Albacore Scottish and European Championships at South Yell Boating Club
by Mike Banner 27 Jul 08:24 BST
10-12 July 2026
The Albacore Scottish and European Championships, sponsored by Northlink Ferries and Cooke (Scotland) were hosted by the South Yell Boating Club in the Shetland Islands in what must be one of the most Northerly dinghy sailing areas. Ten Albacores made the long journey to join the eight home boats with one competitor flying in from the USA! Four of the fleet were sailed by Father/Daughter combinations - a great advert for the Albacore versatility.
To sum up the event in a few words there was Sun,Sea, Sailing, Sightseeing and Socials along with plenty of Sealife. The welcome and hospitality was second to none and I think it's fair to say that everyone shed a tear when it came time to leave this unique place.
Eight races were sailed over three days in generally light winds and sunny calm conditions using a windward/leeward course expertly set by PRO Margaret Tait assisted by John and Emma Manson. The first five races counted towards the Scottish Championship whilst all eight went towards the European Championship.
After a race briefing (with goody bags for all) on the Friday morning the fleet launched at the Burravoe ramp and made their way out to the race area. There was a delay to the start as the wind flicked around but soon stabilised allowing the three races to be sailed. In R1 Barney Harris USA (8261) crewed by 'Deep Sea' Douglas Leask started as they meant to go on with the first of a hat trick of wins. Second was Bryden Leask, crewed by daughter Ruby (7985), third was Paul Gimson & Helen Baines (7912) and forth Mike Banner and Colin Gardiner (8233).
Race 2 saw Barney repeat his win again followed by Bryden with event organiser Steven Brown and Mark Fowler (8264) in third.
The final race of the day had some new faces behind Barney with Wife and husband team, Judy and Paul Armstrong (8228) in second whilst Bryden finished third
The day was completed with a whole fleet coach trip to the Mid Yell Boating Club with a traditional Shetland meal and much beer, wine and whiskey consumed!
Saturday dawned with lighter winds and despite a course being set the fleet were slow in launching which meant the wind had died when they reached the race area. This allowed some seal watching on the nearby islands and resulted in only two races being sailed with R4, initially abandoned due to a massive wind shift in string tide, being won by Judy and Paul Armstrong, Barney in second and Mike Banner and Colin Gardiner third. Race 5 got under way with less tide but some big wind holes. Judy and Paul won again, Bryden second and Barney third.
The results meant that Barney Harris (USA 8261) crewed by 'Deep Sea' Douglas Leask had won the Scottish Championships. A great 50th birthday present for crew, 'Deep Sea' Doug!
In the evening the fleet were treated to the delights of the Burravoe Carnival with real life Vikings on parade plus a smattering of carnival floats and classic cars. The local Yell eats burger van providing excellent grub!
On the final day of the event it was all to play for in the European Championships and an early start enabled three races to be sailed to get the regatta back on schedule.
This time in R6 it was Bryden and Ruby who scored their first win, followed by Judy and Paul then Steven and Mark taking third. An OCS by Barney didn't help his cause. In R7 Judy and Paul fought through the fleet to take another win with Bryden second and Steven and Mark third again. The final race was sailed in the strongest wind of the weekend, a great way to sign off the event with Mike Banner and Colin Gardiner taking the win after a tight race with Judy and Paul with Class Chair, Richard Smith sailing with his daughter Beth (7987) in third. Unfortunately Barney was one of two boats caught at the start by the U flag!
This meant that Judy and Paul Armstrong were crowned European Champions with Bryden and Ruby taking an excellent second ahead of Barney and 'Deep Sea' Doug. In the ad-hoc team event the Armstrongs again triumphed alongside Steve Bailey, crewed by local Marc Goudie (6504).
The Sunday evening prize-giving was a magnificent affair with Christine Nicholson representing Cooke Scotland presenting the prizes followed by a fish n chip supper that was one of the best ever tasted! Shetland sailor Steven Brown who organised the event was recognised by the Albacore Class with the award of Honorary life membership of the Association
Judy and Paul thanked everyone for making the trip North to make a fantastic event, the PRO and her team for setting fair courses in challenging conditions and the hords of willing helpers who had crewed the safety and mark vessels plus the ladies and gents of the community who had provided breakfast and meals for the hungry sailors throughout the event! Particular thanks was made to the generous sponsorship of Northlink ferries with discounted travel and to Cooke Scotland for financial support and a large smoked salmon side for each team.
Next on the August agenda for the Albacores are the two-day Southerns at Lyme Regis, a one day Nottingham Open on the River Trent and the Nationals at Thorpe Bay YC in Essex.
European Championship Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Totally Ratted | 8228 | Judy Armstrong | Paul Armstrong | Scailing Dam Sailing Club | ‑5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 |
| 2nd | Wizard | 7985 | Bryden Leask | Ruby Leask | Walls Regatta Club | 2 | 2 | 3 | ‑7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 16 |
| 3rd | Gale Warning | 8261 | Barney Harris | Douglas Leask | West River | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | (OCS) | 8 | UFD | 35 |
| 4th | Fifty Shades | 8233 | Mike Banner | Colin Gardner | Convenham Sailing Club | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 9 | ‑14 | 1 | 37 |
| 5th | Spindrift | 8264 | Steven Brown | Mark Fowler | South Yell Boating Club | ‑12 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 38 |
| 6th | Blue Mist | 7994 | Scott Nicolson | Roger Goudie | Lerwick Boating Club | 6 | 6 | 6 | ‑14 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 46 |
| 7th | Vitesse | 7912 | Paul Gimson | Helen Baines | Rudyard Lake Sailing Club | 3 | 8 | 5 | ‑13 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 50 |
| 8th | Foxtrot Alpha | 7987 | Richard Smith | Beth | Thorpe Bay Sailing Club | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | ‑11 | 3 | 54 |
| 9th | | 8267 | Paul Carrington | Hannah Goodson | | 7 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 9 | (UFD) | 58 |
| 10th | | 6504 | Steve Bailey | Marc Goudie | Nottingham Sailing Club | ‑14 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 62 |
| 11th | Plastic Surgery | 8266 | Matt Thomson | Heather Thomson | Tewesburry Sailing Club | 9 | 11 | 11 | 5 | ‑17 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 69 |
| 12th | Ptarrmigan | 6703 | Christopher Irvine | Magnus Williamson | Whalsay Boating Club | 10 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 11 | ‑15 | 11 | 70 |
| 13th | Ale or Nothing | 8186 | Andrew Yates | Ed Maggs | Olton Mere Sailing Club | ‑16 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 72 |
| 14th | Ondine | 6829 | Willum Leask | Jason Upson | Walls Regatta Club | (OCS) | 12 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 77 |
| 15th | High Tension | 7910 | Graham Hughson | Lisa Irvine | Mid Yell Boating Club | 13 | ‑17 | 16 | 17 | 14.5 | 16 | 16 | 6 | 98.5 |
| 16th | Scavenger | 8004 | Angus Macneil | Richard Gibb | Dipping Lug Sailing Club | ‑17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 14.5 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 100.5 |
| 17th | Storm | 8073 | Annissa Baines | | Rudyard Sailing Club | 11 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 16 | (DNS) | DNS | DNS | 101 |
| 18th | Total Obsession | 7908 | George Jamieson | Michael Peterson | Walls Regatta Club | 15 | ‑18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 116 |
Scottish Championship Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Gale Warning | 8261 | Barney Harris | Douglas Leask | West River | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ‑3 | 5 |
| 2nd | Totally Ratted | 8228 | Judy Armstrong | Paul Armstrong | Scaling Dam Sailing Club | ‑5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 3rd | Wizard | 7985 | Bryden Leask | Ruby Leask | Walls Regatta Club | 2 | 2 | 3 | ‑7 | 2 | 9 |
| 4th | Fifty Shades | 8233 | Mike Banner | Colin Gardner | Covenham Sailing Club | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | ‑11 | 16 |
| 5th | Blue Mist | 7994 | Scott Nicolson | Roger Goudie | Lerwick Boating Club | 6 | 6 | 6 | ‑14 | 6 | 24 |
| 6th | Spindrift | 8264 | Steven Brown | Mark Fowler | South Yell Boating Club | ‑12 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 27 |
| 7th | Vitesse | 7912 | Paul Gimson | Helen Baines | Rudyard Lake Sailing Club | 3 | 8 | 5 | ‑13 | 12 | 28 |
| 8th | | 8267 | Paul Carrington | Hannah Goodson | | 7 | ‑13 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 28 |
| 9th | Ptarrmigan | 6703 | Christopher Irvine | Magnus Williamson | Whalsay Boating Club | 10 | 9 | ‑14 | 6 | 9 | 34 |
| 10th | Foxtrot Alpha | 7987 | Richard Smith | Beth | Thorpe Bay Sailing Club | 8 | ‑10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 34 |
| 11th | Plastic Surgery | 8266 | Matt Thomson | Heather Thomson | Tewkesburry Sailing Club | 9 | 11 | 11 | 5 | ‑17 | 36 |
| 12th | | 6504 | Steve Bailey | Marc Goudie | Nottingham Sailing Club | ‑14 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 43 |
| 13th | Ale or nothing | 8186 | Andrew Yates | Ed Maggs | Olton Mere Sailing Club | ‑16 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 43 |
| 14th | Storm | 8073 | Annissa Baines | | Rudyard Sailing Club | 11 | 7 | 13 | ‑16 | 16 | 47 |
| 15th | Ondine | 6829 | Willum Leask | Jason Upson | Walls Regatta Club | (OCS) | 12 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 47 |
| 16th | High Tension | 7910 | Graham Hughson | Lisa Irvine | Mid Yell Boating Club | 13 | ‑17 | 16 | 17 | 14.5 | 60.5 |
| 17th | Scavenger | 8004 | Angus Macneil | Richard Gibb | Dipping Lug Sailing Club | ‑17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 14.5 | 61.5 |
| 18th | Total Obsession | 7908 | George Jamieson | Michael Peterson | Walls Regatta Club | 15 | ‑18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 69 |
