Kestrel Scottish Championship 2025 at Royal Tay Yacht Club

Stewart Murdoch and Ken-Scott-Brown regain the title - Kestrel Scottish Championship at Royal Tay YC © Tich Summers

The Tay dished up two days of contrasting conditions for this year's event. Saturday dawned with a yellow weather warning for the east of Scotland threatening torrential rain, thunder and lightning all day.

Undaunted by the rain or the forecast, a course was set and the fleet launched and a rather weird race got under way. A very short first beat ensured the fleet were bunched as they headed across the river on a run with shifts and gusts creating uncomfortable conditions. Anthony and James Gifford sailing the club's training boat Gaa Sands 1579 got the tactics correct and were first to reach the gybe mark followed by Sandy Bremner and Alisa Anderson and Malcolm and Dannielle Worsley.

The return fetch of the figure of eight course saw Malcolm and Anthony start a luffing match that allowed Sandy to pull further ahead and Stewart Murdoch and Ken Scott-Brown to slip through to leeward. Stewart passed Sandy on the beat and took the first race.

Race 2 started with an ominous roll of thunder. Portent of a rather horrible incident at the first mark which involved Steve Worf / Dave Hearsum and the Worsley's boats going into a fatal mating dance, followed by a bit of swimming and two retrials. If the weather had not of put a dampener on things this incident certainly did. Remarkably, no damage was done to either boat or their crews. The reduced fleet came ashore for lunch soaked to the skin in fresh water and feeling the cold.

There was a standing ovation for the Race Officer when, after further thunder and lightning, all further sailing was cancelled and hot showers were the order of the day. In the evening there was a 'bring and share' meal in the Royal Tay Yacht Club with partners and former Kestrelers joining.

In total contrast, Sunday provided sparkling conditions. Sunshine and a freshening south westerly all day. The two races held before lunch were typical Tay Kestrel races. Different teams led during the races, the key tactical decision was when to strike out into the tide to lay the wing mark. In race 3, Dave and Steve sailed furthest up-tide and also made the first move with plenty of tide 'in their pocket', Malcom and Dannielle went next, with Stewart and Ken cutting it a boat length shorter - the difference between laying the mark or not! On the next lap, it was Malcolm who led and made the first move allowing Stewart to give a lee bow to lead from the gybe mark to the line (just).

In race 4 it was the same course, but the wind had moved south, and the tide eased, it was Ian Hunter and crew Sceighla Tilson who made that brave first move out into the tide towards the gybe mark, striking out from mid fleet they reached the navigation mark in the lead. Stewart and Ken rolled them on the spinnaker hoist, only to suffer the same experience before the leeward mark. The Worsley's led going into the second round but were passed by Stewart and Ken before the gybe. This ensured a tactical battle down the run before the final sprint for the line. They finished overlapping with Stewart just ahead, again.

Kestrel Scottish Championship at Royal Tay YC - photo © Tich Summers

During the lunch break the tide changed and the wind really picked up. There was some hesitation about launching and the noise of sails being thrashed would put a smile on any sailmakers face. This was going to be very different, and so it transpired. Steve Worf and Dave Hearsum gave a heavy-weather masterclass on how to sail a Kestrel in 30 knots of wind. Powering off the line they never looked back. The change of course gave a beam reach to the mid-river gybe mark - a real hosing down affair. It was leg burning, great sailing and the Giffords sailing a Kestrel for only their second day demonstrated that they had learned a thing or two in the Merlin and N12 fleet!

The wind eased slightly for the last race of the weekend with wave height building to give perfect conditions. Stewart and Ken were able to hold the leading group over the lay line to the first mark and maintained their lead until the run, when they were rolled by Malcolm and Dannielle who led going onto the second beat, having taken advantage of the flood tide by heading out further into the river.

The second run was a reversal, with the Worsley's being rolled after the gybe which then led to a series of tactical gybes just to make life interesting. Similar close racing mid-fleet saw Steve and Dave capsize running by the lee at the bottom mark resulting in a horrible mess with their new spinnaker impaled on their spreaders when they righted. They had to sail the last beat with the spinnaker still wrapped round the shroud.

At close of play, Stewart and Ken had won back the trophy from, last years victors. Overall, the racing was highly competitive. Each boat led a race at some point, and each boat podiumed on at least one race. All the races had frequent place changes, close contact sailing and close finishes throughout the fleet. Just to emphasise the access to competitive racing that the class offers, Bronze place went to the oldest boat with the newest helm and crew.

Stewart Murdoch and Ken-Scott-Brown regain the title - Kestrel Scottish Championship at Royal Tay YC - photo © RTYC

Despite the horrendous weather on Saturday, the incidents afloat, the capsizes and the swings and roundabouts the event was judged a great success.

Those who had enjoyed the catering ashore and who had spent the day in the lee of the beach clubhouse, sitting in the sun, were certainly well entertained!

Overall Results: