D-Zero fleet in the Largs Chandlers One-Design Regatta 2026 at Largs Sailing Club

Largs Chandlers One-Design Regatta © Stuart McCubbin

With just a few days to go, the D-Zeros were leading the entry numbers and with a final push and the awareness of a great weekend forecast, the entries were boosted to 19 D-Zero, some way ahead of other classes.

Saturday morning arrived with a hive of activity from arrivals and locals setting up their boats in the sunshine though little wind, however the fans were due to be switched on at 12. AP was raised after the briefing, though great organisation from the patrol craft and race team were already on the water and ready to go as soon as the steady breeze arrived.

Laser/ILCA were set to leave the beach first as per the race sequences, and then the D-Zero's and so on, another good aspect of the Largs organisation. Wind arrived and we were off, a nice reach across the Bay to the start, and we were into sequence. We were warned of the chance of a UFD, though everyone was expecting the cheeky youngsters to push the line (they pushed it too far later), however the D-Zero's were the naughty ones, and we were held to the back. On the line we were so eager, there were some last second arrivals, that drove everyone over. We'd be less keen with the UFD.

We finally got off the line and in a steady breeze from the South a few leaders were already finding their way down the beat, was it right into the channel or left out of the tide, right seemed to pay then left into the mark, and after a part trapezoid and an outer lap, Higgins from Aberdeen took the bullet closely followed Baillie of Dalgety and youngster Briggs from Largs. The difference from first to last was within a minute or so, and one poor tack or missed surf on the waves meant changing places easily, so super close racing.

Largs Chandlers One-Design Regatta - photo © Stuart McCubbin

Race 2 and better behaved but still under UFD, though the wind having a few pockets and challenging the racers, with many having to juggle the shifts and get into a rhythm. Same course as R1 though a different mix of sailors at the marks, with the second beat causing challenges for several as the wind dropped, shifted and then some more waves building as the tide changed. McLellan from Imperial Poona took the win, Baillie in a steady 2nd, and Hutchinson from Dalgety in 3rd.

A big shift and a course change meant a delay to the start, though the RO kept trying to get things under way, which was a big challenge with 2 courses, and multiple starts. The wind was arriving though also the cold and some wet stuff. However, we finally got there - who'd want to be an RO huh?!

Race 3, still UFD as we were told we had one chance so the RO held us tight, though the wind still shifting left to right, however Gavin Homer of Dalgety and Valentine from Emsworth Slipper took a chance and headed out into the tide in the channel, and in some good breeze, it paid off and they popped into 1st and 2nd at the windward mark whilst others were being headed from the left. Valentine caught on the 2nd beat by another Homer and Higgins and held on the downhill towards the finish, though a few seconds separated 1st to 4th and again only a couple of minutes to the last place. 1st Higgins, 2nd Andrew Homer, 3rd Gavin Homer.

Race 4 and last for the Saturday, same course, bit of a delay holding for a steady breeze, and away we go, all good on the start, difficult first leg as going right wasn't paying off so well and a middle of course seemed to be working, playing shifts and affecting a few of the previous frontrunners. Close rounding at the first mark and getting involved with the ILCAs that had been caught up and were now mixing with us on the downhills. Another beat shifted a few more places and resulted in Higgins taking the gun, Gavin Homer taking 2nd and Hutchinson in 3rd.

Largs Chandlers One-Design Regatta - photo © Stuart McCubbin

Sunday and Race 5, the breeze was due all day however seemed to have lost its way as we launched, then built and we all shot off on a short reach to the start. Then it disappeared, and we hung around looking for a go. Steadiness arrived and we went for it, still on UFD for the RO's sake. Tide was heading into us, and really shifty, weakening winds totally not forecast from the South then West.

Again we caught up with the ILCASs at the first mark, and had some interesting reaches and downhills as we angled our way through the fleets of 4's, 6's & 7s, though the D-Zero had better surfing and acceleration to help, however flattened waves as wind with tide challenged all. Taylor from Dalgety took the win, Hutchinson 2nd and Gavin Homer 3rd - a clean sweep for Dalgety.

The AP went up and we hung around as the RO tried to find the right direction to put the 1st mark, having swung temporarily to the West again.

Race 6 under way, though a couple caught running the line even against the tide and were UFD'd, McCarlie from Largs had a stormer as everyone else went for the pin, and he shot off into the distance clearing the fleet by some 400m at the first mark, much to his excitement and D-Zero grin. Several chased hard in wind that increased and dropped as many times as we had boats, though McCarlie from Largs held onto the win - his words "by a country mile", then Andrew Homer and Baillie running 2nd and 3rd with Latimer just pipped into 4th.

Would we see another race, we tried, the RO tried, wind dropped, rain came, wind increased changed direction and by then the RO had enough and we were sent home in one of the best reaches of the weekend. As the slip filled with boats eager to warm and dry off, some D-Zero took the chance to blast around the bay in an ever-increasing breeze, more grins, more speed, then the wind dropped and that was it for the day.

Great weekend, well organised, good food on Saturday evening and a tough weekend for the Race Team let alone the racers, though everyone had a great time. Roll on 2027, though for the D-Zero's Shoreham weekend next 6/7 June, then the Nats at Dalgety at the end of the June. This weekend could be telling for those at Dalgety though there's a long list that are going to try for the Champs!

Largs Chandlers One-Design Regatta - photo © Stuart McCubbin

Overall Results:

D-Zero prize winners at the Largs Chandlers One-Design Regatta - photo © David Valentine