Northern Ireland boats stamped their mark on the racing in West Highland Yachting Week in Scotland with excellent results, the best of which were Michael Petticrew's Nicholson 43 Magdaleyne from Strangford Lough YC, who took first overall in Class 3 and the Belfast Lough-based White Pearl (D Mitchell), an Elan Impression 434 from Carrickfergus SC on Belfast Lough. And Magdaleyne had the honour of lifting the Peter Cocks Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the yacht which, in the opinion of the Race Committee, has given the best overall performance throughout the Points Series.
Around 110 boats descended on the waters between Craobh near the western end of the Crinan Canal and raced in the area north of there, taking in Oban and Tobermory, with the option of entering all or some of the outings. Such is the atmosphere surrounding the popular event that others cruised to that stretch to be part of the fun.
Going to Red, Peter Holden's J109 from East Down YC Photo: Tommy Brown
Magdaleyne fired the warning signal when she was runner-up in the Gigha to Craobh Feeder race (which doesn’t count in the final placings) and went on in the Series 2023 results to post four firsts and three seconds in the other races. White Pearl also topped Class 2 with a first in the Oban to Tobermory passage race and a second in the Tobermory race, and in runner up slot in that class was Stevie Andrews’ Hanse 371 Dark and Scary (SLYC), counting a win in the Tobermory Race.
Stevie Andrews’ Hanse 371 Dark and Scary (SLYC), counted a win in the Tobermory Race Photo: Andrew Steenson
Other Strangford Lough YC competitors fared well also. Adelante, with the interestingly named Dark and Stormy Syndicate owners of the Elan 37, placed fourth overall in Class 1 with a first in the Oban to Tobermory race.
In Class 7, the Westerly Fulmar Artemis from East Antrim BC (G and H Kane) was 9th overall with a fourth in the Oban to Tobermory race, and in Class 9 from the same club, Gavin Doig’s Hydro 28 Hydrology, 11th.
