Please select your home edition
Edition
Palm Beach Motor Yachts

Jura Scottish Series 2025 - Runners and riders

by Andi Robertson 23 May 00:55 PDT 23-26 May 2025
The competitive Hunter 707 fleet mustered in Tarbert Habour, Loch Fyne, ready for the Jura Scottish Series © Patrick Condy / PKC Media

Competitors at the Jura Scottish Series may not be assured of continued sunshine, the like of which has blessed the north of Britain for the last few weeks, but they should be blessed with breezes which seem set to build progressively, day by day, between the 8-10kts predicted for the first races tomorrow Friday through to Monday's finale which is presently forecast to see brisk winds of 20 knots..... or more!

Eighty five crews are set to race out of Tarbert, competing on Loch Fyne during the coming four days, racing across three different divisions, IRC, CYCA and One Designs. The renowned competition which has run annually since the early 1970s will this year form the Scottish IRC Championships and is also part of the Irish Sea Nations Cup series.

Last year's winners of the overall Jura Scottish Series Trophy emerged as the top performers in the One Design Etchells class and the triumphant Allan Manuel and his crew on Bounce Back are probably clear favourites to win the keelboat class again. The Etchells have eight boats competing with experience and talent all the way through the closely contested fleet.

The Hunter 707 One Designs have again mustered a very strong fleet with 18 boats due to start, twice as many as 2024. Last year's class winners, Eddie Batchelor's crew on Tsunami 2, dominated the fleet with eight wins and two second places holding off the Sea Word team of Andy Marshall - 2016 overall winners - by ten clear points. With the depth of talent in this fleet - almost all of which has travelled from the east coast - a string of race wins would be hard to overlook in the quest for the main overall trophy. Needless to say Tsunami 2 and Sea Word are widely topped again.

The evergreen Sigma 33s have seven boats entered, two making the pilgrimage from Northern Ireland. In much the same manner that Bounce Back took a conclusive victory in the Etchells, Tsunami 2 won the Hunter 707s, the Sigma 33 class was won in 2024 by James Miller's Mayrise. With most of the same boats as last year back again it is hard to see their supremacy overturned this time.

In the IRC fleets, the class of bigger boats is mainly populated by J/109s - of which there are five - a well sailed Corby 33 also stands out. Given that the winds are due to build for Sunday and Monday, experience and boat handling will surely be decisive. Ben Shelley's Mocking J scored the RC35 class win last year but only on countback with John Stamp's Jacob VII which is not racing this year.

Mocking J laid down a marker by winning Kip Regatta earlier this month and should be able to win again. Craig and Stephen Corson's Salamander XXII were going well at Kip by all accounts whilst Charlie Frize's Corby 33 Banshee should do well on the opening days but might not be as strong against the J/109s when the breeze is up.

The smaller IRC boats reflect a similar mix, J/92s and Beneteau 31.7s, a half tonner and various other competitive designs. In the lighter conditions and flat water the Ovington/Batchelor half-tonner Head Hunter might prosper but, again, the best of the powerful J/92s might prevail in breeze on conditions.

In the IRC Coastal fleet there are six boats, all with solid pedigrees at the event. Among them is Jonathan Anderson on the X4.3 Xaviera. Anderson remains the only skipper to have won the Scottish Series Trophy three times, in 1979, 1986 and 1992.

Thirteen boats will race in the CYC/YTC division including two classic International 8 Metres, Richard Urquhart's 1984 Pelle Petersen designed Spirit which originated in Swedeen and the 1930 William Fife Clyde built Fulmar of Michael Fleming. This fleet sees a real mix of boats including the 2023 overall winners Jack and Finn Aitken and crew on the Impala 28

In the CYCA Restricted Sail Class Stevie Andrews, the 2024 champion from Strangford Loch, NI, is back with his Hanse 371 Dark and Scary and might be considered a good bet to retain the title.

Event website: www.scottishseries.co.uk

Related Articles

British Classic Week day 3
Concours d'Elegance parade and the female and youth (under 25yrs) helm race Day three at British Classic Week in Cowes brought the annual Concours d'Elegance parade and the female and youth (under 25yrs) helm race sponsored by Marineware and Awlgrip. Posted today at 7:21 pm
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 2
A day of waiting with no racing held The second day of racing at the 2025 Moth World Championship began with high hopes: as early as 10:00 a.m., a promising southerly breeze began to build on Lake Garda, hinting at ideal conditions for a full day on the water. Posted today at 4:51 pm
World Diam Tour and Diam 24od Sailing Update
The mainland France circuit is now at its halfway point The Diam 24od season is heating up on all fronts! As the World Diam Tour Caribbean circuit wraps up, the mainland France circuit is now at its halfway point after the SPI Ouest France, the Grand Prix de l'École Navale, and the 4vent Cup. Posted today at 2:42 pm
Django Team to represent Italy at Admiral's Cup
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda launches two-boat campaign in historic return of the elite offshore race After a 20-year hiatus, the Admiral's Cup is back - and Italy is ready to make a bold return to one of offshore sailing's most legendary stages. Posted today at 10:23 am
29er Europeans at Lake Garda overall
Record-breaking event closes in style More than 250 teams, 29 nations, six days of varied racing, and a fleet of young athletes pushing high-performance sailing to the next level. The 2025 29er European Championship, hosted by Fraglia Vela Riva, has officially wrapped. Posted today at 8:14 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay Day 1
Sunshine, lighter airs, and no shortage of high-calibre racing Tuesday 8th July welcomed the opening day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup in Torquay with sunshine, lighter airs, and no shortage of high-calibre racing. Posted today at 7:14 am
Meet the CYCA's Admiral's Cup Team
Meet the skippers and sailors, get to know their roles and discover what makes their programs unique Meet the skippers and sailors, get to know their roles and discover what makes their programs unique. Posted today at 6:59 am
Who made the right call to get to the breeze?
And how technology is changing the Transpac Race to Hawaii Boats racing in the 2025 Transpac continue to reel in the offshore miles toward the finish line off Honolulu, Hawaii, in the 53rd edition of this historic 2,225-nautical-mile race. Posted today at 12:54 am
Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race Finish
Temptation takes line honours in record time! The 2025 Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race launched under blue skies and a steady southwesterly breeze—an ideal start that stood in sharp contrast to the wild weather of 2023. Posted today at 12:45 am
British Classic Week Day 2
An early start for Classes 1-3 as they prepared to race around the Isle of Wight It was an early start for the British Classic Week fleet on day two, as Classes 1-3 prepared to race around the Isle of Wight. Posted on 8 Jul
C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 BOTTOMBarton Marine Pipe GlandsMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM