Four Irish boats are in the top six of the RC35 Class as the Scottish Series at Tarbert concludes today. Pat Kelly's J109 Stom from Rush Sailing Club is four points off the lead while Irish sisterships Chimaera (Andrew Craig) of the Royal Irish Yacht Club and John and Brian Hall sailing Something Else of the National Yacht Club are third and fourth respectively. 2015 overall winner, the A35 Fools Gold from Waterford Harbour is fifth in the 16–boat fleet. Download results below.

Despite being unable to race on Saturday due to lack of wind, crews made the most of the opportunity to enjoy the shore side activities around the village of Tarbert and the day was topped off with live music and a fantastic display of fireworks writes Catriona Craig.

Sunday saw a day of champagne sailing with a NNW wind 9 to 10 knots and mostly dry and sunny. Most classes managed to get in three races which was basically the programme of races from the Saturday. The races officers did a fantastic job in managing the day's racing schedule in what seems to be a seamless transition from race to race, which is becoming a hallmark of the regatta

IRC Class One – Jamie McGarry and Colin Moore's Swan 45 "Eala of Rhu' proved difficult to catch as it revelled in almost perfect conditions along with faultless crew work and tactics. With two firsts and a fourth it gives 'Eala of Rhu' a five-point lead over Jay Colville's 'Forty Licks' a very well sailed First 40 from East Down Yacht Club, which is still in contention for silverware. Two points behind is Rod Stuart and Bill Ram's "Aurora" sitting on 13 points just one point ahead of Jonathan Anderson and Murray Findlay's "Inis Mor" on 14 points. This is a very tightly sailed class and it will all come down to the results of Monday's races.

RC35 Class – The question in this class is can Kevin and Debbie Aitken's "Animal" get its paws on the silverware with an overall class win, currently lying in first place with 15 points. This has been a very competitive class from day one and going into the final days sailing there are 7 boats that could claim the title. One of those is Pat Kelly's "Storm" a well sailed J109 with consistent results throughout the series. Also in contention is "Banshee" owned and sailed by Charlie Frize, who is no stranger to class wins at Scottish Series and who could easily end up at the top of the class. The winner in this class is likely to be decided on the very last tack tomorrow.

IRC Class 3 – This class looks to be a real battle between local boat "Trastada" owned by Roddy Angus and Dan Challis, and Irish boat "Lambay Rules' a J97 owned by Stephen Quinn of Howth Yacht Club. On 11 and 12 points, respectively only one point separates these two remarkably well sailed boats who have enjoyed some great racing, tomorrow is a new day and both boats have all to sail for. In third place with 21 points is "Samurai J" owned by Alan Macleod and A Knowles sailing their first season in this J92. With three points separating the next three boats this class is still very open and will likely be decided on the final race tomorrow.

CYCA 4 – Scottish Series veteran Howard Morrison's "Enigma" looked magnificent coming down the last reach and it is easy to see why he is leading his class. Sitting on 10.5 points at the end of today's racing he will have to maintain a mistake free day tomorrow to keep his lead. "Stargazer" sitting on 14 points is an equally well sailed yacht and will have a hunger to win tomorrow. There is still a margin for error and "Celtic Spirit" currently lying third on 18 points could still squeeze in.

CYCA 5 – Alistair Gay's Nicholson 35 "Orwell Lass" was impeccably sailed today getting a perfect score to finish leading the class on 5 points. The crew managed keep the boat moving through the shifty and light winds of the morning's race with ease and revelled in the steady breeze of the afternoon to finish the day with three firsts. The battle will be for second place between "Marisca" on 12 points and "Ravel's Bolero" on 17 points.

CYCA7 – In the restricted sail class "Argento" looks like she might be the eventual class winner sitting on 6 points five ahead of "Jocher" in second and "Lyrebird' in third both sitting on 11 points. With more wind forecast for tomorrow it could all come down to boat handling to decide first, second and third.

Sigma 33 Class - The Sigma class, one of the Crewsaver Fleets, enjoyed anther day of close racing with much place changing it was boat handling that delivered the results today. No more so than in James Miller's "Mayrise" from Helensburgh Sailing Club finishing the day on 11 points. In second and third places, respectively are Allan Lennox's "Miss Behavin" on 16 points and A Harper and E, K Robertson's "Leaky Roof 2" on 19 points.

Sonata Class – Steven Lyon from Cove Sailing Club, sailing "Kalm", kept his head and delivered a second a first and a second to finish the day on 9 points. Dealing a harsh blow to "Old School" who previously lead the class and finished the day in second place on 13 points. Ross MacNish's "Old School" from Royal Gourock Yacht Club will be fighting hard tomorrow along with Brian Wiseman's "Virtuoso". The 9-boat class has enjoyed some great close racing and we look forward to more of the same tomorrow. With only 10 points separating the first five boats it is not over yet.

Hunter 707 Class – is enjoying some of the closest one design racing the class has seen. Darra O'Malley last year's winner sailing "Seaword" is without doubt the most consistent one design winner of the series, today posting a one, three and a one showing that strong tactics backed up with a disciplined crew will pay off in the toughest one design fleets. "Seaword" is currently sitting on 7 points three ahead of rivals "CRHU" sailed by Olympian Luke Patience. New boy to the class Luke, looked today to be having a stronger day on the water finishing the second race with a first and a very impressive lead. Carl Allen's "More T Vicar" from Port Edgar Yacht Club will be looking to continue to move up the rankings currently sitting third on 16 points.

The racing over the weekend has been great and with only one more day of racing it will be a big day for many as they fight for class places.

Full results are available from www.clyde.org/scottish-series/racing/results

Irish boats are to the fore at the Scottish Series with Dublin J109s Storm (Pat Kelly of Howth Yacht Club), Chimaera (Andrew Craig of Royal Irish Yacht Club) but none are quicker than Waterford Harbour Sailing Club's 'Fools Gold' owned by Rob McConnell, last year's winner who stamped their intentions on the class and lead the pack writes Catriona Craig.

The 43rd Scottish Series, sponsored by Silvers Marine for the third year started on Friday 26th May 2017. With it brought sunshine and record temperatures hitting 30 degrees in Tarbert, Loch Fyne . Some would say that the competition on the water was even hotter, with plenty of action in the Silvers Fleet and the Crewsaver Fleet.

These results are almost certainly subject to protest as it was very competitive in most classes, no more so than in IRC 2 the RC35 class where some bumps occurred during mark roundings. Slivers Marine Scottish Series is also incorporating the Spinlock IRC Championships so there is plenty to race for. The day's racing was spectacular with the most incredible splash of colour across Loch Fyne and the atmosphere is electric on and off the water. Everything points to a fantastic weekend of racing ahead.

IRC Class One – the sun was definitely shining on 'Eala of Rhu', owned by Jamie McGarry and Colin Muir of event main sponsor Silvers Marine. Today 'Eala of Rhu' dominated class one, showing some great pace and tactical decision making managing to place the boat at the right place at the right time, ably assisted round the course by Jon Fitzgerald and Kevin Sproul. Claiming two firsts and a second giving them 4 points and leaving them 4 points ahead of 'Forty Licks' owned by Jay Colville from Ireland on 8 points just one ahead of Jonathan Anderson sailing his new Ker 39' 'Inis Mor' with Murray Findlay. There are plenty of other boats in this highly competitive class who could upset the 'apple cart' before the weekend is out.

IRC Class Two - RC35 Class – this ferociously competitive class of 17 boats, with a very tight rating band does not allow for error. It was a pleasure to watch the starts of this class and indeed the class racing over the three races today. This class is going to be won by consistency and today that was seen in the results where the first three boats are all on 13 points. Ireland's 'Fools Gold' owned by Rob McConnell, last year's winner today stamped their intentions on the class and lead the pack. In second place 'Now or Never' sailed by owner Neill Sandford squeezing in front of Irish boat 'Storm' owned by Pat Kelly. It is going to be really exciting watching this new class develop and grow.

IRC Class 3  – saw fifteen boats crossing the line and enjoying three very competitive races. Leading class three after the first day's racing is Stephen Quinn returning this year with his boat 'Lambie Rules' from Howth Yacht Club, on ten points with a one point lead over local boat 'Trastada' owned by Roddy Angus and Dan Challis, who in turn are 3 points ahead of Nicholas Marshall's 'Satisfaction'. There is no doubt that this class is competitive with seasoned campaigners joined by some new designs in the fleet all enjoying some great racing across three races today.

CYCA 4 – They say experience counts and this class has at first glance three past Scottish Series winners, not to mention previous class winners. One veteran campaigner Howard Morrison who today had two firsts and a third in his yacht 'Enigma' used that experience wisely today giving him a four-point lead over 'Stargazer' from Arran Yacht Club owned by A Bilsland and A Campbell on 9 points and in third is 'Celtic Spirit' sailed by Brian Robertson on 10 points. Looking at the entry list there will be much upset in this class and no doubt with old scores to be settled.

CYCA 5 – Enjoyed some close racing but was dominated by 'Orwell Lass', a Nicholson 35' sailed by Alistair Gay, Kyles of Bute Sailing Club definitely one to watch this week with two firsts and a third giving him a 7 point lead over 'Marisca' a Contessa 32' sailed by Alistair Pugh just ahead by one point of "Sirius' a GK 24' from Ireland sailed by Richard Doig.

CYCA7 – Restricted Sail Class of 13 boats sailed a passage race from Largs to Tarbert after much place changing the eventual winner was David and Karen Parker's Beneteau 35''Slippy Jin' followed closely by 'Argento' a Jeanneau Sunfast sailed by Ken Andrew. Followed in third place by Clive Reeves' Maxi 1000 'Lyrebird'.

Sigma 33 Class - As always this class has regularly been one of the tightest fleets in Scottish Series with a strong one design association, it is a fast and exciting class to sail in whatever the weather delivers, and today was no exception. 'Miss Behavin' sits on 9 points equal with 'Leaky Roof 2' just one point ahead of James Millar's 'Mayrise'. Expect some very tight racing in this class of 10 boats.

Sonata Class – In the Sonata class Ross McNeish in 'Old School' from Royal Gourock Sailing club dominated the day with three firsts and a third this well sailed boat will be hard to beat, but there are plenty in the class that will be vying to do that. 'Kalm' in second place with 8 points just two ahead of 'Scruples' on 10 points will all be wanting to stamp their authority on the class tomorrow.

Hunter 707 Class - This popular one design class saw 11 boats on the water today enjoying some great one design racing, it was a joy to watch Dara O'Malley last year's winner in his boat 'Seaword' taking the fight to 'CRHU' owned by Neil Ross, however on this occasion sailed by Olympian Luke Patience. Luke would be forgiven for thinking he was back at the Olympics and will definitely be looking to beat today's race results where he is sitting one point behind O'Malley with 5 and 6 points respectively.

Saturday is shaping up for a great day on the water in all classes

Despite some interruptions from either too much or too little wind, the regular club sailing programme for 2017 is now fully under way, and this weekend is additionally so well filled with major regional and national events that you could be forgiven for thinking it’s high summer already. W M Nixon tries to make sense of it all.

How on earth is anyone expected to fully understand, let alone explain, a global activity which today sees the extraordinary 1,500 boat Festival of Sail in the Morbihan in France putting in its final races and fleet manoeuvres, before everyone joins in the end-of-show Parade of Sail tomorrow?

Yet at the same time, across the Atlantic in Bermuda, the first moves in the 35th edition of the America’s Cup, arguably the world’s oldest international sporting contest as it goes back to 1851, are getting under way, involving sailing machines for which the word “boat” seems somewhat inappropriate.

It’s difficult to think of them as anything other than “sailing machines,” but America’s Cup rules reckon they are boats
Some of the huge fleet at the current Morbihan festival. In their midst is the bisquine-rigged La Cancalaise from Cancale. In the days of piracy, smuggling and privateering in the English Channel, it was reckoned that any vessel setting this demanding high-performance rig was up to no good, and therefore a legitimate target for government ships

Then too, the world sailing community is still digesting the revelation that future generations of boats in the Volvo World Race, which now rivals the America’s Cup for international attention, will be in effect IMOCA 60s with mega-foils.

And in addition to that, at each in-harbour stopover, the world-girdling Volvo Ocean Race crews will be expected to do a series of races in smaller but very potent multi-hulls which will thrill spectators with their closeness to the watching crowds and to each other, with hair’s breadth misses – and ideally the occasional not-too-serious shunt - a central part of the action.

All these major international events then have to be fitted around the reality that, like it or not, sailing is one of those minority sports that need the Olympics more than the Olympics need sailing. In other words, we have to keep the decks clear of other major international fixtures to give total attention when the next sailing Olympiad at Tokyo comes along in 2020.

For those who would snort in derision at such a suggestion, do tell us what you were doing (if you can remember) while the rest of Ireland held its breath and watched as Annalise Murphy was sailing towards her Silver Medal on August 16th 2016?

Nevertheless, having taken all that into account, the reality is that the top end of sailing is reaching ever-higher peaks of performance in everything, and inevitably using boats and equipment of unimaginable expense. So except for the Morbihan event - whose ethos is found in going the other way, with total democratic involvement for everyone - how on earth can ordinary sailors relate to what the participants in the America’s Cup and the Volvo World Race are experiencing?

Let’s be honest. We can only do so - if at all - with some mighty leaps of the imagination. The result is that many of us are going back to the knitting. We’re going back to trusted events, and staying with sailing boats which may not be in the first flush of youth, but at least they mean something to us.

We know that with them, we can find racing which bears some relation to everyday life rather than the other-world dreamscape which is the America’s Cup or the Volvo World Race.

Over the next two weekends in Ireland, this racing of familiar boats will move up a couple of gears, as this weekend is the Bank Holiday in the North, and in a week’s time the extra day off is in the Republic. So keen sailors who see their programme on an all-Ireland basis somehow manage to convince themselves that we have two all-island Bank Holidays on the trot.

Galway hookers gather at the Claddagh, while above them is the Galway City Museum, currently staging a Marine Science Exhibition.

Thus the ongoing Claddagh Festival with all varieties of Galway Hookers on show in the City of the Tribes is also managing to welcome Viking longships which have been brought overland from their home port of Ardglass in County Down. And at least the northerners have the proper claim that, for them, Monday is a free day to get their boats home again.

That equally applies to northern visitors to the Woodenboat Festival in Baltimore, which got going last night and should have good weather from midday onwards today, and through tomorrow’s colourful programme. Nevertheless for those with a day job to think about, the long haul home on Sunday night can become very long indeed.

Baltimore in West Cork - the perfect location for a friendly Woodenboat Festival

It’s not quite racing, but when a Galway hooker (left) finds competition at Baltimore Woodenboat Festival with a traditional West Cork boat, there’s certainly an added edge to the sailing. Photo Sheena Jolley

Both these events are traditional annual festivals in which racing plays only a small – if any – part. But even in competitive sailing, all the signs are that people are returning to beef up the numbers and competition in events which served them well in the past, yet had slipped in the popularity ratings owing to a change in behavioural patterns (the modern family is an extremely demanding taskmaster), and the ill-effects of the economic recession.

Everyone has been heartened by the new strength of the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (to which we’ll return in a minute), but today the top of the agenda is the Scottish Series, getting up to speed at the lovely little port of Tarbert on Loch Fyne. Of course, numbers are nothing like the eventually unmanageable crowd of boats which became a feature of this series about twenty years ago. But nevertheless there’s a tidy fleet at Tarbert, and a strong Irish contingent are in with more than shout of bringing home the big prize.

Packing them in – the Scottish Series fleet in Tarbert

The Hunter 707 fleet provided some of the best racing at last year’s Scottish Series

Dara O’Malley (second left) and his winning crew on Seaword, which made him Afloat.ie “Sailor of the Month” for May 2016. Photo: Marc Turner

Last year it was one of the diaspora, Dara O’Malley originally from Westport but now sailing on the Firth of Forth with his Hunter 707 Seaword, who was tops. While he may be Scottish-based, he was home among us in January to receive his Afloat.ie “Sailor of the Month” Award for May 2016 at the National Sailing Awards in the RDS.

He is defending this weekend, and another former overall winner is the irrepressible Rob McConnell from Dunmore East. With an almost entirely Waterford Harbour SC crew, Rob’s A35 Fool’s Gold is reportedly in particular good trim this year, so definitely a boat to watch.

Other strong performers from Ireland over in Tarbert include the Kelly family from Rush with their J/109 Storm, and that highly individualistic helmsman renowned for pulling rabbits out of the hat, Johnny Swan with his classic Half Tonner Harmony from Howth. Strangford Lough is sending the notably steady perfomer Jay Colville with his successful First 40 Forty Licks, while all the way from Cork Harbour is the First 36.7 Altair (K Dorgan & J Losty) of Cove Sailing Club, recalling the enthusiasm of a high order which used to be a feature of the O’Leary family’s years with the Corby 36 Antix from Crosshaven, an overall winner in Scotland on more than one occasion.

They might do it again......Rob McConnell (fourth left) and his mostly Dunmore East crew after winning the Scottish Series in 2015 on the Archambault 35 Fool’s Gold. Photo: Marc Turner

The continuing growth of the J/109s, which have needed ten years to become an overnight success in Ireland, is shown by the additional presence in Scotland of two of Storm’s sister-ships from home, Andrew Craig’s Chimaera and John & Brian Hall’s Something Else, while a smaller manifestation of the J Boat range’s ubiquitous nature is the participation of Stephen Quinn’s J/97 Lambay Rules from Howth.

It’s an interesting crew setup, as Lambay Rules’ core team, including Stephen Quinn himself, have been seen racing in the elegance of Stephen O’Flaherty’s Spirit 54 Soufriere, whose claims to fame include a role in a James Bond movie. Despite the obvious differences between the two boats, the key personnel – including Stephen O’Flaherty – moved aboard the little Lambay Rules for last year’s Volvo Round Ireland Race, and despite being one of the smallest boats in the fleet (in fact, I think she was the smallest), at several stages they were leading their class, but not alas at the finish.

Their determined involvement in Scotland says much for their continuing zest in the game, but meanwhile back home the presence of so many significant boats over in Scotland has done little to diminish numbers for this morning’s ISORA Race from Dun Laoghaire to Arklow, which will see 28 starters.

PHOTO HERE
The lineup for today’s ISORA-Dun Laoghaire Race
Very senior ISORA contenders have a feeling that they must have raced to Arklow before, but maybe they’re confusing it with ISORA races which took in the Arklow Lightvessel as a mark of the course, and it’s undoubtedly a very long time since a lightship was on the Arklow Bank.

Certainly ISORA Chairman Peter Ryan says that this is the first time an ISORA Race has finished in Arklow, where the local sailing club has been expanding in a healthy style, while on the bigger canvas, the Tyrrell family with their succession of ever-larger and successful craft in the J Boat range – all called Aquelina – has done much to have Arklow SC punching way above its weight on the national offshore racing scene.

The Tyrrells were too far ahead of the curve when they got their first Aquelina, a J/109, shortly after the new marque was introduced. Their hopes of getting a semi-One-Design J/109 class going didn’t take off. But today, racing their current J/122E Aquelina back to their home port, they’ll ruefully observe that there are at least five J/109s racing with them, a goodly number when we remember that three of the Dublin class are in Scotland, and several others are staying in Dun Laoghaire to do today’s Dublin Bay SC race.

It has taken them ten years to become an overnight success, but the J/109s are now a very significant presence in Dublin Bay. Photo: Afloat.ie

However, one of the latest J/09s to join the Greater Dublin class is Indian, owned by Colm Buckley and Simon Knowles of Howth. They won the two-handed class in the 2015 Dun Laoghaire to Dingle race in the smaller Elan Blue Eyes, but this race to Arklow is their first serious offshore challenge in the J/109. It will be a proper test, as the J/109 contingent includes Peter Dunlop’s Mojito and Stephen Tudor’s Sgrech, both from Pwllheli and respectively first and second of the J/109s in the Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire race a fortnight ago.

But the boat for everyone to beat is Paul O’Higgins’ JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI, whose remarkable all-round ability was demonstrated with the overall win in the increasingly breezy Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire Race of May 13th. These JPK 10.80s are superb performers across a wide range of conditions, and the simple fact of knowing they have such a good boat under them is an added encouragement for Paul O’Higgins and his crew of all the talents.

The highly technical approach of racing a boat like Rockabill VI is a whole world away from the intimate world of wooden boat adherents getting together in Baltimore, or the historical, cultural and music-laden gathering of the traditional craft and their visiting Vikings in Galway. But that’s the way it is in the very wide world of boats and sailing. In the end, we’re all members of the same exceptionally diverse sailing community.

The boat to beat – Paul O’Higgins JPK 10.80 Rockabill VI is a superb all-rounder

For the second month running, we have been able to draw on the categorisaton of Ireland’s sailors as either Olympic or non-Olympic in order to provide two “Sailors of the Month” in a way which accurately reflects the diversity of Irish sailing, and the current high level of achievement.

And our May “Sailor of the Month” also reflects the Irish diaspora.

We find that when the voting opens on who should be “Sailor of the Year”, more than half the votes cast come from Irish sailors currently based abroad. So it’s a special pleasure that the Sailor of the Month for May 2916 should be one of these ex-Pats.

Dara O’Malley of Westport in County Mayo still had to spread his sailing wings when he left Ireland straight from school around 1994 to study chemistry at Aberdeen University, and it is in Scotland that he has built his career both ashore in industry, and afloat with Port Edgar Yacht Club on the Firth of Forth on Scotland’s East Coast

However, one of his favourite events is on Scotland’s West Coast, at Tarbert on Loch Fyne, venue for the annual Silvers Marine Scottish Series. The O’Malley team, racing the Hunter 707 Seaword, have been in the frame in Tarbert in previous years. But on Monday they moved onto a new level by finishing the 2016 series with an almost flawless scoreline, a feat which won them the overall trophy and made Dara O’Malley our “Sailor of the Month” (non-Olympic) for May 2016.

Read more: Ex-Pat From Westport in Mayo Wins Scottish Series

The overall winner of the Silvers Marine Scottish Series 2016 at Tarbert on Loch Fyne has been confirmed as Dara O’Malley (40), who hailed originally from Westport in County Mayo, but has carved out an increasingly successful sailing career on Scotland’s East Coast writes W M Nixon.

Following school in Ireland, around 1994 he went to University in Aberdeen to specialise in chemicals, and has since stayed on and worked in that sector in Scotland, based in the Edinburgh area. His interest in sailing grew over the years, and he is now a leading member of the Port Edgar Yacht Club on the Firth of Forth, where he races his Hunter 707 Seaword.

The O’Malley equipe has been steadily moving up the local and national rankings in recent years, but the Scottish Series 2016 – which concluded yesterday – has seen their performance level moving onto a new plane, with a wellnigh perfect scoreline.

It continues a tradition of Irish links to the main prize in the Scottish series, as past winners have included Anthony O’Leary of Cork with Antix, while the winner in 2015 was Rob McConnell from Dunmore East with the A35 Fool’s Gold. Other successes in the 2016 series have included John Hall of the National YC with his J/109 Something Else taking a class win, while Stephen Quinn of Howth took second in class with his J/97 Lambay Rules.

Irish boats took a class win and a second in class at this year's Silvers Marine Scottish Series that ended yesterday. The National Yacht Club's John and Brian Hall won IRC Class 2 in an incredibly tight class across the whole weekend. It couldn't have ended any closer with just one point separating the top three boats. See IRC2 results below.The Hall's pulled out all the stops on J109 Something Else to net a second and third which was enough to end the day on top of the table. The Dublin Bay SC boat ended the regatta on equal points with the brilliantly sailed Sloop John T and Iain Thomson, who came into Monday topping the leader board, but who failed to capitalise on their advantage. And we have to also give mention to Christine Murray and Triple Elf who sailed a great regatta to come in third overall. Last year's champion, Fools Gold from Waterford finished eighth from 12.

In IRC Class 3 the very well sailed J/97 Lambay Rules by Stephen Quinn from Howth Yacht Club was second overall to Roddy Angus and Dan Challis who continued their domination of this class securing a first and a second in the day's two races to end the event a point and a half clear of second place. Darge Black McVey and Phoenix took a well deserved third place in the class.

Having a perfect regatta is never easy, and when, you add a regatta as prestigious as Silvers Marine Scottish Series to the mix, it's an almost impossible feat. However, Dara O'Malley and Seaword from Port Edgar Yacht Club achieved just that, taking not just their class win but also lifting the Silvers Marine Scottish Series trophy.

Sailing in the Hunter 707 class Seaword finished the weekend with a near perfect scoreline, so impressing Silvers Marine Scottish Series Event Chairman David Denholm and his committee, that they awarded them the top prize.

Other prizewinners were:

Callum Bell who takes home the Crawford McInnes Trophy for Best Under 25 Helm, sponsored by Hempel Paints.
Hempel Paints Youth Prizes went to: Callum Tait; Jake Miller; Janey Campbell and Tony Fitzgerald.
Rose Bowl awarded to the yacht which in the opinion of the Race Committee has given the best performance in the IRC handIcap classes in the Series – Aurora
The Tarbert Shield awarded to the yacht which, in the opinion of the Race Committee has given the best performance in the CYCA handicap classes in the Series – Thrust
The Anchor Hotel Trophy awarded to the yacht which, in the opinion of the Race Committee has given the best performance of all competitors in the One Design classes in the Series: Seaword
The Lemarac Tankard awarded to the yacht which, in the opinion of the Race Committee has given the best performance of all competitors in the Restricted Sail classes in the Series – Brave
The Sinbad Trophy awarded to the best family yacht, regardless of class or results, as judged by representatives of the organising committee – Chaos
The Causeway Cup awarded to the entry from Ireland which in the opinion of the Race Committee gives the best performance of the IRC classes in the Series (other than the winner of the Sail Scotland Trophy and the Silvers Marine Scottish Series Trophy, if appropriate) – Something Else
The Sail Scotland Trophy awarded to the yacht normally based outwith Scotland which in the opinion of the Race Committee gives the best performance of all yachts in the Series (other than the winner of the Silvers Marine Scottish Series Trophy, if appropriate) – USA208 VXI Ovington Boats
The Silvers Marine Scottish Series Trophy awarded to the yacht which, in the opinion of the Race Committee has given the best performance of all competitors in the Series - Seaword
IRC Class 1 Having sailed a near perfect regatta, Rod Stuart and Bill Ram's Aurora secured a first and second place today to seal victory and end the regatta five points clear of Silvers Marine Scottish Series sponsor Jamie McGarry and Colin Moore's Eala of Rhu. And, with a second and a first today Prime Suspect and Charlie Frize take third spot. This has been a hugely entertaining battle to watch and, going into the final day, there was still all to play for.

CYCA 5 There will be celebrations in Oban Sailing Club tonight as Richard Shellcock and Thrust top the table in CYCA 5. Their first and third today made sure they ended the regatta five points ahead of last year's class winner Alan Dunnet and Valhalla of Ashton. Having a great day out on the water today, taking a second and a first, saw John Corson and Salamander XXII end the regatta in third place.

CYCA Class 8 Well done to David and Karen Parker's Slippi Gin who slid into first place, winning their race today to end the weekend on top. There's been a real battle between Slippi Gin and Brian Robertson's Celtic Spirit who went into the final day leading the table. However, it wasn't their day and, with Owen Mcmanus and Jochr taking a second place, they made sure they ended up where they were last year, in second spot, with Celtic Spirit in third.

CYCA Class 9 Ken Allan and S Shearer's Brave have looked like class champions from the start of the weekend, with a perfect scoreline. They are worthy winners, with Silvers Marine Scottish Series sponsor Boyd Tunnock in Lemarac picking up second and Honey Bee and Iain Cameron in third.

Sigma 33 There were no surprises today in the Sigma 33 class with James Miller and Mayrise holding onto the top spot, ahead of Harper and Robertson's Leaky Roof 2 and Donald McLaren's Sigmatic.

National Sonata One Design Series The first and third places of Douglas Paton and Edgy, were enough to edge their way to victory in the class today. This has been a very exciting class to watch all weekend as B Wiseman and Guy Neville's Virtuoso sailed an equally consistent race. Ross MacNeish and Old School had a good result to take third place overall.

VX One In the end Brian Bennett and Ovington Boats had the upper hand, and securing two first places today go on take the class. Jono Shelley and Abracadabra ran out of magic and will have to be content with a solid second place ahead of the Lead Sled and Neal Piper in third.

Hunter 707 Class winner and Silvers Marine Scottish Series champions Dara O'Malley and Seaword just haven't put a foot wrong this weekend and, with two wins today end the series six points clear of John and Stewart Robertson's Cacciatore who were, in turn, six points clear of Neil McLure's Blue Funk.

#scottishseries – On form Waterford Harbour Yacht, 'Fools Gold' skippered by Rob McConnell, is toasting Scottish Series success in Tarbert tonight after taking overall victory in IRC class two and the overall Scottish Series title for best performance. The McConnell crew returned to Tarbert with some unfinished business on Loch Fyne having finished second in 2014. McConnell's A35 design was the overnight leader on the Clyde event but still had to complete the series and sail three more races in the 11–race regatta today. The Dunmore East crew finished on a race win this afternoon – more than enough to give victory – some nine points clear of British runner up Sloop John T. Third was former ICRA champion Pat Kelly's Storm from Howth. The National Yacht Club's J109 Something Else sailed by Brian and John Hall was fourth. Results are downloadable below. Fools Gold returns to Irish waters to compete offshore in June's Dun Laoghaire to Dingle Race. 

After four days, 11 races and some of the best sailing in Scotland, the crew certainly had the luck of the Irish taking the overall title, along with winning IRC Class 2. Race organisers awarded the coveted trophy to Fools Gold based on the best performance in the tightest class. And that's not all, the Waterford Harbour Sailing team received the Crawford McInnes Trophy sponsored by Hempel Paints for the best under 25 helm. They also take home the trophy for the best IRC class boat.

While Silvers Marine Scottish Series main sponsor Jamie McGarry may be disappointed to see the trophy go over the water to Ireland, you can be sure both he and Colin Moore will be back to fight for it again next year. Jamie, who has just announced Silvers Marine will sponsor the regatta again next year, praised the race officers Stuart Childerley, John Readman and Alan Cassels for their smooth management of the regatta. The race teams on both courses were excellent and it is testament to them that all races were sailed and none cancelled.

In IRC Class 1 it was Steven Cowie's Zephyr who came out on top. This was a hotly contested class all weekend and Jamie McGarry and Colin Moore's Eala of Rhu, who had been lying in third place overnight, had an outstanding final day. However, it was Zephyr who claimed the victory and it was wonderful to see Scotland's three Commodore's Cup team boats ending the regatta in the top three places, with Rod Stuart and William Ram's Aurora taking the final podium position.

Fools Gold on her way to overall victory in the Scottish Series and below her  crew at the prizegiving last night in Tarbert. Photos: Marc Turner

Waterford winners in Scotland: Brian O Donnell (mast) Steve McConnell (Bow man), Roy Darrer (helm), Marcella Connolly (mid bow), Rob Mc Connell (skipper / main trimmer), Graham Curran (trimmer one), Aaron Power (trimmer two), Paul Cotter (navigator) and Damian Purcell (pit man).

 

In IRC Class 2, and there was just one point in it as overall champions Fools Gold stayed ahead of Sloop John T and Storm who both finished on 28 points.

Over in IRC Class 4 and Craig Latimer who has battled all week, settled for a single point victory over Trastada with Irish hopefuls Lambay Rules coming in in third on 22 points. Craig won this class last year in his previous boat Wildebeest IV and will be delighted to have snatched victory again this year.

CYCA 5 This class was dominated by Geoff and Norman Howison in their new boat Local Hero. Consistent sailing by Enigma saw them in second and a great regatta for Ian McNair in First By Farr saw the crew clinch third.

CYCA 6 and the veteran Valhalla of Ashton who has competed in every Scottish Series tops the table again this year. She looked strong all weekend and was followed home by She of the North and Garth Wilson's Zebedee who took a very credible third.

CYCA 8 Restricted Sail. It was all change in the top two with Windhound pulling out an ace in the last day to beat Jochr with Eureka IV taking third.

CYCA 9 Restricted Sail – well done to Halcyon who had a comfortable win over Lyrebird with Poppy in third.

Sigma 33 Series has had tight racing across the regatta but on the final day Bradshaw and Gallagher did what was needed to stay ahead of Leaky Roof 2 and Donald McLaren's Sigmatic which took the third spot.

National Sonata One Design and Steve Goacher's Eric the Boat dominated this class all weekend. However Old School had a great regatta to end up a credible second with White Magic in third. Sadly, this class saw last year's winner Murray Caldwell in Red Hot Poker have to withdraw on day one of the event with a broken rig.

VX One, this class had some tight racing but Ovington Boats held their nerve to finish ahead of Robbers Dog and Zhik.

J70 Iain Aitken in boats.com dominated this class with straight firsts across the regatta. He was followed home by Jacuzzi and Django to win the Scottish Championship.

Hunter 707 More T Vicar stayed one point clear of Rammie to take the class ahead of Black Sheep in third.

Results

IRC Class 1
1. Eala of Rhu, J McGarry and C Moore; 2. Zephyr, S Cowie; 3. Aurora, R Stuart and W Ram

IRC Class 2
2. Fools Gold, R McConnell; 2. Sloop John T, I and G Thomson; 3. Storm, P Kelly

IRC Class 4
1. Wildebeest V, C Latimer; 2. Trastada, R Angus / D Challis; 3. Lambay Rules, S Quinn

CYCA Class 5
1. Local Hero G and N Howison; 2. Enigma, M and H Morrison; 3. First By Farr, I McNair

CYCA Class 6
1. Valhalla of Ashton, A Dunnet; 2. She of the North, K Halliwell; 3. Zebedee, G Wilson

CYCA Class 8 Restricted Sail
1. Windhound, D Macnab; 2. Jochr, Owen Mcmanus; 3. Eureka IV, C Frier

CYCA Class 9 Restricted Sail
1. Halcyon, S Owen; 2. Lyrebird, C Reeves; 3 Poppy, J Roberts

Sigma 33 Class
1. Busy Beaver, J Gallagher and M Bradshaw; 2. Leaky Roof 2, Harper and Robinson, 3. Sigmatic, D and A McLaren

National Sonata One Design
1. Eric the Boat, S Goacher; 2. Old School, McNeish, Galbraith, Chas; 3. White Magic, D Matthews

VX One Series
1. Ovington Boats, M Darrer; 2. Robbers Dog, J and B Shelley; 3. Zhik, D Heppelwhite

J70 Series
1. boats.com, I Aitkens; 2. Jacuzzi, P Hayes and S Hawthorn; 3. Django, C R Haworth

Hunter 707
1. More T Vicar, C Allen; 2. Rammie, M Fleming / D Smith; 3. Black Sheep, T Clark / S Parker

#scottishseries – Waterford and Dublin Bay yachts top the leaderboard of class two at Scotland's premier sailing regatta, the Silvers Marine sponsored– Scottish Series at Tarbert, as the annual event enters its final round this afternoon. Rob McConnell's A35 Fools Gold from Waterford Harbour Sailing Club leads IRC Two by a single point from the National Yacht Club's J109 Something Else, skippered by John and Brian Hall. In fourth place overall in the 14–boat fleet is former ICRA National Champion, the J109 Storm, skippered by Pat Kelly of Howth Yacht Club. Full class two results are downloadable below.

Other Irish interest from the Clyde includes Stephen Quinn's Lambay Rules lying third overall in IRC 4 where nine boats are competing.

Here's the latest available PR from the Scottish series after Day Two (Saturday): After a great second day of sailing there's still everything to play for in Silvers Marine Scottish Series. Super Saturday lived up to its name, conditions were challenging with a light southerly blowing 10 – 12 knots, but the sun shone and it was a spectacular day showing Argyll at its best.

There were plenty of thrills and spills and in IRC Class 2 Alistair Shires of Sloop John T became the first casualty of the event, after an onboard incident. Alistair swapped the waters of Loch Fyne for hospital but we're delighted to say he's fine and will be back onboard in the near future.

In IRC Class 1 Silvers Marine Scottish Series main sponsor Jamie McGarry is now leading the table having had a great day on Loch Fyne. Rod Stuart and William Ram's Aurora is just two points adrift of the top spot with Steven Cowie's Zephyr falling to third. With two races tomorrow we're looking forward to some more fierce competition on the water.

IRC 2 sees a change at the top with Sloop John T taking the top spot. The conditions suited the boat perfectly and this coupled with good tactics and handling saw them rewarded. Something Else remains in second and Kevin Aitken in Animal keep a hold of their third spot.

Moving onto the IRC Class 4 and the start of the Crewsaver course and it was Roddy Angus' Trastada who had the best day and really found their pace. They're seeing their hard work paying off following a major boat optimisation. Craig Latimer's Wildebeest V falls to second following an OCS and McVey / Darge and Black's Phoenix rises to third. The racing in this class is very tight and tomorrow's racing will be very interesting.

In CYCA Class 5 Geoff and Norman Howison's Local Hero appears to be in a class of their own. They stay well ahead of Howard Morrison in Enigma and Ian Macdonald's Significant who had an excellent day.

It's still Alan Dunnet's Valhalla of Ashton at the top of CYCA Class 6 leading Stargazer in second, while Andy Malcolm's Nemo was finding pace in third.

CYCA Class 8 Restricted Sail. The Jochr in the pack pulled a lead of two points ahead of Windhound and North Star in third. There are no discards in this class yet and Windhound could still hang in there but will have to discard a retrial.

CYCA Class 9 Restricted Sail sees Stephen Owen in Halcyon hanging on to first while John Roberts' Poppy leapfrogs Clive Reeves' Lyrebird to take third.

Sigma 33 Class and its still Harper and Robinson's Leaky Roof 2 at the top of this tightly grouped section. Gallagher and Bradshaw's Busy Beaver worked hard to take second place from James Miller's Mayrise.

In National One Design Sonata Series Steve Goacher's Eric the Boat took three firsts today to see him dominate this class. Cochrane and Galbraith's Old School, lying in second, secured three seconds while D Matthew's White Magic holds onto third.

Ovington Boats maintain their lead in the VX Class ahead of Jono and Benji Shelly's Robber's Dog, who was let off the lead, in second and Duncan Hepplewhite's Zhik who was barking up the wrong tree today in third.

The J70 Scottish Championships table stays the same with Ian Aitken in boats.com in first, Paul Heys and S Hawthorn's Jacuzzi in second and Christopher Hawforth's Django in third. These boats enjoyed a great day's sailing and Loch Fyne certainly suited them.

It's tight at the top of the Hunter 707 Class with just three points separating the first three boats. M Fleming and D Smith's Rammie leads with Carl Allen's More T Vicar with T Clark and S Parker's Black Sheep in third.

#scottishseries – After a number of big drops in attendance at Scotland's premier sailing event, the Clyde Cruising Club (CCC) is surveying sailors to improve the set up for the 2015 Scottish Series to be sailed at Tarbert, Loch Fyne from May 25th. In a questionnaire released by the CCC the club says: 

'At the Clyde Cruising Club we are very proud of our headline annual event Scottish Series. We are however very aware that times keep changing as do the desires and requirements of our "customers" especially given greater demands on peoples time.

We would like to gather as much feedback on our event as possible therefore we have created a small survey and ask that as many Scottish Series participants past and present (or potential participants) complete it. We have deliberately not prepared a tick box questionnaire so as to not have leading questions. So that it will not take long to complete and as we also only have limited time in which to read them all we would ask that you keep responses short and succinct....

All the questions refer to a specific part of the regatta; venue, social, racing etc.

Please give feedback on what could be done to improve each aspect, why it would improve it and what do you not like about the current set up. We will try and take it all on board and do what we can to take the best of the suggestions to improve the experience for all competitors on aspects that are within our control i.e. please dont ask us for more sunshine!!! Please feel free to forward the survey to other interested parties.

We look forward to seeing you all on 22nd May 2015. -- Scottish Series Organising Team

Survey here

#scottishseries – Day one of the Silvers Marine Scottish Series got off to a slightly later start than billed due to light winds. IRC Class 1 left Gourock at 10.30am and, from the start, Steve Cowie's Zephyr and Jonathan Anderson and Murray Caldwell's Roxstar made the running.

Conditions seemed to favour the boats which chose to start from the Gourock shore and the other boats which had elected to start from offshore found they had to come back in, which cost them considerable time.

But it wasn't all plain sailing at the front as Roxstar led Zephyr round the wrong marker, on the wrong course which meant both boats had to go back and get on the right course. Today was a real hard, tactical day for the IRC Class 1 boats and this, combined with the navigational issues meant that Friday's racing was much closer than anticipated.
However, the day concluded with a win to Zephyr with Jamie McGarry and Colin Moore, of Silvers Marine, in Eala of Rhu claiming a well-deserved second and Jim Dick in Fortuna clinching third.

In IRC Class 2 Kevin Aitken in Animal goes into tomorrow ahead after winning their class by 7 minutes, making yachts such as Neill Sandford's Now or Never 3 and John Corson's Salamander XXI playing catch up.
As well as the Clyde Passenger Challenge Race the MalinWaters fleet which includes the one design Sigma 33's, Sonta's and sport boats had four very successful races on upper Loch Fyne. In the Sigma's it's very tight at the front with Donald McLaren in Sigmatic followed by Harold Hood in Odyssey II and Roy Summers in Rajah.

In the Sonata's Murray Caldwell in Red Hot Poker goes into tomorrow with a comfortable ten point lead over Mark Taylor in Saraband and Mark Bradshaw in Mostly Harmless.
Today has seen some very tight racing but there's one certainty – it's great to see Scottish Series underway on Loch Fyne!