Regatta 1996

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Holm Regatta 1996

The Holm Regatta on Saturday proved unlucky having to be postponed till Sunday because of the strong Westerly winds. However Sunday also proved to be unsuitable as the winds had increased marginally and an early decision was made to cancel.

A new date of Saturday August 17 has been made to sail the regatta cups and it is hoped to see all competitors then. The dance was still held on Saturday and proved to be a superb evening's entertainment at the Commodore. Many thanks to all who helped and enjoyed themselves.

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Longhope Regatta

Longhope Sailing Club held their annual regatta on Saturday July 6. Due to a rather strong wind the races had to be postponed till after lunch.

The Sailing Club thank everyone for making the day a success: Mrs. Laura Taylor for the lunches, the guild for teas in Marquee, the timekeepers at the pier, rescue boats, Elf, all those who kindly donated raffle prizes, and all the visiting boats without whom there would be no regatta.

Snipe

Mixed Centreboard

Allcomers

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Westray Regatta

The Westray Regatta saw Pierowall Bay crowded with sailing craft - skiffs, yachts, snipes, 505s, rockets, catamarans - a total of 41 vessels. For the first time a Daft Raft Race was held involving eight rafts, so bringing the final total of craft afloat to 49!

The wind, fresh from southwest made the sailing during the early races rather hairy but it moderated later to make conditions ideal.

The Westray Sailing Club are indebted to the many visiting sailors who bother to come and help to make the regatta an outstanding success.

It was unfortunate that confusion arose over the course to be sailed on one occasion, resulting in the judge disallowing a number of Wayfarers - particularly as they were being sailed by young learners of the Orkney Sailing Club.

The decision was, or course, in strict keeping with the rules laid down by the RYA which allow for no leeway or discrimination in favour of any participant, once the judge has made his decree as to the course and exhibited it publicly for examination. But nevertheless, the Westray Club offered sincere apologies for instructions that were not sufficiently clarified or properly understood.

The thanks of the club were extended to all who helped to the success of the occasion. Without the help of the many people involved, a smooth operation would have been a shambles.

The prizes for sailing were awarded at the Factory by permission of the manager Mr. D. Hume, before the boat sailed at night, by Mrs. Christine Harcus, wife of one of the young skiff sailors.

The traditional regatta dance was held in the Community Hall at night, the music being provided by John P. Drever's band assisted by a group of younger musicians to temper the more traditional Scottish dance music.

Skiff

Merlin Rocket

Snipe

505

Catamaran

Allcomers

Snipe Special

Rocket Special

Catamaran 2

Mixed Centreboards

Yachts

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Kirkwall Regatta 1996

Orkney Sailing Club hosted their annual regatta on Saturday with the weather a bit wet with light to moderate south westerly wind. An Olympic course was laid out in the bay to give the dinghies and cats a good testing race.

With starters embarked on the Coriander, moored on the beat line of the course, racing commenced on time at 9.30. First off were the yachts doing a different course from the dinghies, using part of the Olympic course, a buoy at Thieves Holm and the Scargun buoy.

Four skiffs which had come in from Westray to join in the racing were next off followed by the Snipe class. The other classes of dinghies followed in close succession. After a small delay the 505 class got away, completing the start. By this time the first boats away were approaching the finish line so the starters had no time to relax. With the class races finished the competitors came ashore for lunch in the girnel, OSC's club house.

After lunch the sailors came out to find the wind had freshened, making racing a lot more exciting and putting boats gear and crews to the test.

First casualties were Snipes with two boats breaking rigging at the start. Several other boats capsized but needed no assistance righting themselves.

After a break at the end of the Centreboard race it was the turn of the Allcomers and this time it was the cats requiring the services of the rescue craft. In all four cats capsized, one twice, and had to be righted. One could not be righted and had to be towed to Hatston upside down. Banana Split broke her mast and was also towed in.

At 9.30pm in a packed clubhouse, the Commodore, Brian Kynoch, read out the prize winners, Mrs. Dawson, wife of the skipper of the visiting trimaran, Boadicea, presented the cups to the winners. Several of the trainees were highly placed in the allcomers race which will hopefully give them all great encouragement.

Morning Races

505

Yachts

Catamaran

Wayfarer

Other Centreboards

Skiffs

Snipe

Afternoon Races

Yachts

Skiffs

Cats

Mixed Centreboards

Allcomers

Cats Allcomers

The club thanked all the visiting boats for helping to make the day a success, also the starters and rescue boat crews, without whom there could be no racing. Thanks also went to the ladies for providing lunch to the large number of competitors.