Cramond Boat Club Dinghy Regatta and Wanderer Scottish Championship

Cramond Boat Club Dinghy Regatta and Wanderer Scottish Championship © Kay McBurney

Cramond Boat Club Dinghy Regatta and Wanderer Scottish Championship © Kay McBurney

Cramond Boat Club, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, was delighted to host the inaugural Wanderer Scottish Open Championship in association with the Wanderer Class Owners Association on 9th & 10th August 2025, to coincide with the club's own dinghy regatta.

Visiting boats started to arrive on the Thursday, eagerly anticipating a pre-regatta cruise which had been planned for Friday. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate and with gusty winds up to 40mph from the WSW on Friday, the dinghy cruise had to be cancelled.

Despite encouraging signs of slightly less wind in the forecast, conditions on Saturday turned out to be very similar to Friday, so all racing was cancelled for the day. The post-racing food and drinks were quickly repurposed as a lunch, so competitors had an enjoyable afternoon in the clubhouse with excellent food and company, which at least partly made up for the disappointment of not being able to sail on Friday and Saturday.

Sunday provided much better sailing conditions with SW F3-5 winds forecast so the race committee was able to schedule three races, both for the Wanderer championship and the open handicap fleet. Following a briefing to the competitors, everyone headed out to the start line, which the race officer set close in to the picturesque shore by Dalmeny House.

The Wanderer fleet, including two visiting boats, started first and enjoyed close racing, with Alasdair Simpson and Chris Stanger (Arnside Sailing Club) just pipping local crew Leonie Griffin and Janice Kerrisk in Jennifier for first place, with Scott Livingstone and Claire France (Upper Forth Boat Club) in Bonnie in third.

In the second race, Jennifier and Bonnie started close together but soon Scott and Claire in Bonnie pulled ahead and held their lead to the finish, with Jennifer second and Alasdair and Chris third. Unfortunately Pavol Mraz and his son in Joshua had to retire from the race when the pin at the tack of their jib failed and they gave the impression of trying to use the jib innovatively as a spinnaker as they headed off downwind.

By the third race, the wind had strengthened, making for challenging sailing. All boats were cautious getting to the start but Bonnie began to pull away, with Joshua chasing, having fixed their jib. Jennifer was close behind, followed by Alasdair and Chris but it was hard work in the gusty conditions. There was much relief all round when the race officer shortened the race. At the finish, Bonnie held on to their lead, followed by Jennifer and Joshua.

Cramond Boat Club Dinghy Regatta and Wanderer Scottish Championship - photo © Kay McBurney

This meant that Scott and Claire were crowned Wanderer Scottish Champions, with Alastair and Chris second, and Leonie and Janice third.

In the combined handicap fleet, the two ILCAs of Ewan Christison and Keith Driver, and the RS Aero 5 of Lawrie Elliott made a flying start, closely followed by Alan Mackenzie's RS400 and the 2000 of Howie and Jennie Stansfield. Ewan pulled ahead and was first over the line, followed by Keith, with Lawrie, Howie and Alan close behind. Two cadets were sailing Laser Picos in their first ever regatta, and finished successfully.

Cramond Boat Club Dinghy Regatta and Wanderer Scottish Championship - photo © Kay McBurney

In the second race, the two ILCAs and the RS Aero and RS400 made the best starts, before disaster struck Alan in the RS400, when he capsized at the gybe mark with his spinnaker up and broke the gooseneck. Again, Ewan led the fleet home, followed by Lawrie and Keith. Howie and Jennie were fourth, while one of our cadets beat her father's GP14 over the line in fifth place.

As the wind increased, a shortened third race saw a number of capsizes and retirals. Only three boats finished the race, with Ewan comfortably ahead of Lawrie and Keith.

Once handicaps were applied, Ewan Christison was the clear winner of the regatta, claiming the Pechtoot Shield for another year with three first places. Keith Driver was second and Lawrie Elliott third.

CBC Dinghy Regatta and Wanderer Scottish Championship 2025 - photo © Leonie Griffin

Cramond Boat Club Dinghy Regatta Results:

Wanderer Scottish Championship Results: