Beating Back to Home Waters from Loch Fyne

The fourth day’s racing in the Richard Mille Fife Regatta started on Loch Fyne after a second day of rest for the fleet. Given the range of cruising and racing yachts designed by William Fife, it makes sense to pause and explore the different locations visited as part of the week-long celebration of his craft.

Some crews visited the nearby village of Tarbert on Loch Fyne, while others took the opportunity to maintain and prepare their boats for the final two days of racing. Either way, they all gathered for a dock party that evening to exchange stories among the yachts, which no doubt had plenty of tales of their own to share, if only they could.

Much of the passion behind the regatta comes from giving these beautiful yachts renewed life and purpose, with the members of the Royal Anglesey YC doing just that with the Fife Conway One designs. Sian II celebrated her 100th year alongside her sisterships as part of the regatta, with the club and fellow competitors helping to make the occasion particularly memorable. While the weather for the dock party embodied the West Coast of Scotland at its finest, a curtain of cloud returned for the race back towards Largs.

While the weather for the dock party embodied the West Coast of Scotland at its finest, a curtain of cloud returned for the race back towards Largs.

As the week’s longest race, the course took the fleet back into the Clyde via Garroch Head at the southern end of Bute. Both fleets had to sail considerably farther as they beat down Loch Fyne, tacking between the Kintyre and Bute shorelines and being tossed about by the choppy conditions.

The two 8 Metres cut through the seas spectacularly, rounding into the Clyde first, with Sonata close behind. Kentra, Merry Dancer and Mikado followed through the waters between the Cumbraes, some hoisting spinnakers for the final leg to the finish. Kismet trailed a little farther back after losing her hatch cover on the beat.

For the smaller boats, it was more a feat of endurance, battling the steep chop as they beat for around four and a half hours before finally cracking sheets. The predominantly Welsh crews on the Conway One Designs kept the upper hand amongst the smaller boats as they made their way to windward. The gaff cutters looked to be on a close reach by comparison as they tackled the waves and fell astern of the pack.

The course was shortened as the Class III fleet entered the Largs Channel, with Intombi taking the win, followed by Coila and Lotus as the skies cleared and fresh westerly winds arrived. All crews ashore and drying off after a refreshing day afloat, hanging on to some flying machines.

Full Results Below

Results Day 4

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