Regatta day in Westray on Saturday, July 14, dawned grey and dismal, thick fog enveloping the entire island, and anxious club officials deliberated in sombre mood how to run the event, with visibility down to 50 yards.

The 'Orcadia' suddenly apppeared out of the fog bringing 15 boats and many spectators, and it appeared at that time that their trip to Westray must surely be in vain. However, the boats were offloaded and the crews taken to the school for a meal.

This over, all emerged from the school with stomachs replete but spirits low to find that, whichever saint it is who watches over regattas had only been teasing.

The fog had cleared, the sun was shining and a fresh south-easterly wind gave promise of exciting sailing. Although the wind decreased during the afternoon, sailing conditions were very good and to enforce his point 'that certain saint' caused the fog to clamp down again just as the last races ended.

From the spectators' point of view perhaps the regatta had less than usual by way of thrills. Only one capsize, that of the catamaran 'Gemini' and only one retiral: the 'Puffin' had to retire at the start of the skiff race with a broken gooseneck.

Following more refreshments, laid on by the Club's faithful females in John Drever's Bakery, the prizes were graciously presented by Mrs. T. A. Drever who was in turn presented with a bouquet of roses, with charm and grace, by Miss Elizabeth Hume.

Westray Regatta day ended with a lively dance in the Community Centre with music by the 'Scratchers' (thanks to J. P. Drever and his boys). During the dance the raffles were drawn: winning ticket holders were: half-bottle whisky - S. Burgher, Westray; half-bottle vodca - W F Brown Westray; box of chocolates - J. Burgher, Westray.

It was indeed gratifying to have so many boats from outwith the island competing and the club are very appreciative of this continuing support. Thanks are due also for the help given by the Kirkwall officials who helped with the mundane matters on the end of the pier; to Eric Brown and John Rendall, Balaclava, for donating cups; to John Drever for the use of his bakery, and to the many others who helped in many ways to make the occasion a success.

Results were as follows:

Skiffs

Skiffs Class II

Skiffs Allcomers

Merlin Rocket

Snipe

Enterprise

Catamarans

Mixed Centreboards

Mirrors Race 1

Mirrors Race 2

Allcomers Centreboards

29 Boats compete in Stromness Regatta

The annual regatta of Stromness Sailing Club took place on Sunday last in Stromness Harbour, past the red can buoy at the entrance to the harbour, thence on to the Bu buoy, off Orphir, and up along the Clestrain shore to a mark buoy and back to the starting line.

The wind was south easterly which gavce the boats a reach to the red can buoy, another reach to the Bu buoy, a beat to the Clestrain buoy, a broad reach to the Red Can buoy followed by a reach to the starting line.

Sailed under ideal weather conditions the regatta attracted many spectators during the day and at the presentation of prizes.

Twenty-nine boats took part in the six different races throughout he day, which were oficiated on the pier head by three members of Orkney Sailing Club, assisted by the commodore, Capt. A. Porteus. The arrangements for the regatta were carried out by Capt. R. Sutherland, who also took part in the regatta, skippering Esmeralda.

Inside Ballast Boats

The first race was for inside ballast boats and included skiffs, dinghies, RNSA dinghies and the yachts Esmerelda, 15 boats in all; which had to complete one round of the course. The Esmerelda proved an easy winner by 4 minutes 57 seconds, but as there was no proper class for her the cup went to Emma, 2 to Valkyrie and 3 to Pansy.

Merlin Rockets

There were only two entries in the Rocket Class, which had to complete two rounds of the course.

Snipe

The next race was for Snipes in which there were five entries, all from Holm Sailing Club, these boats also having to complete two rounds. Firewood won the cup, finishing 2 minutes 3 seconds ahead of Valhalla.

Other Boats

There were six entries in this class, Mizpah (D. Grieve), Merry Dancer (J. Leslie), Marion Olwen (J. Shearer), Thevenik (K. Meason), Bosun (Sea Cadets) and Firona (R. Celli). This race was sailed under the Portsmouth Yardstick Handicap system:

On the conclusion of the Other Boats Race the crews and officials retired to Brown's Restaurant where an appetising meal was provided by the Stromness Sailing Club, after which the remaining races - a centreboard and an Allcomers race - were sailed off to complete the day's programme.

Centreboards and Allcomers

Twenty-nine boats took part in these two races, the Centreboards taking off first, followed 5 minutes later by the skiffs and other boats. These races were confined to one round of the course. The centreboards sailing under the Portsmouth Yardstick Handicap system, whilst the skiffs and yother boats sailed at scratch. The outstanding performance in the centreboard race was set up by Rock 'n' Roll, skippered by E. Brown, finishing 2 minutes 44 seconds ahead of Mizpah. In the skiffs class the most outstanding performance was put up by the RNSA boat skippered by R. Sutherland, Jr, a Sea Cadet, who finished in 3 place.

Allcomers Ballast Boats

Cup and Blue Ribbon for the first local boat home was won by Esmerelda (J. Skinner):

RNSA Class Race 1

RNSA Class Race 2

On conclusion of the Centreboard and Allcomers races the prizes were presented at the pier head. Commodore A. Porteus on behalf of the Stromness Club, in a few brief remarks, expressed the club's thanks to all the competitors who had taken part in the races that day, and to all who had in any way contributed to a very successful regatta day, which had been blessed with ideal weather conditions

He then called on Mrs. Merriman to hand out the cups, shields and medals won by the successful competitors in the day's races, which she did in a very pleasing amnner, for which she recieved a very hearty vote of thanks on the call of the commodore, which concluded a very successful and enjoyable day's sailing.

Kirkwall had good regatta-despite weather

The annual regatta of the Orkney Sailing Club took place in Kirkwall Bay on Saturday afternoon. Early in the morning weather conditions were far from promising, and the races, which should have started at 10 am were held up owing to rain and a very strong north-westerly wind and a nasty choppy sea.

The crews and officials took shelter in the Girnel and at other places around the harbour during the forenoon, anxiously awaiting the weather to take a turn for the better, which was according to the 7am forecast, to take place around 11 am.

Eventually it was decidded to have dinner around 12 o'clock, with the hope that conditions would improve later.

The ladies committee, consisting of the wives of members of the Sailing Club, who had put in a lot of hard workon the previous evening setting the tables etc. soon had everything in readiness and served a first-class meal which consisted of soup, mince and potatoes and green peas, followed by tea, biscuits and cheese, which was very welcome, and done ample justice to by the crews, officials and the rescue boat crews.

By the time the needs of the 'inner man' had been amply provided for, weather conditions appeared to be gradually improving, and by 2 pm it was eventually decided to shorten the course by shifting the navigation buoy further out from the point of Crowness and using it as a mark buoy instead of the usual Crowness mark, with the boats going around Weyland Buoy, thence to the navigation buoy and back to the starting line, the boats completing the course twice.

The programme of the races, which hadbeen already made out for the regatta had to be completely ignored, and the different classes sent off at intervals according to the boats which were most convenient and first ready at that time. This gave the officials on the pier head many anxious moments in deciding what race to put on next, with a view to getting the races finished as quickly as possible, owing to the late start, and getting the skippers of the classes informed.

Skiffs

The first race was for skiffs, in which four boats took part- Emu (J. Scott), Karen (J. Drever), Puffin (J. Mowat), all from Westray Club, and Tyste (D. Cursiter) from Stromness. The course set gave the boats a run to the Weyland mark, a beat to the navigation buoy and a reach to the starting buoy, the boats having to complete the course twice. Times, actual and corrected were as follows:

Merlin Rockets

The next race was for Rockets in which four local boats took part, completing the same course as the skiffs (twice round):

Snipes

Other Boats

Six boats took part in this race, which was sailed under the Portsmouth Yardstick Handicap.

Catamarans

Four catamarans started the race.

Refreshments

On the conclusion of the above races the crews and officials all retired to the Girnel, where the ladies had tea ready, with a buffet service- sandwiches, biscuits, and cheese, tomatoes etc. (help yourslef) which was very much appreciated by all, after which they returned to the harbour to complete the races for the dayt, the last boat finishing about 8pm, which included three centreboard races - one non-handicap, another (Rendall Cup) handicap and the Allcomers, handicap; skiffs and RNSA boats(who started together but competed in their own classes) followed by Catamarans (Eunson Cup)

The first of these events was for the non-handicap race, in which 16 boats took part, results being:

Skiffs and RNSA Classes

The next races on the programme were the skiffs and RNSA class boats, which both started together, each competing in his own class, with the following results:

Skiffs

RNSA

Four boats were forward for this race, which were skippered and crewed by Sea Cadets, results as follows:

Catamarans: Eunson Cup

Three Cats were forward for this race, Gemini (R. Scott) being unable to compete owing to a broken mast. Thesee boats went around the actual points course- Greenfield, Crowness and back to the starting line- completing the course twice.

Centreboard Dinghies

Rendall Cup - Handicap

There were 16 boats forward for this event, which included a race for the Enterprise boats, who were out for the first time that day. As well as competing for the Enterprise cup they could also win the Rendall Cup if they could finish first on handicap. The results of the first three boats (on handicap) were as follows:

Allcomers

Fourteen boats took part in the last race of the day, which included all the centreboards, the skiffs and the RNSA class boats sailing on their own, each competing in his own class in an earlier race.

The following points races, which took place every Tuesday and Friday evening throughout the season, were won as follows:

Merlin Rockets

Allcomers

Presentation of Prizes

On the completion of the races the prizes were presented in the Girnel at about 9 pm. The Commodore, Mr. W. Schollay, in a few brief remarks at the start, returned thanks to everyone who had contributed in any way to the success of the regatta, with a very special word of praise for the ladies who had so ably looked after the catering during the day, after which he called on Mrs. I. Eunson, wife of one of the members who has taken part in all the points races throughout the season, to hand over the cups, shields and medals won during the day, as well as the points trophies in the Allcomers and Rocket classes which were held every Tuesday and Friday evening throughout the season, which she did in a very pleasing manner, and for which she received a very hearty vote of thanks on the call of the Commodore.

Mr. J. Mowat and Mr. J. Flett spoke on behalf of the Westray Club, thanking the Kirkwall Club for the hospitality extended to all the visitors, throughout the day, with a special word of praise for the officials who had carried out the races at the pierhead under such difficult conditions, under the able leadership of the Commodore, who had a very arduous day at times complying with the races, and must be highly congratulated on the excellentmanner in which he supervised the event which enabled the competitors in the eleven different class races to complete the programme with only one exception, the race for the Schollay Cup (Catamarans).

Dance

On the completion of the prizegiving a very lively dance was held in the Albert Hotel, which concluded the day's proceedings and which was very well patronised.

The attempt to revive the Sanday Sailin Club's annual regatta, after a gap of five years, coincided with the calmest day of the year, Thursday 2 August.

After a two hour postponement, the four local boats which turned out, and one visiting Mirror dinghy, set off with still no sign of wind. The lighter Mirror dinghies were just able to ghost along, but two of the yawls were forced to retire. The crew of Gem, however, stubbornly refused to give in, and gamely finished the course.

Despite the slow conditions, there was a large crowd of interested spectators around the pier, and it is hoped thgat some of this interest will result in more boats taking part in the next regatta.

The regatta dance followed later in the vening in the community centre.

Yawls

Mirrors