Last update 27 October 2022

Regatta 1988

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Holm Regatta 1988

Thirty-one boats took part in Holm Sailing Club's annual regatta on Saturday July 16. Wind for the first class race was very light and variable but freshened in the afternoon for the second class race and allcomers.

Prizegiving was held immediately after the last race and commodore J. Foubister thanked all the visiting boats, the pier officials, Mr. K. Marwick for collecting the dues, rescue boats and last but not least the ladies for providing such a splendid lunch.

Mrs. F. Johnston presented the prizes to the following:

Snipe:

Laser:

505:

Yachts:

Catamarans:

Other Boats:

Allcomers:

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Finstown Regatta 1988

The Finstown Regatta was on June 18 and the winners were:

Allcomers:

Laser:

Snipe:

Catamarans:

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Stromness Regatta 1988

Unlike the last few years, light winds were the order of the day at the 1988 Stromness Regatta. As well as the winding downtime total number of boats was also less with only the yachts showing any improvement in strength. However, this was not to mar the day for those that took part.

29 boats plus three sailboards completed their respective courses with the yachts being the strongest class followed by the Snipes and Lasers, although even these two latter classes were down in number. Out of the nine yachts, an increase of four on the previous year, five are new in Orkneyand one , Pansy, is a rebuilt Orkney yawl in the water for the first time in five years. It is hoped that sufficient yawls will be rebuilt in the coming years to make a class of their own. The increase in yachts is a healthy sign and bodes well for the future.

Excepting for the sailboards, the courses were the outer ones in the Bay of Ireland with the yachts on the longer figure of eight and the dinghies own a shorter triangle. The start/finish line was the same as last year and provided maximum viewing advantage.

The lunch and prize giving again took place at the navigation school which has proved to be ideal. Captain Robbie Sutherland and the education committee must be given the warmest thanks for the use of their facilities. It is hoped that the ties between the school and the Stromness Sailing Club can become even stronger.

In his speech at the prize giving the vice commodore gave thanks to the Stromness ladies for providing the excellent meal, to the rescue boats without which the regatta could not be held and to the starter/timekeepers for their organisation. This was then followed by the presentation of the trophies by Mrs. Alison MacKenzie.

The results of the races were as follows:

Yachts:

Snipe:

Laser:

Centre Boards:

Catamarans:

Yachts:

Allcomers Centreboards:

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Burray and South Ronaldsay Regatta 1988

Postponed from Saturday July 2 owing to the bad weather, Burray and South Ronaldsay Regatta was sailed the following day.

Sunday was brilliant with a light easterly wind sufficient to give comfortable if not exciting sailing.

It was disappointing that some classes were absent or boats too few in numbers to form one, but the change of day no doubt had something to do with that.

The results were as follows:

Other boats:

505:

Laser:

Catamarans:

Sailboards:

Allcomers:

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Longhope Regatta 1988

The Longhope Regatta was held on Saturday, July 9, for the first time since 1978, and attracted an entry of 23 boats and two sailboards. The weather was fine for the morning race, with a light north west wind. The afternoon race began in light drizzle and the wind dropped halfway through the race causing several boats to retire.

However, for those who persevered, the wind soon rose again from the East, giving a run out and back over the course in Longhope Bay.

The results were as follows:

Yachts:

Snipe:

Laser:

Centreboards:

505:

Catamarans:

Afternoon Races

Allcomers:

Allcomers Yachts:

Trophies: Hooker Cup Pansy (R Sutherland), Jack Kirkpatrick Cup Laverne (A. Dunnet), Jerome Wilson Cup Balgoda, Mrs. Grieve Cup Balgoda, George Kirkpatrick Cup Jual (P. Brown), Fred Johnston Cup El Dorado (F. Johnston). J & W Tait Cup Smyril (J. Clouston). Allcomers Open Cup Gemini (P. Thomson). J Taylor Cup Gemini (P. Thomson), J. Taylor Cup Gemini (P. Thomson), Stromabank Cup Blackadder (G. Ratter).

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Kirkwall Regatta 1988

It was a gala day in Kirkwall Bay on Saturday as no fewer than 57 boats ranging in size from large yachts to very small sailing dinghies competed for highly prized trophies. They came from as far north as Shetland from all parts of Orkney, North Isles, South Isles, Stromness and Holm, and their multi-coloured sails and brightly painted hulls against a blue sea and cloudless sky made a pleasing pattern, especially in the afternoon when the sun broke through and the weather cleared from a rainy overcast sky to a bright warm sunny day.

The wind, a moderate to fresh breeze, remained constant throughout and provided ideal sailing conditions. In all 17 races designed for various classes of boats, some with intriguing names like lasers, fireballs, bosuns, albacores, snipes, catamarans and sailboards were scheduled.

Racing started at 10.00 am and continued throughout the day, culminating in an inter county event between two teams of five selected boats from each county. The Orkney boats, Temeraire (L. Tait), Sunburst (D. Sabiston), Lintie (I. Pole), Smyril (J. Clouston), Tutti Frutti (I Rushbrook) acquitted themselves very commendably but on handicap the races was won by the Shetland team.

All these activities were greatly helped along by the efforts of the ladies' committee of the Orkney Sailing Club whose superb lunch and tea did so much to sustain over one hundred hungry competitors and others concerned with the regatta.

At a function in the Girdle later that evening the club Commodore, Mr. Bruce Dunnet, thanked all members of the club and others whose efforts had contributed so much to the success of the day - the coastguard services, the club safety boat crews, the pierhead team, starters, timekeepers and services the entry fee collector and many others. He then called on Mrs. Margaret Grieve to present the prizes, the last prize going to Mrs. Grieve herself for forty years of devoted and dedicated service to the club.

In conclusion Mr. Brian Smith, a member of the Shetland contingent, in a witty and humorous speech that delighted the audience thanked the club for it's hospitality and friendliness, expressing the hope that these inter-county visitations would be a continuing feature of the annual regattas. The evening concluded with a dance which lasted into the small hours, rounding off a very pleasant and enjoyable occasion.

The results were as follows:

Yachts:

Topper:

Snipe:

Sailboards:

Merlin Rockets:

Enterprise:

Laser:

Albacore:

505:

Mixed Centreboards:

Catamarans: Long Race

Yachts:

Albacore Points:

Centreboard Race

first over the line:

Bosun Points:

Centreboard Race: Handicap

Laser Points:

505 Points:

Catamarans: Short Race

Catamarans: Points

Allcomers:

Malcolm Gilbertson Challenge Cup- G. Ratter

First Snipe in Allcomers: Jual (P. Brown)

Under 18, first in Allcomers - Scarlet Lady (Neil Burgess)

Allcomers Points: 1 Temeraire (L. Tait 780; 2 Blackadder (G. Ratter) 769; 3 Sunburst (D. Sabiston) 665.

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Westray Regatta 1988

The Regatta was sailed on Saturday July 30 under ideal conditions - light north westerly, calm sea, warm and sunny.

The Westray Club wishes to thank the visiting yachtsmen, and particularly the officials who conducted affairs expertly on the pier head.

The results were as follows:

Skiffs:

Merlin Rocket:

Laser:

only one competitor M. Brown.

Snipe:

Mixed Centreboards:

Mirror: Race 1

Catamarans: Race 1

Allcomers Centreboards:

Catamarans: Race 2

Mirror: Race 2

Skiffs Allcomers:

A single yacht, Tasman, sailed along with the skiffs and was awarded a special prize.

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Kemp Cup 1988

After having been postponed twice the previous week because of bad weather, Orkney Sailing Club's final races of the season were sailed on Saturday September 10 in a fresh to strong north westerly that provided ideal sailing conditions. 22 boats ranging in size from large yachts to single manned sailboards turned up to compete for six trophies.

The first race of the day over an eight mile stretch twice round Thieve's Holm to Scargun course was for the big yachts of which there were four entries. These made a grand spectacle and their performance was watched with critical appraisal by pierced spectators.

The second race for the Tennents Cup for a mixed class of 505s, Albacores, Merlin Rockets, Lasers and others was twice round the long Weyland, Crowness, Greenfield circuit, a distance of approximately six miles. It was a fast race in a very strong wind, with the bigger class of 505s instantly surging into the lead, and with main sails full and spinnakers billowing it was action all the way. There were some capsizes and a few boats had to retire because of gear damage but there were no incidents of a serious nature.

Four catamarans competed for the Errol Bruce Cup twice round the Thieve's Holm, Scargun course (approximately eight miles) and four a points cup once round the same course and then round the shorter Weyland, crowns, Greenfield course. Cats are exceptionally fast when running before a really strong wind and on Saturday they put up a spectacular display of speed. Two sustained gear damage and had to retire from the first race.

The Kemp Cup is one of the club's most prestigious with a highly sought after and keenly contested trophy. Spinnakjers came much into play in this race and were a major factor in the success of the 505 class.

Although the races had been postponed the previous Saturday, the function arranged in the Girdle for that evening went ahead and was greatly enjoyed by everyone. Presentation of the trophies had of necessity to be delayed until after the races were completed Saturday. Despite the vagaries of the weather it was a very enjoyable occasion and a fitting end to a highly successful sailing season.

The results were as follows:

Kemp Cup:

Tennents Cup:

Catamarans: Points Cup

Catamarans: Errol Bruce Cup

Yachts: 1st Race

Yachts: 2nd Race