Competitors at the Jura Scottish Series may not be assured of continued sunshine, the like of which has blessed the north of Britain for the last few weeks, but they should be blessed with breezes which seem set to build progressively, day by day, between the 8-10kts predicted for the first races Friday (May 23rd) through to Monday’s finale which is presently forecast to see brisk winds of 20 knots….. or more!

Eighty five crews are set to race out of Tarbert, competing on Loch Fyne during the coming four days, racing across three different divisions, IRC, CYCA and One Designs. The renowned competition which has run annually since the early 1970s will this year form the Scottish IRC Championships and is also part of the Irish Sea Nations Cup series.

Runners and riders

Last year’s winners of the overall Jura Scottish Series Trophy emerged as the top performers in the One Design Etchells class and the triumphant Allan Manuel and his crew on Bounce Back are probably clear favourites to win the keelboat class again. The Etchells have eight boats competing with experience and talent all the way through the closely contested fleet.

The Hunter 707 One Designs have again mustered a very strong fleet with 18 boats due to start, twice as many as 2024. Last year’s class winners, Eddie Batchelor’s crew on Tsunami 2, dominated the fleet with eight wins and two second places holding off the Sea Word team of Andy Marshall – 2016 overall winners - by ten clear points. With the depth of talent in this fleet – almost all of which has travelled from the east coast – a string of race wins would be hard to overlook in the quest for the main overall trophy. Needless to say Tsunami 2 and Sea Word are widely topped again.

The evergreen Sigma 33s have seven boats entered, two making the pilgrimage from Northern Ireland. In much the same manner that Bounce Back took a conclusive victory in the Etchells, Tsunami 2 won the Hunter 707s, the Sigma 33 class was won in 2024 by James Miller’s Mayrise. With most of the same boats as last year back again it is hard to see their supremacy overturned this time.

In the IRC fleets, the class of bigger boats is mainly populated by J/109s – of which there are five – a well sailed Corby 33 also stands out. Given that the winds are due to build for Sunday and Monday, experience and boat handling will surely be decisive. Ben Shelley’s Mocking J scored the RC35 class win last year but only on countback with John Stamp’s Jacob VII which is not racing this year. Mocking J laid down a marker by winning Kip Regatta earlier this month and should be able to win again. Craig and Stephen Corson’s Salamander XXII were going well at Kip by all accounts, whilst Charlie Frize’s Corby 33 Banshee should do well on the opening days but might not be as strong against the J/109s when the breeze is up.

The smaller IRC boats reflect a similar mix, J/92s and Beneteau 31.7s, a half tonner and various other competitive designs. In the lighter conditions and flat water the Ovington/Batchelor half-tonner Head Hunter might prosper but, again, the best of the powerful J/92s might prevail in breeze on conditions.

In the IRC Coastal fleet there are six boats, all with solid pedigrees at the event. Among them is Jonathan Anderson on the X4.3 Xaviera. Anderson remains the only skipper to have won the Scottish Series Trophy three times, in 1979, 1986 and 1992.

Thirteen boats will race in the CYC/YTC division including two classic International 8 Metres, Richard Urquhart’s 1984 Pelle Petersen designed Spirit which originated in Sweden and the 1930 William Fife Clyde built Fulmar of Michael Fleming. This fleet sees a real mix of boats, including the 2023 overall winners Jack and Finn Aitken and crew on the Impala 28

In the CYCA Restricted Sail Class Stevie Andrews, the 2024 champion from Strangford Loch, NI, is back with his Hanse 371 Dark and Scary and might be considered a good bet to retain the title.