Stewart Brewing RS200 Scottish Tour 2023
by Peter Collings 16 Jan 10:45 GMT
Stewart Brewing RS200 Scottish Tour 2023 - Brendan Lynch and Ellen Clark © Steve Fraser
2023 was a big year for the Scottish RS200 fleet, with the UK Nationals coming north of the border to East Lothian in August, but there was also plenty of excitement on our domestic tour, with 5 different winners from the 7 events.
Things started off at a light and patchy Largs event, where local knowledge gave Robbie Burns and Vicki Simpson a winning edge on the 14-boat fleet.
Next up was a dry run for the Nationals in North Berwick in early June. As always, the venue and the race committee delivered some fantastic competition, and Brendan Lynch and Ellen Clark returned to the top of the results sheet after some closely fought battles with Roo Purves and Rachel Scarfe.
In July, the fleet returned to Largo Bay for the first time in several years. The wind built throughout the event from drifting conditions to a thrilling 25-knot blast in the final race. The most consistent boat was James and Rory Gifford, who fended off their parents to win the event.
Findhorn was the final event before the nationals, and turned out to be ideal preparation, with Iain Duncan and Robyn Phillips dominating in survival conditions on the estuary.
Post-Nationals, Brendan and Ellen continued their strong form with an event victory at Loch Lomond, and, fed up with accusations that Ellen was the brains behind the operation, Brendan switched crews for GNAC at Bassenthwaite, and won the event with Anna Sturrock, although Ellen, crewing for Fiona Rigg, wasn't far behind.
The final event of the season was held at Dalgety Bay in biblical rain and strong winds. The race team made a brave attempt to get racing started, but ultimately the 30 knot breeze and poor visibility led sailing to be postponed until Sunday, when Rachel Scarfe and Laura Glover won their first ever tour event in light and tidal conditions.
Overall we had 48 boats, competing in a total of 37 races, with 11 different race winners and many pairings enjoying the generous prizes from tour title sponsor Stewart Brewing. Even though Brendan and Ellen ultimately had the edge on the competition, the racing was always tight throughout the fleet.
Hopefully we'll have more of the same in 2024, but in the meantime thanks to every one of the dedicated volunteers at our host clubs, to the fleet committee and sailors and to Stewart Brewing.
Peter Collings
Overall Results:
| Pos | Helm | Crew | Club | Sail No | Largs | ELYC | Largo Bay | Findhorn | Loch Lomond | GNAC | Dalgety Bay | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Brendan Lynch | Ellen Clark/Anna Sturrock | ELYC | 1510 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 13 |
| 2 | Roo Purves | Rachel Scarfe | ELYC | 1549 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 20 |
| 3 | James Gifford | Rory Gifford | RTYC | 269 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 7 | 21 |
| 4 | Fiona Rigg | Ellen Clark | ELYC | 600 | 3 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 22 |
| 5 | Peter Collings | Iona Smith/Ali Mo/Lindsay McCosh | CSSC | 1120 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 25 |
| 6 | Iain Duncan | Emily Hill/Othilie Barthe/Robyn Phillips/Sandy Simpson | Prestwick SC | 1553 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 5 | 26 |
| 7 | John Ilson | Laura Glover | ELYC | 1642 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 28 |
| 8 | Antony Gifford | Jo Gifford/James Gifford | RTYC | 1397 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 24 | 6 | 31 |
| 9 | Tom Graham | Emma Fowler | ELYC | 777 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 24 | 7 | 36 |
| 10 | Robbie Burns | HRHLVVS | Largs SC | 1632 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 37 |
| 11 | Andrew Brown | Alex Sutcliffe | Tynemouth SC | 1682 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 38 |
| 12 | Ben Dearden | Alice Carter | Yorkshire Dales SC | 1402 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| 13 | Suzie Homer | Eugene Lau | Dalgety Bay SC | 876 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 24 | 7 | 39 |
| 14 | Christine Wood | Ollie MacLean | Helensburgh SC | 1663 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 7 | 39 |
| 15 | Phil Smith | Naomi Smith | Bassenthwaite SC | 1369 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 40 |
| 16 | Paul Rigg | Duncan Rigg | ELYC | 1549 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 40 |
| 17 | Anna Miller | William O'Keefe | Largs SC | 951 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 24 | 3 | 41 |
| 18 | Martin Faulkner | Bill Forsyth | Largs SC | 930 | 5 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 41 |
| 19 | Michael Sims | Libby Sims | Burton | 987 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 41 |
| 20 | Ronnie Millar | Tor Millar | Royal Forth | 1650 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 42 |
| 21 | John Mucklow | Katie Mucklow | Port Edgar | 1086 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 24 | 7 | 42 |
| 22 | Jonathan Ward | Heather Ward | Budworth SC | 1560 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 43 |
| 23 | Sam Sloss | Chloe Rankin | Largs SC | 523 | 9 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 7 | 44 |
| 24 | James Johnson | Tom Johnson | Roa Island | 939 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 44 |
| 25 | Rachel Scarfe | Laura Glover | ELYC | 1642 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 1 | 45 |
| 26 | Phil Davenport | Oscar Davenport | Bassenthwaite SC | 807 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 45 |
| 27 | Matthew Somerville | Henry Bullen | Bassenthwaite SC | 1071 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 46 |
| 28 | Martin Smith | Barbara Smith | Yorkshire Dales Sc | 1068 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 47 |
| 29 | Jake Miller | Rory Chalmers/Emily Miller | HSC | 1011 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 7 | 47 |
| 30 | Andrew Bell | Ryan Miller | Largs SC | 993 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 47 |
| 31 | Ben Moverley Smith | Tara Coldwell Brock | Portobello SC | 352 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 24 | 7 | 47 |
| 32 | Ben Homer | Alistair MacKinnon | ELYC | 1203 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 48 |
| 33 | Andy Smith | Lily Smith | Bassenthwaite SC | 1150 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 48 |
| 34 | Claire Laurie | Nicola Cochrane | RFYC | 661 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 49 |
| 35 | Jon Ward | Heather Ward | Budworth SC | 1560 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 49 |
| 36 | J Galloway | J Phillips | RYFC | 640 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 50 |
| 37 | Katie Masterson | Shona Redpath | St. Mary's Loch | 567 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 50 |
| 38 | Izzy O'Farrell | Dominic Burns | CLYC | 269 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 24 | 7 | 50 |
| 39 | Martin Walker | Stewart Walker | Yorkshire Dales SC | 1277 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 50 |
| 40 | Adam Din | Olivia Zuniga | HLSC/SSC | 1437 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 18 | 7 | 51 |
| 41 | Paul Clark | Emily Clark | Bassenthwaite SC | 1312 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 19 | 7 | 51 |
| 42 | Robin Dawson | Oliver Smith | Bassenthwaite SC | 1076 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 51 |
| 43 | Tom Moss | Poppy Christie | Scaling Dam | 1202 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 51 |
| 44 | Neil Campbell | Archie Campbell | Bassenthwaite SC | 1033 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 7 | 51 |
| 45 | Thomas Kirk | Stephen Kirk | Bassenthwaite SC | 507 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 7 | 51 |
| 46 | Tom Ellis | John Ranson | Red Wharf Bay | 757 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 7 | 51 |
| 47 | Mathew Luxton | Desmond Luxton | Staunton Harold SC | 1538 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 22 | 7 | 51 |
| 48 | Alastair Duncan | Alfie Duncan | Bassenthwaite SC | 958 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 23 | 7 | 51 |
