to be towed to the shore.

After the boats had been hauled up, the yachtsmen repaired to the Community Centre, where a suptuous meal had been prepared by lady helpers. At the conclusion, Commodore Sinclair Muir of Holm Sailing Club thanked all the visiting yachtsmen for helping to make this regatta such a success. He called for a vote of thanks to the ladies who had prepared and served such an appetising meal; to the officials of Orkney Sailing Club who had given invaluable assistance at the pierhead; to the rescue boats Gordon Muir, William Harcus, Eric and Malcolm Sutherland and Mr. Winchester of the Coastguards with their inshore lifeboat.

He then called on Mrs. Ruby Foubister to present the prizes to the successful yachtsmen.

Catamarans

First two races go together and the aggregate times count as one:

Merlin Rocket:

Snipe

Other Boats

Mixed Centreboards

Catamarans Third Race

Allcomers:

Prizes for Holm Sailing Club's weekly points races were presented as follows:

At the end Mr. Bruce Dunnet, on behalf of all the visiting yachtsmen, thanked Holm Sailing Club for their hospitality, and hoped they would all be back to compete again next year.

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Westray Regatta 1974

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Kirkwall Regatta:

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Kemp Cup 1974

Errol Bruce Cup

The race for the Erroll Bruce Cup (long distance) was held on Friday evening in KirkwallBay, in which six boats took part. The wind was westerly and of a full-sail strength, which gave the boats a run to a mark buoy off Thieve's Hom, a beat to Scargun Buoy and back to the starting line, after which they had to complete the usual points course- Greenfield, Crowness and home.

Kemp and Tennants Cups

There were 13 Centreboard boats forward for this race, which was a long-distance one, the boats having a run to a buoy offThieve's Holm, a beat to Scargun buoy, then back to the starting line buoy, after which they had to complete the usual points course- Greenfield, Crowness and home.

The Kemp Cup was for the first boat home on actual time, while the Tennant Cup was a handicap race, in which the winner of the Kemp Cup was debarred from taking part, as no boat was allowed to win both cups, the The Kemp Cup was won by Selkie (M. Gilbertson) who finished an easy winner.

There were 13 boats forward for this cup and race, which was sailed under the handicap rules. Times were as follows, after handicaps had been applied:-

'Hope Regatta 1974

28 boats in 'Hope Regatta

The annual regatta of South Ronaldsay and Burray Sailing Club was held in Watersound on the afternoon of Wednesday of last week. Twenty eight boats took part in the various different races throughout the afternoon.

The wind was south-westerly and on the light side, but as the first seven races proceeded it fell away considerably. Fortunately however it increased slightly for the last two races for the centreboard and the catamaran races, after which it fell away again causing the Allocmers race to be cancelled.

The course set gave the boats a run to a buoy off the 'Needle', after which they had a reach to a buoy of the Burray Barrier, then they had a reach up Watersound to a mark buoy off the Burray shore with a beat to the finish line. Each race was once around the course.

The races were organised by three members of Orkney Sailing Club, Messrs W. Schollay (Commodore, Clerk of the Course), J. Sinclair (Starter), and D. Wooldrage (Timekeeper), assisted by Dr. Hooker Commodore of the Hope Club, and Mr. Burgess, harbourmaster, and went off without a hitch.

Catamarans

The first race was for Catamarans in which five boats took part: Rip Tide (J. Mainland), Alley Cat (A. Barnett), Spindrift (P. Thomson), Never-Can-Tell (C. Tait) and Tern (G. Costie).

Merlin Rockets

The next race was for Merlin Rockets, in which only two boats took part Tyste (R. Grieve), Rock n' Roll (B. Dunnet).

Snipes

Six Snipes from the Holm Club were next on the programme: Tyro (H. Johnston), Firewood (S. Muir), Erma (J. Foubister), Valhalla (E. Rendall), Kontiki (B. Johnston) and Teeick (E. McLennan).

RNSA

Four boats were forward for this race, one being sailed by Capt. Porteus and crew who, however, only went round the courseto make up an extra entry, and who finished an easy first, but forfeited the prize in favour of the other boats, who were all sailed by by Sea Cadets.

Ballast Boats

Three skiffs were forward for this race, Irene (J. Merriman), Pansy (M. Davidson) and Tiger (I. McInnes):

Catamarans: race 2

The same five boats took part in this race, the times for the first and second catamaran races being added together to decide the winner of the cup. Rip Tide, who finished an easy first, was disqualified for striking a buoy and not returning and rounding again.

Centreboards

On the conclusion of these seven races, the Centreboard Dinghies and the third Catamaran Race, in which 15 Dinghies and 6 Cats took part in two different races, proved to be the outstanding races of the day. The boats presented a very pretty sight as they raced past the Needle with their differently coloured sails and hulls.

Times, actual and corrected were as follows:

Catamarans

Six boats took part in this race, Samoa, from Longhope, making up the extra number as only five boats competed in the first two races. Times were as follows:

Refreshments

On the conclusion of these races the crews and officials retired to the Murray Arms Hotel where the needs of the 'inner man' were amply provided for by the proprietor and her staff.

Prize Giving

The prizes were presented in the Cromarty Hall at 10pm by Mrs Sylvia Innes, a visitor from Aberdeen, which she performed in a very pleasing manner and for which she received a very hearty vote of thanks on the call of the Commodore. A very enjoyable dance took place afterwards, concluding yet another regatta in the annals of South Ronaldsay and Burray Sailing Club.