Please select your home edition
Edition
Noble Marine 2022 YY - LEADERBOARD
Product Feature
Harken Red Ratchet
Harken Red Ratchet

Scottish Optimist Travellers at Loch Tummel Sailing Club

by Alec Logan, IOCA Scotland 22 Sep 2010 08:30 BST
Optimists at Loch Tummel © Max Blinkhorn / www.getshot.biz

In 1774, the Rev Nevil Maskelyne, Astronomer Royal, famously measured the mean density of the Earth with experiments near Schiehallion (The Fairy Mountain of the Caledonians). Schiehallion broods to the west of Loch Tummel where, this weekend, the Scottish Optimist Traveller Series concluded after nine weekends starting this spring. Schiehallion, a serene and beautiful transit.

And a record breaking event on finish the series! 53 Oppies from over 20 clubs across Scotland. Hail the mighty Aberdeen and Stonehaven YC who supplied 9 racers! And newbie Nairn, 2.

In the main fleet competition top 6 really close. Jamie Calder (Loch Tummel SC) having to work hard at times as top Scot junior and senior fleet sailors press him hard. Jack Gillespie, Alasdair Ireland, Alasdair Logan and Sophie Taylor sub 10 points after 4 races Day 1. That has been the story of the series. Jamie won races easily start of season. Now he has to work harder, and doesn’t win them all. Still, he’s very good indeed, and worthy Scottish Trav Champion 2010. For the second year on the trot. Hey Hoh! Second in the series overall and first winner of the new Bob Airlie Memorial Trophy (best non GBR squaddie in the Scottish Traveller Series), Jack Gillespie Largs SC, just pipping Alasdair Ireland (Toward SC). Fourth Alasdair Logan, Largs SC, fifth Rachel Mawer, CCC.

Meanwhile non Squaddies pressing hard, led by Ruaridh Mills (Glencoe) and endless Loch Lomond-ites, led by Rory Harper. Rory is 9. One to watch.

But it’s the Scottish Optimist regatta fleet that’s the star of the show! There were over 30 in the regatta fleet at Tummel. From everywhere in Scotland. Won by new Oppie convert, Cara Wilson, Helensburgh SC, an old Oppie club now with several new bones! Youngest racer Fergus Wilson, Loch Venacher SC, aged 6. Pics by Jessica Blinkhorn’s dad, new Oppie flotilla leader at Portobello Sailing and Kayak Club (another Scottish Oppie powerhouse in the making!).

Overall a clean sweep for Annandale SC in Trav series – 3rd Drew Mitchell, 2nd Sandy Simpson (age 8), 1st Finn Mitchell. A sharp reminder to clubs that coaching counts! In a big fleet series that’s brilliant, so well done to Richard Bryant, mastermind behind Annandale Redux!

Full results at www.scottish-optimists.org.uk

Next year, 2011:

  • Racing Oppies available in Scotland for borrowing and rental.
  • 50 boat events and some of the best Oppie race coaching in GBR. Our coached racing regatta fleet is ground-breaking.
  • Watch our calendar. Come and join us.
  • Inaugural Viking Clinic and Champs, Lerwick, Shetland, JUL 4-9, the must-do Northern Isles Event, 2011. Denmark 2012, Sweden 2013, Largs 2014.

Related Articles

Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 Preview
International sailing & ocean conservation unite in Cascais From July 4 to 6, Cascais hosts the biggest sailing regatta of the year with a strong focus on sustainability. The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy celebrates six years of diversity, competition, and environmental commitment. Posted today at 3:59 pm
2025 International Classes Regatta preview
The ICR has earned a stellar reputation as an outstanding lead-up regatta for competitors The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) is proud to announce that the 2025 International Classes Regatta (ICR)—the Club's premier annual dinghy event—will take place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November 2025. Posted on 27 Jun
South and Southwest Regional Junior Championship
Exciting, high-quality competitive racing for 5 classes at Weymouth There were 145 sailors competing in Topper 5.3 and 4.2, Optimist, RS Feva XL, RS Tera Pro and Sport and ILCA 4 classes. The excellent race team led by PRO Paul Kimmens delivered exciting, high-quality competitive racing for all classes. Posted on 26 Jun
NEYYSA Championship at Ullswater
They had it all: heat, sun, torrential rain, wind, calm, thunder and lightning We had it all at Ullswater, heat, sun, (torrential) rain, wind, calm, thunder and lightning but nothing switched the smiles, sailing and socialising off at the North Region Youth & Junior Championships at Ullswater. Posted on 25 Jun
Welsh Regional Junior Championships
74 boats have a glorious weekend alongside a number of Welsh Sailing initiatives The event was hosted with Dale Yacht Club, Celtic Sea Watersports and Windswept Watersports and attracted a total of 74 entries, including 18 sailors keen to develop their racing skills in the coached regatta fleet. Posted on 25 Jun
All set for NEYYSA Championship at Ullswater
Youth and juniors from all over the NE and Yorkshire will battle this weekend With less than 24 hours until the first warning signal at the North Region Youth & Junior Championships organised by North East & Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA) and hosted by Ullswater Yacht Club final preparations are in hand. Posted on 20 Jun
Gill Optimist Early Summer Championships
Brightlingsea delivered a thrilling test of skill and adaptability The IOCA Early Summer Championships at Brightlingsea SC delivered a thrilling test of skill and adaptability for the Optimist Fleet, with sailors battling extreme variations in wind speed and direction over two days of racing. Posted on 19 Jun
Cambridgeshire Youth League at Grafham Water
33 sailors took part in windy conditions The second leg of the Cambridgeshire Youth Sailing League took place at Grafham Water Sailing Club on Saturday 14th June. Despite the forecast for strong winds, 33 intrepid young sailors set sail in gusty conditions. Posted on 18 Jun
Tyson Tops 32nd International Optimist Regatta
Getting good starts and sailing fast led to the win at St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Getting good starts and sailing fast led the USA's Daniel Skutch Tyson to win the 32nd International Optimist Regatta (IOR), hosted at the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC), June 13-15, 2025. Posted on 16 Jun
2025 TOTE Team Racing Championships
USA National Team Wins ahead of the 32nd International Optimist Regatta A good start and a first-place finish in the final race proved a win for the USA National Team, with sailors representing yacht clubs in Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Rhode Island, in Thursday's TOTE Team Racing Championship. Posted on 12 Jun