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Scottish Two Handed Race at the Largs Regatta Festival 2024
The Scottish Two Handed Race is the final event in the Largs Regatta Festival 2024. This year’s competition faced contrasting weather conditions compared to the previous week, where strong winds forced the cancellation of the Round Cumbraes Race.
The race took place on the last day of Meteorological Summer, bringing sunny skies and warm weather after a prolonged wet spell. However, the day began with little to no breeze, making for challenging conditions until a gusty 30-knot easterly wind filled in as night approached.
With a course stretching 80 miles around The Isle of Arran, participants in the event encountered difficulties. The strong ebb tide and light breezes worked against the 12-boat fleet as they navigated between the Cumbrae Islands towards Arran. It wasn’t until early evening that the leaders began to break away from Lochranza and made their way down Kilbrannan Sound. As the easterly winds picked up after midnight, the first boats crossed the finish line at 0612, with a mere 20 seconds separating the top two competitors: Toucan (D Smith) and Samurai J (A MacLeod). Samurai won the Viking Sword Trophy on corrected time by a margin of 20 minutes. Unfortunately, five boats retired, and Shearwater (G Wilson) crossed the finish line just 10 minutes after the 9 am cutoff, missing the deadline after a long day of racing.
In the shorter 40-mile round Holy Island race, competitors struggled to pass Little Cumbrae, relying on a strong ebb tide to move south toward Holy Island’s turning mark. The downwind leg proved difficult, with the fleet experiencing a slow drift into Lamlash Bay before capitalizing on the easterly breeze for the return journey. Several boats ended up retiring, with the first finishers crossing the line after 1 am. James Jamieson’s Clancy triumphed in Class 2, while Paul Cook’s Doris emerged as the winner in Class 3. The classic Swan, Reindeer, was the sole finisher in Class 5, and veterans Ian Nicolson and Clive Reeves also salvaged a finish with their entry, St Bridget, in Class 6.
Special prizes were awarded to Toucan (Dan Smith and Ross Hepburn) for being the first boat to return around Arran, while St Bridget (Ian Nicolson and Clive Reeves) was recognized for the best performance based on the highest aggregate crew age of 174 years. Additionally, Reindeer was honored for the best performance by a family crew.
Thanks were extended to the generous event sponsors, including Arran Malt whisky, and Saturn Sails for their overall support of the Largs Regatta Festival. Race officer Pete Wright also received commendation for his dedication, staying awake all night to record finish times and greet returning sailors.
For full results, please visit largsregattafestival.com.
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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.
