Harken Winter Series at Largs Sailing Club

Class 1 top dog, Alistair Storky McLauglin (D-Zero 22) in the Harken Winter Series at Largs © Martin Latimer

Top Youth Ben McDiarmid (Laser 4.7) in the Harken Winter Series at Largs © Martin Latimer

Now in its fourth year, the Largs SC Winter Series had new and very generous sponsorship from HARKEN including big money vouchers, many prizes and the famous Red Harken Emergency Whistle.

Nearly fifty competitors enjoyed the new format of an early start, breakfast rolls, up to three races over six Sundays and hearty hot-pots post race. Class 1 sailed windward-leeward and triangular courses, while Class 2 had longer purely windward-leeward courses.

The single-handers flocked to Class 1, with a mix of boats including 10 D-Zeros, 6 Lasers, 7 Toppers and a even a flock of Oppies.

The weather was full of variety with 3 of the 18 races being lost to too much wind and 2 to too little, however the racing was hot, often fast and close in both classes.

In Class 1 Storky McLaughlin, Prestwick SC, sailing a D-Zero flew from the start dominating most of the racing, counting mostly 1sts and 2nds. For a good while Jon Basset, Largs SC, looked as if he'd keep the pressure on for a solid 2nd overall, however despite numerous trips to clean his tramps (and winning the Harken Emergency Whistle as a result).

Paul Hignet of Loch Lomond in, on or hanging on to his low rider Moth sailed well in the mixed conditions to finish 3 points behind Alistair McLaughlin with Jon finishing 3rd. Interestingly the growing fleet of DZeros took four of the top five places.

In Class 2 WIllie Todd of Largs SC in a Solo was also dominant giving a sailing lesson to the rest of the fleet with Andrew Malone also of Largs Sc in an RS200, crewed by Ashleigh Brown finishing 7pts behind. 3rd was Martin Faulkener and Bill Forsyth from Largs in an RS200 drawing with Andrew on 7pts, losing out on countback.

All in all it was a fantastic series, made better for the generosity of Harken and the Largs Chandlers Prize-Giving Tea and Mince Pies.

Largs SC have enjoyed 50 entries for the last two winter series and judging by the enthusiasm from this year's competitors open events will be getting more popular at the club.

Sailing recommences with a New Year's Race on 6th January and a five-week Spring Series starting on 3rd March.

Overall Results:

Prize winners in the Harken Winter Series at Largs - photo © Martin Latimer