Saturn Sails Largs Regatta Festival 2024: A Premier Sailing Event on Scotland’s West Coast
Saturn Sails Largs Regatta Festival 2024
24-25 August 2024
Conditions leading up to the Saturn Sails Largs Regatta Festival were not ideal, caught between the remains of Hurricane Enesto and the impending storm Lydia. This created a challenging environment for both race officers and competitors.
Fortunately, Saturday 24th offered a brief respite with some sunshine and rainbows, perfect for the 106 entrants. A unique blend of keelboat and dinghy racing on two courses created a stunning spectacle along the shore.
Fresh westerly winds pushed the keelboat fleet north of Great Cumbrae, allowing for three races for some classes before a fierce rain squall forced the cancellation of all racing. In IRC Class 1, Euan Morrison’s Sapphire clinched first place and the overall Keelboat Championship trophy, closely competing with Murray Findlay’s Xaviera. The eager starts in the RC35 class led to two general recalls and a black flag, with John Stanley White’s Blue Jay narrowly taking class honors over Ben and Jono Shelley’s Mocking J.
Six Etchells braved the elements, with Peter Judd’s Lock’nLoad dominating the competition with two firsts and a second place. In the CYCA 3 class, Keith Orr’s Prodigal achieved a narrow victory by just one point over Jack Meredith’s Swan, Reindeer. Mark Bradshaw’s Squib, Magic Flute, won both races in CYCA Class 4, despite being the smallest boat in the fleet.
Ian MacDonald’s Sunfast 37, Artemis, emerged victorious in the only race for CYCA Class 5 (restricted sail), while in CYCA Class 7, James Jamieson’s Clancy also took the win. In CYCA Class 6 (multihulls), Brian Young’s Excalibur sailed a 40-mile course around the Isle of Bute in 3.5 hours, despite there being only one entrant in this class.
The dinghy fleet raced in the flatter waters of Largs Channel, completing three races before the squall ended the proceedings. The fast handicap fleet saw LSC’s Phil and Carol Alderson in their Cherub, Zero Gravitas, dominate with two firsts and a fourth place. In the slow handicap class, Ruraidh Herrington secured three firsts in his Laser, winning the overall Dinghy Trophy. The catamaran class, affected by the weather, was won by brothers David and Ian Kent with three first places. Leading Topper sailor Rohan O’Kane also excelled with two firsts.
Unfortunately, Sunday 25th’s weather conditions led to the cancellation of all racing, resulting in an early prize-giving ceremony at Largs Sailing Club. Special thanks go to the main sponsor, Saturn Sails, for their generous prizes awarded to all class winners.
Mid-week racing will continue with an evening series culminating in the prestigious Scottish Two Handed Race around Arran or Holy Island on September 1st.
A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who made this weekend possible, both ashore and afloat.
For full results, visit largsregattafestival.com.
Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.