Dublin Bay yachts lead IRC 1 and Coastal divisions after the opening day of the 2025 Jura Scottish Series on Loch Fyne on Friday, May 23rd. 

Race organisers made the best of the beneficial wind and weather conditions on Loch Fyne to get the annual regatta under way on cue for all classes.

Although the warm early sun slowly gave way to cloud and spots of rain, the southerly breezes stayed in – blowing from 8 to 13kts - to deliver a great set of opening races and the 84 crews returned to picturesque Tarbert Harbour wearing big smiles.

As Afloat previewed, In IRC Class 1, the well-sailed Dublin Bay J/109 of Brian Hall, Something Else, leads thanks to a first and a third in the 10-boat class. Hall and his crew have been longtime devotees of the Scottish Series.

“It was marvellous today, plenty of breeze and great racing and we got good results which is gratifying. We have been coming over to Scottish Series for at least 25 or 30 years. I think in that time we have won our class three times. We have had this boat for 15 years and last year we took the class two years ago. We have good crew work, that made the difference today again, and we just keep the boat going fast, heads out watching to see what the breeze is going to do next.” Owner Hall of the National Yacht Club reports, “But we love it here, we love the village, we love the people here and most of all we love the ‘craic.”

Jonny Treanor’s J/122 ValenTina from the National Yacht Club leads the Scottish Series Coastal Division Photo: Patrick Condy

The IRC Coastal racers sailed a longer round-the-buoys course out to the south of Loch Fyne where the rugged peaks of the Isle of Arran proved a stunning backdrop. Ireland’s Jonny Treanor’s successful National Yacht Club J/122 ValenTina, a past Cork Week and Dublin Bay champion, won a big boat division which really enjoyed the chance to stretch their legs in the perfect conditions. They won by nearly eight minutes on corrected time ahead of Clyde ace Jonathan Anderson’s Xaviera which has Murray Findlay driving.

The hotly contested 18 boat Hunter 707 one design class is probably the division with the greatest depth of ability and experience. The small, equally matched nimble sports keelboat can be run on a modest budget and so very much appeals to many top former – and current – dinghy racers. After three races today it may seem like business as usual as last year’s winners, Eddie Batchelor’s Tsunami 2 which has established an early lead of one point over Kenny Watson’s Monarch, but the Tsunami team have had some extra hurdles to deal with to get here. And after winning comfortably with a string of wins last time, clearly it is not going to be a walk in the park over the coming days.

Hunter 707s go downwind on the opening day of the 2025 Scottish Series Photo: Patrick Condy

According to the team, their original 2024 winning boat is trapped in a storage shed which was damaged last winter. That required them to source a replacement for the season from Leeds which after their first regatta of the season was subsequently sold by the owner…..meaning another trip to Yorkshire to borrow a second substitute boat – grateful thanks to extended to More T Vicar.

And so the Tsunami 2 here is a borrowed hull with the winning rig and sails from last year, a combination which today seemed quick enough, to the visible relief of the crew which includes key members of the Scottish loft Saturn Sails.

“We made a very solid start, winning the first race, second race we got boxed in off the start line and were bounced about a bit and pulled back, it being quite reassuring to be able to get back from sixth to a second place. I think we kept finding the right pressure at the right time which was key.” Explains trimmer Jaz Lamb.

“It is great racing in this class, on the third race there were just a few metres separating first and third.” Adds tactician, sailmaker Nick Kirk. “We had a wee sail yesterday to make sure everything fitted and was OK, and so it’s a relief that it all seems quick.”

Elements of the team actually came together first on the Diva 39 Tsunami in the late 1980s and early 1990s augmented here by Saturn Sails’ young Sam Sloss steering this week .

So far last year’s Hunter 707 winners might not be dominating like they did last season but in the Etchells class it does seem like Allan Manuel and the Bounce Back crew are picking up where they left off same time, same place 12 months ago. They won two from three today to jump out to a three point lead over Peter Judd’s Lock ‘n’ Load.

Adam Ovington’s half-tonner Head Hunter leads IRC Class 2 of the 2025 Scottish Series Photo: Patrick Condy

IRC Class 2 sees Adam Ovington’s half tonner Head Hunter top the standings after Day 1, thanks to a 1,3,2. Stephen Black’s quarter-tonner won the second race and lies second overall.

Alan Dunnet and family team on the evergreen S&S Swan 36, Valhalla of Ashton - one of the absolute hardy annuals at each Scottish Series – lead the CYCA Class 1 with two race wins from two starts. Even under CYCA, handicapping races are often decided by seconds rather than minutes. That is the case in CYCA 2 where Finn Aitken’s 2023 overall Scottish Series champions on the Impala 28 Arcade won the first contest by three seconds – an eyeblink – before winning the second contest by 54 seconds and sailing to second in their third race.

Neil McDonald’s Grand Soleil 39 Calisa is in first place overall in the CYCA Restricted Sail class, while some of the best, closest sports in the corrected time classes were between the two-handed teams in CYCA, where Neil Rosie’s Madog remains unbeaten with three race wins.