Scottish Skiff Grand Prix Event & Musto Skiff Scottish Traveller at Largo Bay.

Largo bay played host to the fourth round of the 2006 Trident-UK Scottish Skiff Grand Prix, and those skiff sailors that made the trip to this pretty corner of the East Neuk of Fife were rewarded with a great weekend of racing.

With local Musto Skiff stalwart Ian Renilson unable to sail on the Saturday, it looked like reigning national champion Ian Trotter would have it his own way in the light winds that greeted competitors for race 1. However, Gavin Homer of Dalgety Bay had different ideas and showed that it has not taken him long to master the transition from International 14 to Musto Skiff. Homer led for much of the first race until Trotter reeled him in to take the first of several wins. Ben Robertson and Ewan Sneddon made a strong showing, leading home the 49er contingent and taking third overall on handicap.

Principal race officer Kevan Gibb set a shorter course for race 2. Order was restored with Trotter leading from early on, followed by Gavin Homer and Andy Hutchinson chasing hard to make it a 1, 2, 3 for the Musto Skiffs.

By race 3 the new pairing of Robertson and Sneddon were obviously getting to grips with each other and the boat. They pulled out a large lead on the other 49ers and kept far enough ahead to win on handicap from Trotter. Andy Hutchinson managing to extrapolate himself from some close class racing between the rest of the Musto Skiffs to take third on handicap.

The forecast for Sunday promised light winds, but as ever the Scottish weather refused to be predictable. By the start of race 4 on Sunday morning the skiffs were enjoying champagne sailing conditions with clear blue skies, big courses, great waves and a perfect force four.

With Ian Renilson back in action, it looked like Trotter would have more competition in the Musto Skiffs, but an uncharacteristic swim on a gybe ended Renilson’s challenge and left Trotter a clear run home for his third win. Ross McKerchar and Stu Gardiner showed strong boat handling in their RS800 and revelled in the fresher breezes to take third behind Homer.

McKerchar and Gardiner continued to push in their RS800 in race 5. They finished clear of both the leading Musto Skiffs on the water, but on handicap they had only done enough to beat Renilson, with Trotter taking another bullet and securing the regatta.

A slightly depleted fleet lined up for race 6, and as lesser mortals started to practice their swimming, it was business as usual at the front with Trotter winning from Renilson. Martin Wilkie and Iain McCafferty tamed their International 14 to take third.

Overall it was a 1-2-3 for the Musto Skiffs, but with the top 10 comprising 5 different classes, the Trident-UK Scottish Skiff Grand Prix continues to provide great racing across a range of skiff classes. Thanks to Largo Bay for hosting a great event - next stop for the fifth round is Chanonry on the 5th and 6th of August.

Overall Results

1st Musto Skiff Ian Trotter 5pts
2nd Musto Skiff Gavin Homer 14pts
3rd Musto Skiff Andy Hutchinson 20pts
4th RS800 Ross McKerchar/Stu Gardiner 21pts
5th 49er Dave Sinclair/Dave McCardel 32pts
6th 49er Ben Robertson/Ewan Sneddon 36 pts
7th Musto Skiff Andrew Hooton 36 pts
8th Musto Skiff Ian Renilson 42 pts
9th Int 14 Martin Wilkie/Iain McCafferty 43 pts
10th 29er Fergus Holland/Tom Holland 43 pts

Report by Andy Hutchinson.