Press releases relating to the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series will be added here. Generally the newest will be at the top, oldest last. Please come back and review this page regularly.

Further details or enquiries should be directed to the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series Press Office: Sue McKichan
Tel: 07802 685454
Email: s.mckichan@btopenworld.com

27th May 2005.

Daily Press Reports and Photographs from Tarbert

More Photgraphs from Loch Fyne

Press Release
From The Bell Lawrie Scottish Series
Tarbert, Loch Fyne
Day 1.

It was just about enough to make you want to go offshore racing. The first day of the new look Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, with no offshore feeder races, clearly upset the weather gods, for they conspired to deal up one of the trickiest and least satisfying days on the water that many can remember.

It was not that there was no wind, for both of the races on the Graham Technology fleet in the south of the loch started with breezes from the south and east. It was just that it shifted and shut down on different parts of the track, and it rained.

For the visitors from the south of England, such as Scotland's Cowes based double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson there was also the knowledge that at home it was 27 degrees and sunny.

For her debut on Loch Fyne along with her crew of the RYA Volvo Youth Keelboat programme's Farr 45 John Merricks it was a difficult day. They finished third of the three Farr 45's in Class 1 and then were just one of the Class 1 and 2 boats which had to watch the time limit tick away to make their afternoon in the rain a waste of time. Several protests were coming the way of the Race Committee last night accusing them of failing to stop the race when they had the opportunity.

"It says quite clearly in the sailing instructions that if a lap of the course is completed then it constitutes a valid race and the race committee will be taking times at the marks. They obviously weren't or we could get some kind of result." Explained Mike Richards, tactician on the new Mills 40 Tiormat, just one of the protesters this evening.

The fast boats struggled to save their times on handicap in Class 1 and it was Oliver Sheehy's Dublin Bay First 44.7 White Tiger which won the first race.

The Swan 45's proved to be closely matched with Grant Gordon and Klaus Diedrich's Fever gaining the upper hand with two wins against Keith Miller's Crackerjack's two second places.

With local Tarbert past winner of the Scottish Series Trophy Ruaraidh Scott foregoing the chance to steer his 1720 King Quick in favour of calling the shots on Fever with Chris Law on mainsheet, they made the upwind legs count passing Crackerjack twice in the second race.

One disgruntled crew were that of Salamander XVIII, John Corson's Bavaria Match 38. They won the first race and hitched into the new breeze first on the second heat and were almost a lap ahead of some of their rivals, and would certainly have been on course for a second victory if the race had been finished when it could have been.

IRC Class 3 did manage two finishes and honours were shared out between Howard Morrison, a past Scottish Series winning helm, on the Sigma 38 Enigma while the Davidson 36 Hops won the second race.

Click here for Results

Entries from Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates for this year’s
Bell Lawrie Scottish Series

Entries are flooding in for this year’s Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, Scotland’s biggest racing event, held in Tarbert over the weekend of 27th to 30th May. Traditionally boats travel from all over Scotland, Ireland and the south coast of England to take part, but organisers have received entries from further afield this year.

Exiled Scot, David Cullen and his wife live in Hong Kong, but have fond memories of sailing on the west coast of Scotland and last took part in the Scottish Series aboard a Sadler 32 fifteen years ago. Back then they promised themselves they would come back and race with a competitive boat in the top racing class.

And here they are in 2005, along with a group of Hong Kong sailors, going by the name of Team Struan, they are chartering a Marten 49, a hew high tech cruiser/racer with a lifting keel designed by Reichel & Pugh and built by Marten in New Zealand.

And it’s not only their boat that is highly tuned and competitive. Cullen has assembled a top racing crew, with Jamie Boag, Irish international sailor as tactician. Between the rest of the crew are Admiral’s Cup and Commodore’s Cup sailors, many with experience of many of the top international racing events – such as Sydney Hobart, China Coast Club, Block Island Week.

Asked what has attracted them to sailing in the Scottish Series, David Cullen commented: “Really it’s like coming back home. My wife learned to sail on the Clyde and we had our first experiences of cruiser racing on the Clyde. We also have very fond memories of Tarbert.”

Another overseas-based crew making their way to Tarbert this May are a group of airline pilots based in Dubai. Jo Gillespie and his crew are members of the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club and each year choose an overseas event in which to compete. Previously they have raced at race series in Cape Town, Whitsunday Islands, Australia, British Virgin Islands and Cowes, but this will be their first experience of racing in Scotland.

The 4-day format of event especially suits the high fliers, because they can travel, practise and race with only taking one week off work.

Having read about the Scottish Series in yachting press, Jo is eagerly anticipating the challenge of racing another type of boat in unfamiliar waters – and of course looking forward to the famous après race hospitality on offer in Tarbert!

Loch Fyne may not provide the warm winds and waters they’re used to in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, but top class competitive racing on the water, and the lure of Scottish seafood and good ‘craic’ ashore are enticing these foreign based sailors to take part in this year’s Bell Lawrie Scottish Series.

This year’s Series looks to be one of the most competitive ever. Last year’s Class 1 winner, Keith Miller will be back to defend his trophy aboard his Swan 45, ‘Crackerjack’. And this year the Swan 45 class has their own start line, with at least six Swan 45s confirmed as competing in the event this year. The Swan’s confirmed as racing in The Scottish Series are: ‘Crackerjack’, ‘WISC’, ‘Murka’, ‘Fever’, ‘Piper’ and ‘Hawk’. The Bell Lawrie Scottish Series has for the first time been included as one of the regattas to count for their Area Championships and the Swans, who are normally based on the River Hamble on the south coast of England, are eagerly anticipating racing in the open waters of Loch Fyne.

Experienced campaigner Anthony O’Leary from Cork, overall winner of the 2004 Scottish Series Trophy with IRC class 2 boat “Antix” is planning to compete for the trophy again in 2005. Reflecting on his win in 2004 he said:-

“The Bell Lawrie Trophy has been admired by all visitors to our home. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Tarbert last year; the racing and calibre of race management were exactly as we have come to expect. We’re looking forward to defending our trophy in May this year.”

Amongst the other classes expected to attract big numbers are the 1720 Sportsboats Colin MacDonald of the Scottish 1720 Class Association predicts that over twenty 1720s will be on the start line in Tarbert, including former Flying Fifteen world champion and previous Scottish Series overall winner, Steve Goacher, of Goacher Sails in Windermere, who has bought a 1720 and intends to campaign it throughout 2005.

More information on the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series is available on the website:
www.clyde.org or by contacting Hazel Watson at the Clyde Cruising Club on Tel: 0141 221 2774. email: info@clyde.org

Further media information available from:
Sue McKichan
PR for Bell Lawrie Scottish Series 27-30 May 2005
Tel: 07802 685454 Email: s.mckichan@btinternet.com

Impala European’s at Bell Lawrie Scottish Series

As well as hosting the first leg of the GAP Communications Impala 28 Celtic Championships, the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series will also be the home of the 2005 Impala European Championships.

Jo Lloyd, Scottish Fleet Captain for the Impala Class Association, said, “This is brilliant news for Impala sailing in Scotland. To see the revival of the class is one thing, to have the European’s here as well is another step in the right direction. Adding the Europeans to the Celtic Championships is something we wouldn’t have previously dreamed of achieving.”

European status will mean more boats on the start line and the Class Association in Scotland has been working hard to encourage boats to come. Of particular interest to entrants will be the bottle of single malt whisky that every Impala skipper will receive just for arriving in Tarbert. Sponsored by Merson Signs, the whisky is a small part of an enhanced Impala prize package.

Edinburgh based Edina Software have come in as the second prize sponsor for the GAP Communications Celtic Championship. “With Edina Software’s sponsorship we can now offer enhanced prizes for the first three boats in the Celtic Championship. We are very grateful to Edina Software and to Merson Signs for contributing to the what will be a very successful event,” added Jo.

Impalas from all over the UK and Ireland are being invited along to join in the fun “We will be looking for Impalas which are currently not on our radar and inviting them to attend. There is a brilliant team spirit amongst the Scottish owners and we are working together to encourage other Impalas come along to BLSS”, added Jo.

Part of that encouragement is a drive to make it easy to enter. “We recognise that distance can be a deterrent for some owners. To make it easier and more attractive for non-Clyde based Impalas to take part, some Scottish owners are offering to lend their road trailers to Impala owners further afield. One owner can even arrange for a trailer to be delivered and subsequently collected from Southern England,” said Jo.

The team have also negotiated a package for berthing & launching with Clyde Marin allowing Impalas owners to enjoy the benefits of sailing in Scotland between BLSS and Bangor Week.

In Scotland, Jo Lloyd, jo@gapcomm.co.uk, 077 333 94 641 will be the point of contact and for Bangor, Jim Coffey, through Ballyholme Yacht Club.

The Impala Class Association website is at www.impala28.org

23^rd November 2004

New Passage Race for Bell Lawrie Scottish Series

Those who regularly race in the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series in Tarbert, Loch Fyne, have welcomed news of the revised 4-day race format for next May’s event. And to satisfy those who enjoy a longer, passage race, the Clyde Cruising Club has announced that a new “Tarbert Outbound” passage race will be run on Tuesday 31st May 2005. Leaving from Tarbert, there will be a race finish line on the Clyde for local boats and the Irish fleet will finish at Bangor. Whilst not counting towards overall Scottish Series points, the “Tarbert Outbound” is sure to be hotly contested, with cash prizes on offer.

Already there are indications that there will be a significant number of Swan 45s making the journey north to take part in the Series, where for the first time, they will have their own class start. Keith Miller, owner of Swan 45, Crackerjack and overall winner of Class 1 at this year’s Scottish Series, is looking forward to next year’s event:

“We are delighted that the CCC have decided to change the format of the racing at Tarbert for next year's Scottish Series. The new format of 4 days’ racing with 2 ‘round the buoys’ races per day will deliver the type of competitive racing that most class and handicap fleets appreciate most. Logistically it makes it easier having one base for the regatta than two under the old format, when there was an overnight race starting from Gourock. The diehard passage racers too will be pleased with the introduction of the "Tarbert Outbound" passage race on the Tuesday to Bangor and the Clyde.

The Swan 45 Class will be using the Scottish Series as one of the regattas to count for their Area Championships and we expect the whole UK fleet to make the passage up from the Hamble. The Swan 45 fleet is very competitive and I am sure we will see some extremely close racing. The attraction of coming to Scotland, apart from the unique hospitality, is the potential to go cruising after the regatta is over. I know a lot of the 45 owners are planning to take advantage of the excellent cruising possibilities at what is a good time of year to visit Scotland."

The new format has also sparked interest from the Impala Class Association, which has not raced at Tarbert in numbers for some years.

All three Race Course Sponsors from 2004, Graham Technology, Tunnocks and Talisker, have signed up again for 2005 with Title Sponsor Bell Lawrie White returning for the sixth consecutive year. GAP Communications has recently announced prize sponsorship for the Impalas and a class start looks likely.

Scottish Series Radio 87.7FM will expand on the successful inaugural broadcasts in 2004 with good music, news, views, results and requests.

Next year’s Bell Lawrie Scottish Series takes place in Tarbert, Loch Fyne from 27th to 30th May with the Tarbert Outbound Race on Tuesday 31st May 2005.

Notes for Editors:

Clyde Cruising Club was established in 1909 and is the largest sailing club in Scotland with over 2,000 members. The club runs a full cruising, racing and social programme and has been organising the Scottish Series for 32 years since inception.

10^th September 2004

Bell Lawrie Scottish Series 2005

Clive Scott, the Commodore of the Clyde Cruising Club today announced sweeping changes to Scotland’s prestigious yacht racing event, the Scottish Series. He first announced that Bell Lawrie White, investment managers, have agreed to be the Title Sponsor of the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series for the sixth time. The Bell Lawrie Scottish Series will take place from Friday 27th May to Monday 30th May 2005 and as usual, will be based at the picturesque Scottish West Coast fishing village of Tarbert on Loch Fyne. There will be a new stand-alone "Tarbert Outbound" passage race on Tuesday 31st May with finishes in Largs and Bangor.

Major changes to the established format are being introduced to promote close and exciting racing. After consultation with many of the participants, the overnight and day time feeder races from Gourock and Bangor have been dismissed, thus making way for four full days of round the buoys racing, with multiple daily races. The Bell Lawrie Scottish Series will now conclude with a full day of racing on Bank Holiday Monday and the popular regatta will be topped off with a spectacular celebration on Monday evening.

A new attraction for 2005 will be a class start for the beautiful and fast Swan 45 fleet. These elegant racing yachts favour the deep, open water racing offered by Loch Fyne and the demanding wind and tide conditions will test the skippers and crews from the south coast and further afield who hope to make the journey to Tarbert next year. Keith Miller, owner/skipper of the Swan 45 Crackerjack, overall Class 1 champion at this year’s Series will welcome the new format having commented after this year’s event: “I think that a format with two races off Tarbert on the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and finish with two on the Monday would be ideal.”

The Scottish Series attracts around 200 visiting yachts to the picturesque West Coast village of Tarbert, plus over 1,200 crew who truly bring the normally quiet village to life over the racing weekend. The event continues to attract many eager spectators providing a welcome boost to the Argyllshire coast.

Commenting on their sponsorship, Fraser Gardiner, Director of Bell Lawrie White said, “We’re delighted to announce our continued support for next year’s event. The Scottish Series has proved itself a valuable platform for us over the years. It’s a great event to be connected with and we work hard with the Clyde Cruising Club and other sponsors to make it an event to remember.”

Clive Scott, Commodore of Clyde Cruising Club says “I am delighted that Bell Lawrie White has agreed to sponsor the Scottish Series for another year. The level of competition gets higher every year and the format changes for 2005 should make for a highly focussed and exciting regatta.”

Notes for Editors:
Clyde Cruising Club was established in 1909 and is the largest sailing club in Scotland with over 2,000 members. The club runs a full cruising, racing and social programme and has been organising the Scottish Series for 32 years since inception.

Contact:
Clyde Cruising Club
Tel: 0141 221 2774
Email: hazel@clyde.org
Website: www.clyde.org

Bell Lawrie White are leading private client investment managers and stock brokers with 1,300 staff and offices in major cities throughout the UK.

Contact:
Fraser Gardiner, Director
Bell Lawrie White
Tel: 0131 225 2566
Email: Fraser.Gardiner@blw.co.uk
Website: www.blw.co.uk