Monday Press Report

PRESS RELEASE:

FROM THE BELL LAWRIE TARBERT SCOTTISH SERIES TARBERT LOCH FYNE SCOTLAND.

Loch Fyne served up the two best races yet of this year's Bell Lawrie Scottish Series off Tarbert as the sun shone throughout and the north westerly breezes rose to 20 knots to put equal emphasis on slick crew drills and tactical sailing.

The closest decision for several years in terms of the contest for the overall Bell Lawrie Scottish Sereis Trophy seems assured as four boats added two further first places to their already impressive class leading scorelines.

With the breeze from the north the crystal clear West Highland retained a slight chill but the brisk work rate aboard Richard Matthews Corby 41.5 Barlo Plastics ensured they won twice today in Class 0. In both races they were virtually flawless in both strategy up and down the course and execution of their manoeuvres while their three principal opponents in the running for the Class title all suffered mishaps.  Barlo's two wins today brought their tally of firsts to five and gives them a four point lead over Colm Barrington's smaller 38 foot Corby Gloves Off which suffered a couple of spinnaker problems to take a third and a fifth.  In the stiffer winds the bigger Class 0 boats at last had a chance to stretch out and Peter Harrison's Farr 50 Chernikeeff  took second in the sceond race with Richard Loftus' Swan 65 in third. The well sailed French IMX 40 Courrier Nord took second in the first race but could only manage a fifth in the second race.

Also displaying finessed crew work and sharp tactics was the Hamble based Prima 38 White Knuckles which took two wins on the water and on handicap in Class 1 to match the five wins scorecard of Barlo.  The successful south coast of England boat secured Class 1 with an 11 point margin and they cannot now be beaten.

Also tying up their class wins today were the Kip Marina owned Elan 332, Eland steered by Bill Mackay which won twice on new style Olympic courses to have a perfect unbeaten record of all first places in CYCA Class 5 save a discarded fifth, and the IRC Cruiser Class 2 winner Be Traist owned by Lossiemouth's Alan Wilson.

In the 217 boat regatta's biggest class, the 23 boat 1720 Cork One Designs, Alan Espey's Bangor based Red/Green Clothing leads by one point from the local Tarbert boat King Quick which is steered by 19 year old student Ruaraidh Scot.