Last update 29 October 2022

Regatta 1990

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Holm Regatta 1990

A strong southerly breeze complemented by bright sunshine was the recipe for Holm's Annual Regatta held in St. Mary's Bay on Saturday July 14; a total of 23 boats taking part - 11 snipes, six yachts, three catamarans, two 505s and one Enterprise.

Two class races were sailed before crews had a much appreciated dinner in the community centre. This was followed by the Allcomers races and prizes were presented immediately after the racing was finished. The Commodore thanked the ladies for attending to the dinner, the rescue boats, the officials on the pier, the visiting yachtsmen and indeed all who helped the club in any way. An enjoyable supper dance was held later in the Commodore Motel.

Snipe:

Merlin Rockets:

Yachts:

Cats:

Other Boats:

Allcomers:

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Longhope Regatta 1990

Longhope Regatta was held on Saturday June 30. A strong cold east wind, haze and drizzle characterised the day, unfortunately.

The regatta nevertheless attracted a field of 14 assorted sailing boats, four rowing boats and the usual collection of wonderful floating objects for the raft race.

Morning Races

Snipe:

Yachts:

Cats:

Mixed Centreboards:

First over the line in the rowing race was lone canoeist Louise Budge who was awarded the Ladies Rowing Cup. The gold medal went to oarsman Charlie Bateman and silver to Keith Dempsey.

Afternoon Races

Yachts:

Cats:

Allcomers:

The raft race was marred slightly by a false start but neither the rain nor the lifeboat's fire hose could dampen the enthusiasm of the competitors.

The winners were Paul Spence and Keith Forbes who thereby become the first holders of the Derek Sutherland Memorial Trophy.

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Stromness Regatta 1990

Stromness Regatta lived up to its past expectations of strong wind leading to exciting sailing and a fair amount of capsizes. A total of twenty seven boats took part in the main races, the largest groups being the yachts (11) and the Sniope (8), with the Toppers having their own race within the harbour.

The Navigation School was the venue for a much needed lunch between races and the prize giving at the end.

In his vote of thanks the Commodore, Jack Hourston thanked the starters, the crews...

Snipe:

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Kirkwall Regatta 1990

Last Saturday Orkney Sailing Club were hosts for the Kirkwall Regatta. Fears of a repeat of last year's windless regatta after a week of near calm were relieved by a forecast for Saturday of south-westerly 15-20 rising 20-30, 35 in gusts.

The courses for the racing set the start further out the bay than usualto keep the fleet clear of dredging operations off the end of the pier, and did not allow for the unexpected presence of the liner Europa at anchor right in the middle of the bay.

The passengers and crew must have had a grandstand view of the actions of the 26 strong fleet at number four turning mark.

First off were the yachts with the wind swinging round to the south cardinals at force four and sailing a longer outer course round Scargun and a buoy off Thieves Holm.

Next away were the dignhies, classes being Snipes, Wayfarers, 505s and Catamarans winding their way round the various buoys. On the course were the guard boats, escorting in case of mishap.

After lunch served in the Girnel by the ladies committee, the second yachts race got underway followed by the centreboard dinghies.

Soon after the rapidly darkening sky gave way to a heavy rain squalland gusting winds.

The forecast force six had arrived with a bang. The rescue boats did a great job towing in dinghies with gear failure, as, one by one boats made their way back to Hatston under the atrocious conditions.

Only two managed to complete the course and finish. Next back were the yachts now deeply reefed sailing for the finish line. The decision was made to abandon sailing fr the day.

At the prizegiving held in the evening the Commodore David Sabiston thanked the sailors from the local sailing clubs and also the visiting sailors from Findhorn, Glasgow and Kent for taking part.

George Mees from the Erith Yacht Club on the Thames swapped club burgees and David Urquart, commodore of the Findhorn Club congratulated the members on the refurbishment of the Girnel. Mrs. Sheila Urquhart then presented the trophies.

Snipe:

505s:

Wayfarers:

Yachts:

Cats:

Centreboards:

Yachts (Afternoon):

A special prize was presented by John Kemp, Draper, for the two youngest sailors Lynnette Meason and Clair Drew.

The dance followed the prizegiving with the usual filling of cups and grand band played on into the small hours.

The club are looking forward to a visit from the Shetland team on September 8/9 for the annual inter county. It is hoped to sail the remaining regatta day races that weekend as there are a lot of trophies to sail for.

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Kemp Cup and Inter County 1990

Orkney Sailing Club hosted two days of racing last weekend in Kirkwall Bay.

A brisk 15-20 knot north west wind saw four yachts line up in the first race for the Maxwell Cup, followed by a fleet of 18 dinghies including seven visitors generously transported by the Shetland Line, racing for the Kemp Cup.

The third race for catamarans had three cats entering for the Errol Bruce Cup. All three races followed the same course, starting from a line off Hatston with a beat to Scargun Buoy, reach to Thieve's Holm, and a reach back to a lap buoy off Hatston, twice round.

Lunch in the Girnel found 78 participants, rescue boat crews, timekeepers and sailors enjoy an excellent buffet.

The afternoon racing starts with the second yacht race for the 100 Year Cup followed by the dinghies for the Tennent's Cup, and the catamarans for the Scollay Cup.

The final race was for the Bank of Scotland Inter-County Cup. Teams were selected with six boats from each county to sail the same course as the morning.

Unfortunately a wind shift saw the beat to Scargun turn into a close reach, a short run to Thieve's Holm and a close reach back to Hatston, with frustrated crews being unable to make maximum use of their spinnakers.

Hopes were high when the first three Orkney boats led across the line, but alas, after handicaps were applied under the team racing scoring system, Shetland turned out as the winners.

At the prize giving in the evening William Mowat, the Shetland Team captain, was presented with the trophy, and invited Orkney up for a return match in Shetland next year.

He then presented commodore David Sabiston with a fine aerial photo of Scalloway for the clubhouse.

Sunday morning came round all too quickly and the visitors party assembled at the Girnel to catch a bus for the return trip on the St. Sunniva.

In the afternoon six dinghies entered for the Allcomers race, cancelled from Kirkwall Regatta Day and three catamarans raced for the Cat Class Cup. Everyone enjoyed the moderate breeze to bring the 1990 season to a close.

1st Yacht Race:

Kemp Cup:

1st Snipe: A. Johnston

Errol Bruce Cup:

2nd Yacht Race:

Tennent's Cup:

1st Snipe: A Johnston

2nd Catamaran Race:

Allcomers (Sunday):

Catamaran Class Race: