Tarbert Scottish Series 1998

Pre-event Report 1

[Thursday May 21st to Tuesday May 26th]

THE Tarbert Scottish Series is the biggest sailing event in northern Britain, and with an increased entry of two hundred and thirty one yachts, this year's contest of sailing skill on Loch Fyne will be as attractive and competitive as ever.

More than half the competitors are visitors to the Clyde, and as usual the biggest contingent is from Ireland. In all, forty seven yachts (over 20% of the entry) will cross the Irish Sea, but there are also substantial contingents from all other parts of Britain.

Last year's winner, Chris Bonar (R Tay YC), is defending the Scottish Series Trophy in CHS Class 1, probably the hottest class in the Series. At the other end of the spectrum, there are two new classes for family crews or less competitive yachts. A new Class for 1720s has attracted more than a dozen entries, which may signal the establishment of a fleet on the Clyde.

The series begins with overnight races from Gourock and Bangor (NI) to Tarbert, where the event continues with races each day on three courses on Loch Fyne.

The success of this event is in no small part due to sponsorship support from some fifteen companies or organisations which give practical help. Tarbert itself, backed by Argyll & The Islands Enterprise, Argyll & Bute Council, and the EC Konver Fund, has taken care of the infrastructure costs previously paid by the title sponsor, whilst Ancasta/Beneteau are the regatta social centre sponsors. IBM provides the computer equipment for results calculation, and Kip Marina, with Highland Fuels and Esso, have given the fuel for the fleet of committee boats.

Pre-event Report 2

PRESS INFORMATION: Tarbert '98 - The Scottish Series (Issued Jan 1998)

The 1998 Scottish Series will take place at Tarbert on Loch Fyne over the usual Bank Holiday weekend - May 21st to 26th.

Clyde Cruising Club spent last autumn seeking a new sponsor, as additional funds are crucial for a major event of this kind to function in a small village. Tarbert rose to the occasion by forming a company to promote themselves as the venue for this and other events, and as a result were successful in their bid to continue as the home of the Scottish Series.

"It was looking as though the event would have to move to a venue with existing infrastructure" said newly elected CCC Commodore Alan Robertson, "for the considerable costs, which previous sponsors have met, of setting up in Tarbert could not have been paid by club or competitors".

"The whole village is getting involved in a more practical manner" added John Hardie, Chairman of the new Tarbert Enterprise Company, thanks to Argyll & The Islands Enterprise, and Argyll & Bute Council, we can now play a more active part in this great event, as well as attracting others to our unique waters".

The Scottish Series anticipates a large entry of cruiser-racing yachts and sportboats, intent on enjoying a wide variety of passage, inshore, Olympic and windward-leeward racing in superb scenery, unspoiled sailing waters, and with the promise of the best of apres-sail, too!

New for '98 is a "white sails" class to encourage lightly crewed yachts to join in the fun, so an even wider range of competitors will be welcome at Scotland's Premier Regatta at Tarbert in May.

Pre-event Report 3

TARBERT TO SPONSOR SCOTTISH SERIES

The West Highland village of Tarbert has always taken great pride in being the chosen venue for the Clyde Cruising Club's Scottish Series. It is therefore delighted to be the main sponsor for this year's event.

The Scottish Series is the second largest sailing series in the UK - only Cowes Week is bigger. For 22 years the event has taken place in Tarbert and has been run on a highly professional basis by the Clyde Cruising Club. The village has always admired the way in which CCC has organised the event and is looking forward to assisting them in a more practical manner.

Tarbert is represented by a community company, the Tarbert Enterprise Company, founded specifically to organise this and other events in the village. It has had considerable practical and financial assistance from Argyll & The Islands Enterprise, and Argyll and Bute Council.

This is an opportunity to improve the shoreside facilities both for yacht crews and the visiting public. We will also organise a publicity campaign within Argyll to make visitors aware of the event and attract them to come to watch the racing and to soak up the unique atmosphere created by a major national sporting event taking place in a West Highland fishing village.

We would also like to make the event more accessible to the public and corporate visitors by creating more opportunities for them to watch the racing.

In past years the success of the event has created problems in providing accommodation for ever increasing numbers of participants and visitors. In an initial stab at solving this we have organised an accommodation hot line to encourage more local residents to provide rooms for the event.

Pre-event Report 4

NEW FOR '98 AT THE SCOTTISH SERIES

Clyde Cruising Club have again added new elements to the popular Scottish Series to ensure it has the widest possible appeal.

The programme is expanded by the addition of a Restricted Sail Class under local (CYCA) handicap rules, as well as an updated CHS Cruiser class, and changes to Sportboat courses are planned.

Although five one-design and Sportboat classes are listed, entries from any Offshore or Sportboat OD class that can muster ten boats will be rewarded with a class start.

NEW RESTRICTED SAIL CLASS

This new class is designed to give lightly crewed yachts the opportunity to join in the fun. Racing will be under the CYCA Handicap system (11.5-18 mins per hour), and spinnakers will not, of course, be permitted. These classes are proving increasingly popular at events everywhere, and a good entry is expected at Tarbert.

The new class will race an interesting combination of Olympic style courses and inshore passage races.

SPORTBOATS

The provision of an additional tailor-made course specifically for sportboats is being planned. This will give these craft the short, correctly orientated, courses that will make the most of their speed potential, and ensure more exciting racing.

The Cork 1720 class is gathering strength, and with fleets building up on the Forth, the Clyde, and at Bangor, and enquiries already being received from other parts of Britain, a large class is anticipated.

Splitting the CHS Sportboat class into two will ensure each section enjoys closer and more interesting racing.

CHS CRUISER CLASS

This class is specifically designed for the cruising end of the CHS spectrum, and will appeal to competitors who no longer regard their yachts as "state of the art". At least half the crew must live aboard the yachts during the series, and the top two boats will be compulsorily promoted to the regular CHS classes next year. The rating band is CHS 0.990-1.060, and entries will be scrutinised to ensure that they are in the spirit of the rules, and not merely seeking a route to easy trophies!

OTHER CLASSES

The total of fifteen classes will, as in previous years, include four regular CHS Classes, three local handicap (CYCA) classes apart from the new Restricted Sail Class, and Sigma 33 and National Sonata One Design Classes.