2025 Series 2 Race 4

Tuesday Evening Dinghy Racing

The Tuesday evening dinghy race was sailed in very light and unsettled winds, with both strength and direction proving unpredictable throughout the evening. Conditions made it easy for competitors to become stuck in calm patches, adding to the challenge.

Three boats took part in the race, spanning a wide range of handicaps. As a result, race officer Bill Aitchison once again opted to use average lap times to determine the final results.

First to finish after one lap was Barnaby Munns in his Pico. The Albacore, sailed by Iain Hurrel and Cat Craig, was finished after two laps, while Chris and Marion Bowen in their Flying Fifteen were sent round for a third lap.

After handicap adjustments using average lap times, the final results were:

1^st         More Mischieff – Flying Fifteen – Chris and Marion Bowen

2^nd         Bill is God – Albacore – Iain Hurrel and Cat Craig

3^rd         Pico – Barnaby Munns

Wednesday Evening Racing

In stark contrast to Tuesday evening, Wednesday brought a brisk north westerly wind that kept the crews on their toes. Race officer Bill Aitchison opted for a long course using the entire length of the Holy Loch, from near the marina, then almost down to Strone Pier on the first lap and down to Hunters Quay on subsequent laps.

Flying Fifteens

Four Flying Fifteens took to the water on Wednesday evening for what was the best turnout of the season so far. The fleet enjoyed a lively race in a fresh breeze that made for excellent sailing conditions.

Chris and Marion Bowen, sailing More Mischieff, seized the lead early on, steadily extending their advantage throughout the race.

Behind them, the remaining three boats were locked in a tight and exciting battle for the remaining podium places. Ultimately, Femme Fatale, helmed by Alasdair McVicar with Alasdair Clements as crew, clinched second place after a hard-fought race.

Close on their heels were Jim MacLean and 'Mr Ian' in Woffle, who finished third, followed by Tommy McGeachie and Leslie Clements in Efficacious, rounding out a competitive and enjoyable evening on the water.

1^st         More Mischieff – Chris Bowen

2^nd         Femme Fatale – Alasdair McVicar

3^rd         Woffle – JimMaclean

4^th         Efficacious – Tommy McGeachie

Pipers

 In marked contrast to the calm, fluky airs of the previous race, conditions could not have been better for the five contestants in the Piper Class with fresh and reasonably steady westerly winds throughout the race. From the start the competition between all the boats was intense and thereafter the lead changed on practically every leg of a well chosen course between the leading three, Billie, Tom Piper, and Robert Towart’s Staypuff which was excelling herself in her favoured breezy conditions. 

    However, as has been customary during this season, the tight competition between the other two shone through on the final leg with , on this occasion, Fergus Campbell, Stuart Brown and Ali Gordon in Tom Piper holding off the persistent challenge of Iain Hurrel’s Billie, to further enhance their lead in the Series. In what has been some excellent racing this season, this must certainly have been the best so far and a perfect forerunner for the upcoming Clyde One Design Championship at Gourock where both boats will be well fancied to take the honours.

1^st         Tom Piper – Fergus Campbell

2^nd         Billie Piper – Iain Hurrell

3^rd         Tamarind – Andy Love

4^th         Stay Puff – Robert Towart

White Sail

Jim Hoey's Judicious made it to the first mark in front, followed by Nigel Scriven who was sailing single handed in Moonlight, then Duncan Chalmers' Atia. On the long run to Stone Judicious stretched their lead and Atia under full sail overtook Moonlight, who was reefed to cope with the conditions. This order remained for the shorter second lap, and this was the result after the handicap was applied.

1^st         Judicious – J30 – Jim Hoey

2^nd         Moonlight – Sonata – Nigel Scriven

3^rd         Atia – UFO 27 – Duncan Chalmers

Dinghies

Only one dinghy competed. However, Neil Wilson sailing his Contender had a close race on the water with Chris and Marion Bowen in their Flying Fifteen. At the end of the race Neil was about 90 seconds ahead. It could have been more had he not sailed to the wrong mark on the second lap!

1^st         Pained Warrior –  Contender – Neil Wilson

Titan Spirits One Design Regatta

Congratulations go to the seven yachts and their crews who ventured over to Gourock last weekend in the very fresh conditions to compete in the Titan SpiritsClyde One Design Regatta which was also supported by Marineblast, a Sandbank based marine and industrial cleaning business.

Four Flying Fifteens and three Pipers from the Holy Loch joined a healthy fleet in this mid- season get together to celebrate one design racing on the Clyde and special mention is richly deserved by the winners of both these classes as they represented the Holy Loch Sailing Club. Chris and Marion Bowen won both races in their Flying Fifteen to dominate their class in More Mischieff while commiseration goes to the crew of one of their opposition whose boat swamped in the squally conditions and disturbed seas off Gourock pier. The support boats of Royal Gourock Yacht Club and Holy Loch sailing Club quickly came to their aid and managed to beach the boat before it sank and rescue its hapless victims.

Meanwhile, as predicted in the previous race report, local yachts Billie and Tom Piper were taking the Clyde Piper Class fleet by the scruff of the neck and enjoyed their usual close rivalry in an unfamiliar venue with Iain Hurrel, Fin Hurrel and Lorn Campbell enjoying their favoured strong wind conditions to take the honours on this occasion.

  All the crews repaired ashore after the racing to thaw out and enjoy the social atmosphere and warmth of the Clubhouse, and, no doubt, take part in some enthusiastic post-mortems concerning the racing. Thanks are due to all the organisers and their assistants for a well organised event.

A special mention also goes to Holy Loch Sailing Club member Harris Munns who was a crew member in the winning Etchells 22.

Pipers –

1^st         Billie Piper – Iain Hurrel, Fin Hurrel and Lorn Campbell

2^nd         Tom Piper – Fergie Campbell, Stuart Brown and Ali Gordon

Flying Fifteens –

1^st         More Mischieff – Chris and Marion Bowen

2^nd         Trigger – Ali Marshall and Rebecca Marshall