Portavadie Marina Flying Fifteen Regatta

Flying Fifteens at the first Portavadie Regatta © Jim Mcnair

Sunshine, rain, calm and windy just about sums up the weather for the first ever Portavadie Marina Flying Fifteen Regatta held over the 7th and 8th May. The depth of Loch Fyne and variable nature of the weather posed challenges for mark layers, race officers and competitors alike and by the time the prize giving was held on the sun soaked terrace everyone had enjoyed a first rate weekend. On the water on Saturday the weather fairies played havoc with race one by jumping from a southerly force 1 to an east south east force 3 in the minute before the start. This turned the short windward leeward course into a drag race and Race officer Bill Aitchison from Holy Loch (where they are familiar with shifty wind) shortened the course. George Purvis from Edinburgh with local boy Roddy from Tayvallich crewing in Panda (borrowed for the occasion) finished in front of current Scottish champs Dan Challis and Kirsten Shaughnessy.

Race 2 and the course was a windward leeward with a twist – you could go either way round the windward mark. The windward mark was Sgat Mhor, a wee island a couple of miles south of the start. In the now light and fitful breeze George and Roddy went anti clockwise and looked like they were in the lead until out of a clockwise nowhere came 15 year old Jack and his old man Kev sailing Ffunky Chicken (again borrowed!) who took the race by a whisker.

After an excellent buffet and whisky tasting laid on by Portavadie marina in the evening the fleet set off on Sunday into a grey and blustery Loch Fyne. George and Roddy stormed to the front in the blustery conditions with Dan and Kirtsen in hot pursuit until gear failure forced them to retire leaving the door wide open for Riff Raff to step up to second place.

A solid south easterly made for a very lively final with a some boats heading for the marina at the outset. Riff Raff with Holy Loch helm John Orr and crew Dave Attwood (borrowed !) kept the keel under the mast to finish with a flourish whilst just behind them Iain ‘Sincy’ Sinclair and Bernie McIlvogue in Nae Ffear came home second just in front of the Aitkens.

Overall winner was George Purvis and Roddy in Panda 3348 (4 points), second Riff Raff 3200 John Orr and David Attwood (6 points) and third with seven (7 points) Jack and Kevin Aitken in 516 Ffunky Chicken.

The Portavadie event is the first in the Scottish Flying Fifteen Travellers Series with an event every month through till October. The ffun carries on at Glencoe in June with the second round of the series.