Youngsters catch the racing bug at RYA Scotland's Scottish Club Trophy

RYA Scottish Club Trophy briefing in the morning with all the sailors gathered outside of the Loch Lomond SC © Claire Caffrey

As many as 130 young sailors from 23 different clubs all over Scotland gathered at Loch Lomond Sailing Club on Saturday 22 August for RYA Scotland's Scottish Club Trophy 2015. The event was aimed at youngsters who hadn't done much racing before to give them a taste of what racing in a big fleet away from your home club is like.

"It is great to see so many youngsters getting on the water at one event and it is exactly what we wanted from this event. It is great opportunity for youngsters to learn a bit more about racing, travel to a venue different from their home club to race, make lots of new friends and most importantly – have a fantastic time on the water.

"We had so many more entries than we were expecting which is great and to see all the smiling faces coming ashore at lunchtime and at the end of the day makes all the hard work worthwhile. A few have already said to me that they have loved it and definitely want to do more so that in itself is a huge success for us" commented Liza Linton, RYA Scotland Development Manager.

GB Sailing Team's Lorenzo Chiavarini was there on the day after just arriving home from Rio to offer some wise words of advice to the youngsters and also to tell them a bit about the opportunities that are out there for those wanting to take their sailing to the next level.

"It has been great to be at this event and to see all the children on the water; this is what it is all about. I would very much like to come along to the event again in the future if I can" said Lorenzo after being grilled at a Q&A session.

In the end it was Loch Venachar Sailing Club who won the Scottish Club Trophy with some fantastic results across Oppie, Topper and Feva fleets. It is also rather fitting as it is the first time the club have won the trophy since they donated it as the Windward Mark Trophy back in 2008 so we are sure it will be taking pride of place in their club house.

Overall Results:

Windward Mark Trophy
1. Loch Venachar Sailing Club

Topper
1. Finlay Tulett – Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust

Boys
1. Finlay Tulett – Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust
2. Alastair Ferguson – Royal Tay YC
3. Josh Hale – Loch Venachar SC

Girls
1. Suzanna Homer – Dalgety Bay SC
2. Molly Tulett – Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust
3. Amy Bryan – Clyde Cruising Club

Novices
1. Amy Bryan – Clyde Cruising Club
2. Ewan Methven – Bardowie Sailing Club
3. Marc Heger – St Mary's Loch SC

Optimist
1. Catie Warburton – Loch Venachar Sailing Club

Boys
1. Alastair Coombs – Loch Venachar SC
2. Alexander Cogan Sivarajan – Clyde Cruising Club
3. Matthew McLullich – Aberdeen Stonehaven YC

Girls
1. Catie Warburton – Loch Venachar SC
2. Amy Cook – Nairn SC
3. Anna Miller – Annandale SC

Novice
1. Eloise Noble – Annandale SC
2. Rebecca Carrick – Loch Lomond SC
3. Tia Hepplewhite – Loch Lomond SC

Feva
1. Ben Ibbotson and Jamie Warburton – Annandale SC
2. Claire Watson and Iona Brown – Cove SC
3. Robbie Devenny and Oscar del Priore – Cove SC

Tera
1. Ewan Wilson – Wormit Boat Club
2. Fin McGhie – Wormit Boat Club
3. Zac Brownlow – Royal Tay YC

Hansa 303
1. Rory McKinna – Bardowie SC
2. Jamie Kearns and Darren McGregor – Able 2 Sail
3. Vicky McMillan and Craig Holland – Castle Semple SC

Organising these events is no small task so we would like to say a huge thank you to all everyone who helped make the event happen. This includes those who kindly loaned us boats and other equipment to use for the event, helped to promote and organise the event in the lead up, attended and worked extremely hard on the day and to those who are still helping tie up all the loose ends afterwards. Thank you to Loch Lomond Sailing Club for hosting us. Apart from the pesky midges the club was perfect for the event and all the club members helping on the day made everyone feel extremely welcome. To all the young sailors, clubs and parents who entered the event – thank you for joining us and being the stars of the show!

To those who can't wait to do it all again next year – why not join us in 2016 on Saturday 13th August at Loch Tummel Sailing Club to do it all again and see who can challenge for the Scottish Club Trophy.

Don't forget to check out our website for details of the RYA Scotland Class Academy training dates this winter. There is lots of information on the website but if you fancy a chat about it then don't hesitate to get in touch with Matt Toynbee, Class and Academy Officer for RYA Scotland for more info – .

Entries are now open for the RYA Scotland Youth and Junior Zone Championships so we hope to see some of those who enjoyed the Scottish Club Trophy there. Entries close on 21 September so make sure you don't miss out - enter here.