Regatta 2016

Last update 29 October 2016

Westray Regatta 2016

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Westray Regatta was held on Saturday 30th July in a fresh West North West breeze. The ferry left Kirkwall at 7:30 on Saturday with a hold full of sailing boats. On arrival at Pierowall the sailing craft were offloaded and boats were prepared for the two back to back races. The boats were sent on a large triangular course.

There was a good representation from the various active classes in Orkney, including cats, snipes, lasers, yoles, skiffs and even a couple of Merlin Rockets. Seven yachts took part, including some visitors from Shetland.

Among the Snipes Neil Foubister won the Snipe class trophy sailing No Fear, Mark Taylor won the fastest Snipe in Allcomers trophy. Andrew Leslie won the Mixed Centreboards trophy while Mark Holbrook won the Allcomers. Harcus Hutchison won the Merlin Rocket trophy, Ian Rushbrook won the cats.

After the racing the sailors congregated in the primary school for the prize giving, a sumptuous buffet meal and a dance. The event was sponsored by Scapa Distillery, bottles of amber nectar were awarded to trophy winners.

Kirkwall Regatta 2016

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The 2016 Kirkwall Regatta was held on Saturday 6th August. After a briefing at the Hatston training centre all the boats took to the water and headed over to the race start near to Cragiefield House. The first race was a triangle sausage course arranged near the middle of Kirkwall Bay. In the morning the wind was very light and shifty. Dinghies were given two laps to complete in the morning before a bit of relaxation and sustenance (very tasty mince and tatties) in the Girnel. The breeze settled in after lunch to fairly steady but gusty South Westerly. A mixed centreboard race was followed by the Allcomers.

The Mixed Centreboards race consisted of two laps of the olympic triangle course. The Allcomers race followed with just one lap of the course. In the evening a prize giving was held in the Girnel.

There was a good mix of sailing craft at the regatta, from the diminutive optimist in the junior races to the rapid cats, along with a range of yachts and yoles. Among the dinghy classes were two snipes, five lasers and Lee Thomson’s phantom. The catamarans have been enjoying a resurgence recently, and five boats attended the regatta sailing an extended course.

Stromness Regatta 2016

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Stromness Regatta was held on Saturday 20th July after being postponed due to adverse weather conditions. There was a good turnout of 10 Snipes, along with Yoles, a couple of juniors and a Laser. In favourable weather conditions the boats two races inside the harbour. Neil and Glen Foubister sailed No Fear to win the Snipe Class trophy and came second in the Allcomers. The Allcomers race was won by James Burgon sailing Bonxie with Magda Bishop.

The Laser 'Enron' sailed by Mark Holbrook was the only competitor in the mixed centreboard class.

Port to Port

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Four boats took to the sea at St. Mary's for Holm Sailing Club's annual Port to Port race on Sunday 28th August. There were very light conditions. Normally the race runs from St. Mary's to St. Margaret's Hope but the course was shortened due to the lack of breeze. Two races were held, the first round the salmon cages and back and then a second using the usual course 5 round the buoys. Raymond and Yvonne Grieve sailing Still Game won the first race, with Wild Goose Second and Rio third. Malcolm Gordon and Emma Thomson sailing Aquamania won the second race with the finishing sequence reversed. Still Game won the event after accumulated times.

Many Thanks to Derek Johnstone for managing the safety boat and the time keeping.