Chanonry Sailing Club Dinghy Regatta 2022

Chanonry Sailing Club Dinghy Regatta 2022 © Lisa Pattenden

On the 6th & 7th of August, Chanonry SC held its first full annual regatta since 2019, while also hosting the Scottish Musto Skiff traveller event.

Chanonry SC is a favourite sailing spot for everyone who visits and competes in our Regatta. The area is renowned for its abundant dolphin population and access to water sports of every sort. Of course, it's noted for being close to the starting point for the North Coast 500. Having had a few years off from our annual Regatta, 2022's event proved to be a great start back into normal sailing for the club.

Chanonry SC welcomed the Musto Skiff Travellers on Friday the 5th to practice, train and collaborate before the regatta got under way the following day. The weather was welcoming and the Westerly wind coming over the Black Isle provided the usual gusty and shifty conditions from that direction. Sailors were able to experience the wind changes that the Great Glen can send our way!

Jamie Hilton who recently came sixth in the Musto Skiff Worlds headed the Friday training day and was mentoring and coaching all who were present. A good group of 16 Musto Skiffs were on the water and able to navigate the interesting winds and unique shifts in weather throughout the day. It was a full day and prepared them for what was to come.

On Saturday we had a cloudy day and a start time of 1300. The winds were Force 3-4 and gusting up to Force 5, giving all an interesting time with wind over tide and a good challenge to all. Total entries for the Regatta came to 29. With local dinghy sailors covering 5 of the 6 entries for the slow handicap and the fast handicap giving us sailors from all over the Moray Firth and further afield, in addition to 2 local boats, it was quite refreshing to see them all sailing and pushing themselves in the shifting winds sailing to their strengths.

The Musto Skiffs totalled at 17 and challenged themselves with our wonderful winds coming from different directions and gusting up to their ideal strength. They glided their way through the course and on the first day it was intense! The fight between Jono Shelley, who was 5th place at the worlds, and Bill Maughan, from Sunderland YC, for the top spot was exciting to watch.

Sunday gave us beautiful sunny weather, but Force 3-4 winds gusting to Force 6 were tricky for the final day of the regatta. These winds gave conditions that challenged not only the competitors, but also the support crews who had to contend with race marks that dragged their anchors and needed to be re-positioned.

The Musto Skiffs were able to survive the difficult winds and associated challenges. In the end, only 7 sailed the last race. Well done to all that raced, the wind really did push your bodies to the extreme! Jono Shelley came in 1st overall and Bill Maughan 2nd, with Jamie Hilton following in 3rd.

In the Slow Handicap class we had regular junior sailor Morven Maclean out of Gairloch, and Chanonry based, who impressed us with second place in testing conditions. Charlie Brecknell did not surprise us with 1st place and left some spectators asking, "when is he ever going to slow down?!?" It was good to see the Laser class represented with Morven Maclean and Georgina Lloyd, who were determined to finish all the races (minus 1 for Georgina on Saturday, understandable with that wind!). The club's growing fleet of Solos were represented by 3 of our regular sailors.

The Fast Handicap was competitive with William McTurk dominating 1st place in all but one race. He sped through on his Phantom, leaving us wondering if that tricky wind even phased him? Two Albacores came in 2nd and 3rd, carrying 3 out of the 4 sailors from Chanonry SC! Well done to Dave Allen and Gordon Mac Donald in "Dangerous Dave" in 2nd. Fraser Anderson picked up our Dave Vincent as his race partner and they came in 3rd. The weekend overall was great. The sailing was challenging but all enjoyed the racing. We had a committee boat with support from Graham 'Snowy' Shewan as our Race Officer keeping an eye on racing. In the race office, we had Richard Evans giving the new Sailing Secretary, Lisa Pattenden, guidance on how to run a successful regatta!

Big thanks out to our support people, all the volunteers, as we would not be able to fulfil such a successful regatta without them! Safety cover was especially challenged with the conditions and provided wonderful support.

Thank you to all who made it a great event!

Overall Results:

• Fast and Slow Handicap
• Musto Skiff Traveller