Prestwick welcomes youth regatta

Sep 25 2009 by Mike Wilson

MORE than 70 boats came to Prestwick for one of Scotland's biggest youth regattas this year. All the popular junior classes joined in, with top billing going to the Topper Scottish Championships.

The event was sponsored by South Ayrshire Sports Council, Bosun's Locker, Sailing Solutions and www.fotoboat.com

There were perfect summer conditions of sunshine and light winds for the visitors, who enjoyed three races on the Saturday and two on the Sunday. Andrew McGowan took the Topper Scottish Championship, recovering from a start line capsize in the first race. Three wins gave him the Championship by a point. In Radials, Moray Clark took the last three races to clinch his class.

In Optimists, Jamie Calder was the victor. Two helms managed perfect scorelines of five wins as Pete Malcolm took the Laser class and Rebecca Bryant the Optimist B fleet. Kellie Carmichael and Emily McCall won the Feva class.

Prestwick's Christopher Kilgour was the victor in the Topper B fleet, with clubmate Struan Donaldson in third. In Optimist B fleet, Ruairidh Donaldson emulated his brother by taking third, clinching that position in the last race with a second place.

Prizes were presented by Councillor Margaret Toner and Chris Carlyle of the South Ayrshire Sports Council.

Autumn returned on Sunday with brisk breezes for a Founders Trophy race. Neil Beveridge sailed away from the fleet to win comfortably in his RS300. Norman Day and Ruth Caldwell took second in their GP14, with Andy Myerscough third in his Laser.

Earlier that day a small band of skiff and catamaran sailors, accompanied by a motor boat, had set off on a long distance cruise from Prestwick to Arran. They encountered big waves and brisk breezes on a three hour journey across to Arran, but landed safely at Lamlash where they were welcomed by members of Arran Yacht Club.

After some rest and refreshment they returned to their boats, and with the wind behind them, made a very fast return journey in just an hour and a half, despite hardly using their spinnakers. They were led home onto Prestwick beach by a three man team, sailing a Hurricane 5.9 catamaran, consisting of Simon Hammock, Tony Sherwin and Graham Humphries.

Next home was Howard Fisher in a Dart catamaran. Ian Renilson led the three Skiffs home, followed by organiser Mark Haine and Andy Hooton, escorted by the motor boat manned by Paul Gilmore and Alex McRobbie.

Prestwick Youth Regatta, Class winners: Topper Scottish Championship; Andrew McGowan, Helensburgh SC; Radials; Moray Clark, Helensburgh SC; Optimist A fleet; Jamie Calder, Loch Tummel SC; Lasers; Pete Malcolm, Aberdeen & Stonehaven YC: Fevas; Kellie Carmichael & Emily McCall, Annandale SC; Optimist B fleet; Rebecca Bryant, Annandale SC; Topper B fleet; Christopher Kilgour, Prestwick SC.