News
Two Keel Boat Races Announced for 2023!
Head on over to our our Yacht Sailing page to read Race Notices, Sailing Instructions and Entry Form! CLICK HERE
Vice Admiral's Cup- Tuesday 8th August
and
Round Raasay Pursuit Race 12th August
Dinghy Regatta 5th August
SKYE HIGHLAND GAMES COMMITTEE & SKYE SAILING CLUB DINGHY SAILING TROPHY RACES
AN OPEN EVENT FOR ALL DINGHY SAILORS Stage 3+ and Adults
SATURDAY 5 AUGUST 2023
A day of racing around buoys in Portree Harbour for sailing dinghies of all types that have a PY (Portsmouth Yardstick) handicap. Racing will use the RRS (Racing Rules of Sailing) 2017/20. Racing will be in Skye Sailing Club boats (selected on a ‘lucky dip’ basis) or in a crew’s own dinghy brought by them to Portree for the event.
Where boat types become fully subscribed, singles will be given the option to sail as a team pair on a two-person dinghy or sharing a single hander over the course of the day (ie. one sailor for the morning, the other for the afternoon) as available.
The event is open to any dinghy sailor that pays the entry fee (one entry fee per person) and agrees to be bound by the RRS17/20 and the amendments made for this event. Registration will take place between 1000 and 1030 on Saturday 5 Aug.
Crews may race single-handed on a single-handed boat, as a pair on a two person dinghy or as a team pair (using a Club single hander as noted in the intro). Standard RYA Portsmouth Yardstick handicaps will apply as per the RYA website database.
A series of 6 races held on one day with the best 4 results counting towards a final score using a low scoring system for each race (ie. 1st = 1 point; 2nd = 2 points, etc.) – ties will be settled by discarded results. First race will be at 11.00 on Saturday 5th August 2023. Racing will not be split into classes. All entered boats will compete at the same time on the same course. There will be three races and then a break for lunch followed by three races in the afternoon. All aspects of this event are subject to the weather. If it becomes obvious in advance that a postponement will be required, we will endeavour to inform via www.skyesailingclub.com and the using the Club’s Facebook page – the Club cannot be responsible for any journeys considered ‘wasted’ because of the need to postpone for any reason – Please check Skye Sailing Club’s online outlets before you travel.
Best Overall Crew – The Scorribreac Trophy: Named after the shore the Skye Sailing Club boathouse sits upon, this award will be presented to the best sailor on the day – regardless of age.
Best Youth Crew U16 – The Sandy Rankine Trophy: Sandy has had an impressive teaching career in sailing and science. His role in the formation of the Skye Sailing Club in Portree was considerable and he has been behind a number of local sailing initiatives since. He continues to take part; 8 decades in and is still often seen at the helm during the Vice Admiral’s Cup and Round Raasay races – a great example to all.
HOW TO ENTER
To enter you must consider yourself competent enough to race fairly among other boats without crashing! To use the Skye Sailing Club boats, you must be a Member (Annual or Temporary) and Juniors and Cadets must hold RYA Dinghy Sailor Stage Two or above. Regardless of age, you should be known to have the ability by the Club’s Senior Instructor who will make final judgement – please check if in doubt.
Entry is by donation to the charity ‘Skye Sailing Club’ at a suggested minimum level of £15 for Adults and £10 for Cadets (U16) per sailor. You may give more if you wish and, if you are a UK tax payer, please fill out the Gift Aid form on registration so we can reclaim the tax on your donation from the UK Government if applicable.
Choice of club boats will be by “lucky dip”. All equipment will be also distributed on a ‘lucky dip’ basis unless you are the only crew choosing a particular class of boat or the boat is your own. Buoyancy aids must be worn at all times when on the water – failure in this respect will be grounds for disqualification.
Entries will only be accepted on the day and in CASH, an unknown phenomena for many nowadays!
There will be a short briefing at 1030 to outline the courses and the starting procedure. There will be no repeat information sessions! If there are no Club boats available because of over subscription, we will endeavour to pair up sailors of similar ability for the event. Please be kind enough to accept this if it is necessary. It is your own responsibility to be on time at the start line for each race you are competing in or for any aspect of the event. Races will start approximately 10 minutes after the last boat finishes the previous race (except at lunchtime and last race). If, in the opinion of the Race Management Team, an entrant is guilty of poor sportsmanship they can be disqualified from individual races and in serious cases will be disqualified from the whole event and asked to leave. Intimidation or abuse of any kind will not be tolerated. If you intend to protest another boat you must make this known to both the boat being protested and the Race Management Team before the start of the next race or within 15 minutes of the end if it is the last race. Any protests will be heard at the end of the session’s racing and will not be allowed to hold up subsequent races.
The main thing to remember is to enjoy yourself and sail as well as you can – most of the gumph above is there in an effort to stop anyone spoiling the event for the rest, it should spoil nothing for all those that sail fair.
Please be sure to read the Sailing Instructions and bring something to eat and drink for the day AND A TOWEL AND SOME WARM CLOTHES TO CHANGE INTO – JUST IN CASE!
Skye Sailing Club is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registration number SC044451
Polar Dip 2023!
Join us at the Clubhouse at 12:00 on New Year's Day for our annual Polar Dip. There will be hot food available and if the wind is kind we will also run a sailing session! What better way to welcome in 2023 than in and on the water!
Round Raasay Results 2022
Thanks to all the yachts who participated in our Round Raasay race this year. Only 30 seconds separated 1st and 2nd place- it sure was a close one!
1st: Tim Wear "Calisto"
2nd: Paul Copestake "Mollyhawk" (Ullapool)
3rd: Jock Gordon "Morven"
4th Rob Forest "Rubadubdub"
5th: John Osborne "White Star" Ullapool
Vice Admiral's Cup Results
Held 5th August in Portree Bay as part of the Games Week Celebrations. Thanks to all the boats that took part in the race after the postphonement earlier in the week.
Results:
1st Calum Matheson "Roxanne"
2nd Dermot Logan "Gwynnol y mor"
3rd Jock Gordon "Morven"
4th Rob Forest "Rubadubdub"
5th David Liley "Sula"
6th Jasper Buxton "Brise"
Dinghy Regatta 2022- Photos and Results
1st: Steve Patch, Lochcarron Sailing Club
2nd: Chloe Urquhart, Skye Sailing Club
Sandy Rankine Trophy Best Under-16: Joshua Turner, Skye Sailing Club
Vive Admiral's Cup 2022: Postphoned
The Vice Admiral's Cup has been Postphoned to Friday August 5th. Briefing on the pier at 1:00, race begins at 2:00.
Lochcarron Introductory Sailing Day
Check out the poster for Lochcarron's Sailing Festival 28th August!
Dinghy Regatta 2022- Register Now!
Summer Update
From the Commodore - Summer 22
We are well into the sailing season and are delighted to have had an excellent turn out of some 90 pupils for the P7 tasters despite very mixed weather. This followed an open day which attracted more than 30 folk and resulted in a significant number of adults signing up for our adult courses. We have also altered the sailing schedule a little to allow more space for Stage 1 beginners on Wednesday evenings as we progress through the summer courses and have more beginners needing to consolidate their knowledge on the water. As yet we have
Push the Boat Out 2022
We are so excited to be holding our annual Open Day on 21st May, 10am-4:00pm at the clubhouse in Scorrybreac!
Every club member is invited along at any point through the day to enjoy a sail in one of the small boats, and our instructors will be on hand to take all interested members of the public out for a taster session throughout the day.
Tea and cake will be available, and donations will go to club funds.
Hope to see lots of new faces!
Summer Bookings Now OPEN!
It may be snowing and sleeting outside, but longer days and life on the water are not long off! Our 2022 course bookings are now LIVE for both SAILING AND WINDSURFING! Head on over to our website bookings page to secure your spaces for this summer, as they will fill up quickly!
Polar Dip and Sailing Session, New Year's Day 2021
Come greet the new year in nautifcal style with us! Polar Dip from the slip at 12:00, and then a session on the water after that for those who want to sail and windsurf (weather and COVID regulations permitting). We shall follow the session with a BBQ and a presentation from the Commodore. All are welcome, and no booking required!
Round Raasay 2021: Winner!
Evening Sailing Time Change
It has become obvious this week that autumn is truly here, and that our evenings are closing in much earlier. From today onwards, all evening sessions will run from 6:00-8:00pm to ensure we have enough light!
Round Raasay Race Confirmed
Round Raasay 2021 !
We're delighted to announce that the Round Raasay Pursuit Race will be held on 25th September.
The pursuit-style of race means that boats are given staggered start times depending on the vessel's handicap, with the expectation that all boats will arrive at the finish line in quick succession, making for an exciting end to the day! The race will be followed by a BBQ and refreshments at the clubhouse in Scorrybreac.
We request that entries are completed as soon as possible to allow time to determine the individual start times.
Download the Race Entry Form here and the Sailing Instructions here.
Club Newsletter September 2021
Well what a summer!
We have had more courses and people on the water than ever before if we include the new genres of rowing and windsurfing, so well done everybody, especially our almost-full-time senior instructor Chris Whatley and his great band of instructors. We have had 5 cadet and 2 adult sailing courses, 3 windsurfing courses, 2 powerboat courses
Round Raasay Race!
Exciting news! The Round Raasay pursuit race is now organised for the 25th of September. Entries will be required in advance, and the official entry form will be available within the next few days. Write the date on your calendar, and spread the word to all the keelboat owners you know! Keep an eye here even if you don't own a big boat, as Sailing Club members will be offered spaces aboard those boats which require crew!
Sailing 2021
Sailing for the 2021 season starts Tuesday 4 May with regular sailing Tuesdays (over 16 yo), Wednedsays (juniors stage 1 and 2) and Thursdays (improvers stage 3 and 4 all ages) all at 1830.
Book and pay online.
Any weather cancellations will be notified by 1700 on the day on our Facebook page - NO NOTIFICATION - SAILING IS ON!
There will also be Saturday themed sessions from time to time so watch this space and FB and windsurfing commencing in June.
We have a rowing instructor also available so contact us if you are interested in windsurfing or rowing.
