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Northern Ireland Boats Among Scottish Series Early Bird Entries

3rd March 2024
Martin and Victoria Dews' Sigma 33 Elandra from Belfast Lough
Martin and Victoria Dews' Sigma 33 Elandra from Belfast Lough

Four of the first 46 entries for the 2024 Scottish Series this season are from Northern Ireland. They received a 15% discount on their entries, which has now been extended to the end of March at 10%.

The event will be held by the Clyde Cruising Club from May 24th to 27th out of Tarbert in Loch Fyne on the west coast of Scotland.

Richard Doig's Hydro 28, Hydrology, will represent East Antrim Boat Club at the 2024 Scottish SeriesRichard Doig's Hydro 28, Hydrology, will represent East Antrim Boat Club at the 2024 Scottish Series

Bruce Douglas from Carrickfergus Sailing Club on Belfast Lough was the first to enter, and he will take his J133 Spirit of Jacana, to Tarbert. From the opposite shore on the Lough, Paul Prentice's Sigma 33, Squawk, from Ballyholme and Royal Ulster Yacht Clubs will compete. Richard Doig's Hydro 28, Hydrology, will represent East Antrim Boat Club on Larne Lough, and Marc Ritson's Dehler 41CR Quaich will represent Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club on the Antrim Coast.

Although there is currently only one Sigma 33 on the entry list from Northern Ireland, it is rumoured that Martin and Victoria Dews' Elandra from Belfast Lough will also compete, and Mark Mackey (Mithril) from Quoile has yet to make up his mind.

The entries are here

Betty Armstrong

About The Author

Betty Armstrong

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Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down

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Scottish Series Background

Although the format of the Scottish Series varies little from year to year, it is interesting to see some of the changes which the event has seen over the years:

  • CYCA handicap class added to IOR (1976)
  • IOR level rating classes to reflect the popular sizes and World Championships being held in the UK
  • Separate one design class for Sonatas (1980 to date)
  • Campbeltown dropped with offshore races direct to Tarbert (1982)
  • Unique light displacement CYCA class - the forerunner of today's sportboats (1982)
  • Computer results system introduced in 1982 and now recognised as the best in the UK
  • Separate one design class for Sigma 33 (1987 to date)
  • Separate one design classes in certain years for Impalas, Sigma 38, Melges 24 and Cork 1720
  • Inner triangle to shorten courses for smaller classes (1986)
  • Points loading for offshore race reduced from 2 to 1.5 to 1
  • First racing in Scotland under Channel Handicap (1988)
  • Second racecourse for smaller classes (1989)
  • Discard introduced
  • Windward leeward races - two per day (1993)
  • Sportboat classes with no overnight races (1994)
  • Marquee on quayside for main social events (1995-2008)
  • Restricted Sail Class (1998)
  • Third racecourse for sportboats with up to three races per day (1998)
  • Day feeder races (2002)
  • Overnight and day feeder races discontinued (2005)
  • Stand-alone Tarbert Inbound and Outbound passage races introduced (2005/6)

With all these changes, some things have stayed the same:

  • Huge support from Ireland every year since 1975
  • A magnificent effort ashore and afloat from the volunteer helpers of the Clyde Cruising Club, Royal Scottish Motor Yacht Club and Tarbert Loch Fyne Yacht Club
  • Results and communications service at the forefront of technology
  • The best competition and the best social scene in the country
  • An overall Series winner, the roll call including many of the top sailors in Scotland and beyond.

Scottish Series 2022

Following the cancellation of the 2020 event, the dates for the 2021 edition of Scotland's biggest sailing event at Tarbert is: 3 –5 June 2022

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