Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 M600 LEADERBOARD

New Scottish Keelboat Championship

by Ian McKay 5 Apr 2015 13:01 UTC 5 April 2015
The fleet streams away from Iona during Oban Sailing Club's Round Mull Race, part of the West Highland Offshore Series © Murray MacDonald

June sees the start of a new championship for Scottish keelboat racing sailors; the West Highland Offshore Series. Billed as Scotland's only season-long, passage race sailing championship, the series will collect results from nine keelboat race events and use the five best results for each boat to derive a winning yacht for the season.

Five west coast sailing clubs have come together to create the series with races starting in Gairloch, Kyle of Lochalsh, Oban, Plockton and Portree and, best of all, it costs nothing to enter. Participation in any of the qualifying races automatically enters the yacht... no paperwork, no fees, no hassle – just enjoy the racing and the stunning Scottish west coast scenery.

The top three boats will receive prizes sponsored by the mutli-award-winning Duisdale House Hotel in Sleat, Isle of Skye. These include a weekend break with dinner and meals for runners-up. Series co-ordinator Ian McKay, "We are fortunate that the owners of the Duisdale are keen sailors themselves, the hotel even has a yacht and moorings for guests' use, and when they heard about the concept of the West Highland Offshore Series they instantly jumped onboard to help. When you remember that there is no fee to enter this championship, it's a fantastic return to competitors for just taking part!"

The races included in the series are:

  • June 5 – Oban to Glencoe Passage Race
    Annual feeder event to the Glencoe Regatta which is held on Saturday 6th June – www.glencoeboatclub.org
  • June 19 – Midsummer in the Minch
    Overnight race from Portree to Gairloch via the Shiant Isles - www.skyesailingclub.com
  • June 27 – Gairloch Boat Club Big Boat Race
    Around islands and bouys from Gairloch - www.spanglefish.com/gairlochboatclub
  • July 3, 4, 5 – Round Mull Race
    Oban to Oban, Mull to port (scores half points) - www.obansailingclub.org
  • July 11 – Over the Sea to Skye (Kyles' Cup part 1)
    Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree – www.skyesailingclub.com
  • July 12 – Over the Sea from Skye (Kyles' Cup part 2)
    Portree to Kyleakin – www.skyesailingclub.com
  • July 25 – Round Raasay Pursuit
    Portree start and finish. Staggered start based upon CYCA handicap. Mass Finish and knees-up – www.skyesailingclub.com
  • August 1 – Frithard Trophy
    Plockton's keelboat race and part of their Regatta Fortnight - www.plockton-sailing.com
  • September TBC – Last Gasp Trophy
    A day of round the cans racing in Churchton Bay, Raasay (in front of Raasay House) - www.skyesailingclub.com
The series will use a low scoring method with longer events scoring half points.

It is hoped that following a successful launch and inaugural season, funding will be secured for the creation of an event specific website and prize fund which will further enhance the initiative.

The West Highland Offshore Series is administered by the Skye Sailing Club (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) with the support of Oban Sailing, Glencoe Boat Club, Plockton Small Boat Club and Gairloch Boat Club. We welcome the proposition of additional races for the 2016 calender and any sponsorship support.

Results, format terms and details via www.skyesailingclub.com

Related Articles

Attention high school and collegiate anglers!
The Caymas Rising Stars Program is designed for high school anglers We're thrilled to introduce an industry-first initiative for high school and college anglers, offering them a unique opportunity to become part of the growing Caymas family early in their careers. Posted today at 4:24 pm
The Sailfish VDS Variable Degree Stepped Hull
This unique design features three distinct running surfaces Our exclusive VDS Hull Design proves that three hulls are always better than one, delivering a soft, safe ride every time. Posted on 22 Nov
Fishing: Titanic Trout
Speckled trout addicts know it's trophy time If you're a Gulf Coaster or have an inkling to escape from the north, arguably the best speckled seatrout action is about to happen and will continue into the winter months. Posted on 22 Nov
How navigation tech is protecting our seabeds
Seagrass meadows store 10% of the ocean's carbon Just under two years into partnering together and more responsible sailing and seagrass conservation has been put on the map by Clean Sailors, the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT) and Savvy Navvy. Posted on 21 Nov
ASMFC to meet on 2025 Striped Bass Management
The meeting is in response to the 2024 Stock Assessment Update The Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) will meet on December 16th to consider changes to the 2025 management measures to meet the stock's rebuilding targets. Posted on 19 Nov
Fishing: 11th Hour Muskies
Stalk the biggest muskies of the year Take advantage of the gap between fall and ice fishing season to stalk the biggest muskies of the year. Posted on 19 Nov
Marine Auctions: November Online Auction
Bidding to Open on Friday 22 November and Close on Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 2pm AEST Bidding to Open on Friday 22 November and Close on Thursday, 28 November 2024 at 2pm AEST. Posted on 19 Nov
Fishing: Win Randy Howell's Boat
Randy Howell is once again doing his part to support King's Home With the 2024 bass tournament season now complete, noted pro bass angler Randy Howell is once again doing his part to support King's Home. Posted on 18 Nov
Fifteen years of searching for smalltooth sawfish
NOAA Fisheries scientists have been studying smalltooth sawfish in South Florida since 2009 NOAA Fisheries scientists have traveled to South Florida multiple times a year for 15 years to study smalltooth sawfish. Posted on 17 Nov
Top 10 baits from Toyota Series Championship
The jighead minnow accounted for yet another big win While the infamous jighead minnow proved to be the winning lure for rising star Hayden Marbut at the Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies, it was far from the only way to catch bass on Wheeler Lake. Posted on 13 Nov
Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERSavvy Navvy 2024