MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 1 at Kinghorn Radio Sailing Club

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers at Kinghorn © David Marrs

The 2025 MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 1 event took place at Kinghorn Loch on Saturday, 17th May 2025. The event was hosted by the Kinghorn Radio Sailing Club. Richard Ennos (RO) welcomed the thirteen competitors to the event and gave the skipper's briefing.

The competitors had quite a range of IOM designs including Alioth, BritPop!, Buzz, Corbie 6, Errica, Gillette and Venti. The fleet was a mixture of home built and commercial hulls including wooden hulls and fiberglass. We had competitors from around Scotland and Ireland representing seven clubs - Aberdeen, Ayr Bay, Carrickfergus, Greenock, Kinghorn, North Down and Tayside.

Initially, the wind was from the south for the morning races with all skippers using the 'A' rig. The course comprised two triangle laps with a run to the finish. It was not the best wind direction for competitors but the races went well.

Race 1 was dominated by Aberdeen skippers Steve Taylor, Ian Dundas and John Owens. However, Race 2 saw Gordon Allson, Ian Dundas and local skipper Peter Carr in the top three positions whilst Steve Taylor recorded his worst result of the day.

Unfortunately, Desmond Howell had a problem with his keel falling off launching for this race. The efforts of a number of competitors, plus Desmond taking a dip in the loch, resulted in the keel being successfully recovered later in the day.

Race 3 saw Steve Taylor, Ian Dundas and Peter Carr filling the podium and beginning to emerge as the skippers best reading the course.

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers at Kinghorn - photo © David Marrs

However, they were not going to have all their own way. In Race 4, Tich Summers and Colin McGinnis (both from the Tayside club) scored first and second with local skipper David Redpath coming third.

Races 5 and 6 saw the emerging battle at the top between Steve Taylor and Ian Dundas continue with Peter Carr and John Owens joining the podium.

Throughout this time, Simon Thomson (Greenock) had been steadily plugging away and was always near the top scoring a number of fourth places and in Race 7 was first followed by Ian Dundas and Peter Carr. Further down the fleet, closely fought battles continued between Bob Wilson, Ian Davidson and Robin Gray. None of the other skippers were safe as a penalty turn could prove very costly as most skippers experienced.

After lunch the wind moved to the east and increased in strength yet still within range of the 'A' rig. This allowed the race team to lay a considerably better course with two laps and a beat to the finish. The pattern established in the morning of very competitive racing with boats changing places throughout the races continued.

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers at Kinghorn - photo © David Marrs

However, this course, which was nearer to the control area, seemed to suit some skippers much better. Whilst Steve Taylor and Ian Dundas continued their battle in Race 8 with Colin McGinnis third.

In Races 9 and 10, Steve Taylor and Gordon Allison exchanged first and third places while Simon Thomson and Colin McGinnis shared second places. Unfortunately, Ian Dundas suffered very frustrating electrical issues in Races 10 and 11 - on both occasions he led around the first windward mark before having to retire.

Race 11 was won by Steve Taylor followed by David Redpath and Colin McGinnis. It was noteworthy that Simon Thomson was frequently scoring fourth place or better although, like everyone, encountering the occasional snake.

Race 12 was won by Gordon Allison followed by Colin McGinnis scoring his third second place of the day and then Steve Taylor. Race 13 was won by Ian Dundas followed by Gordon Allison who had had a strong afternoon and third was Steve Taylor.

At the end of the event, Richard Ennos announced the results and presented the prizes to the winner, Steve Taylor with a score of 24 points, Ian Dundas was second with 33 points and Simon Thomson was third with a score of 44 points. Colin McGinnis was fourth with 47 points. Richard also presented gifts to the two furthest travelled skippers, Robin Gray and Desmond Howell from Ireland.

This was a very well run event by Kinghorn Radio Sailing Club and the skippers were congratulated on their behaviour. Although challenging wind conditions, almost everyone went away with a smile on their face but ruing the "if only... "!

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers at Kinghorn - photo © David Marrs

Overall Results:

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers at Kinghorn - photo © David Marrs