Sunshine and warmer conditions transformed the Jura Scottish Series on Sunday as crews enjoyed one of the regatta’s most memorable days on Loch Fyne. The six handicap fleets contested the traditional Round Inch coastal race, while the one-design classes completed four windward-leeward races in a steady afternoon breeze.
Inch Insight — Light south-westerlies of six to 12 knots and flat patches tested crews on the 22-nautical mile Inch Race course from off Skates Island, with Inch Island forming the key turning point between waypoints four and five
Many sailors wore yellow in support of Beatson Cancer Charity as Tarbert basked in sunshine after mixed weather earlier in the regatta.
The standout performance in the handicap fleet came from Rory Chalmers and his young crew aboard the Mustang 30 Sleipnir. The CYCA 2 leaders secured their third straight win and lifted the Round Inch Trophy.
Chalmers said the crew benefited from reading the shifting breeze correctly during a long calm spell on the course. “We kept our eyes out of the boat and looking ahead,” he said. “We thought we saw boats on the left, more powered up and headed that way. It worked.”
The Courtown J24 crew celebrate IRC 1 victory in the Inch Race: Martin Mahon, Brian Allen, Frances Corkery, Joanne Hall and sponsor Graham Galbraith in yellow T shirt
In IRC Class 1, Martin Mahon’s J/24 Snoopy’s J claimed race honours for Courtdown SC, while Brian Hall’s Something Else retained the overall lead by two points. The Thomsons’ Swan 40 Sloop John T continues to lead IRC Coastal, while John Conlon’s Humdinger heads CYCA 1.
Close Contest — Brian Hall’s J/109 Something Else racing on Loch Fyne as the IRC Class 1 battle tightened at the Jura Scottish Series in Tarbert. Photo: Jonathan Black
The Etchells fleet saw Allan Manuel’s Bounce Back rebound strongly after Saturday’s challenge from Living on the Etch. Manuel’s crew secured four race wins to extend their overall lead to 13 points.
“It was a spectacular day, just champagne sailing,” Manuel said. “It was quite shifty, and you really needed to keep looking up the race track.”
In the Sigma 33 class, James Millar’s Mayrise strengthened its position with three race wins from four starts. “The boat really is in the groove this year,” Millar said.
The Hunter 707 class produced shared victories across the day’s races. Ruth Neville’s PO continues to lead overall ahead of Dara O’Malley’s SeaWORD going into the final day. Racing concludes on Monday in Tarbert.
