D-Zero Scottish Championships 2025 at Dalgety Bay Sailing Club

Ruary Williamson - D-Zero Scottish Championships at Dalgety Bay © Ian Renilson

As part of the Dalgety Bay Regatta, the D-Zero Class held their Scottish Championships and ten boats entered for a mixed forecast for the set of six races across the weekend; some entrants having travelled from south of the border to mix things up a bit!

Saturday commenced with a grey sky, though the three bridges stood out across the bay, however wind was increasing gently and blowing some of the fog and mist away, and 10-20 knots forecast across the day. With a leisurely start, first race not before 1255, the many sailors filled the multiple areas across the site and prepared and polished boats, chatting as to what lay before them.

With a large slip, all the boats managed to get away easily into an onshore breeze, though one previous Largs DZ sailor now playing in Int14s laid theirs all across the water in front of us, maybe to admire their foils or shiny bottom, who knows... However, after a 20-minute reach to the race area down by the Forth Rail Bridge, the wind had built nicely though was shifting 20-30 degrees and questioning to go into the potential incoming tide or take the bend and channelled wind by the shore.

First start, and after two general recalls from the Mixed and then ILCA fleets, we were away, banking hard right not long after the gun and working the shifts all the way up the beat. Course for all weekend was an inner sausage loop then trapezoid to prevent all getting mixed up with the other fleets.

Bertie Bassett had his porridge obviously, as well as the flying Doc Mccarlie from Largs as both were quick and sailing well in the shifts, Valentine hard on their heels after a long drive north was out to show speed in the beats, with locals Baillie and Williamson not far away. Valentine had some close action with a Solo at the windward, both wanting to go opposite directions, enabling Bassett to get a free gift and pull away.

Annual Regatta at Dalgety Bay SC - Day 1 - photo © Ian Renilson

Working the right way to go was critical. The second beat brought Baillie closer into contention having seen a better route on the beat and then Baillie managed along with Mccarlie able to get past Valentine on the final run, however only a few seconds separated the top five. 1st Bassett, 2nd Mccarlie, 3rd Baillie.

A delay for the wind to settle, and the air was getting chilly, however the wind would just about settle, the RO team start to react and then switch back to another direction. However, they got the second race under way and clean starts from all of the fleets, though the wind stayed shifty with some holes around the circuit as the hill near the bridge slowed some reaches.

Valentine and Mccarlie got the shifts on the beat wrong and raced closely at the back of the fleet, whilst locals Baillie and Stuart found their rhythm and worked the right way to go up both beats, opposite ways each time, and had Bassett chasing hard with Williamson following. Baillie took the win with Stuart only 1 second behind, followed by Bassett a couple of seconds later.

Last race for the day and with more grey clouds appearing, some gusts became apparent, Valentine and Baillie got off the start well and pushed each other up the first beat, and were close on the sausage run, with Bassett, Stuart and Mccarlie joining the action. Then Baillie found the perfect way up the 2nd beat and pulled a huge gap on the rest. Bassett and Stuart were following but too much to catch Baillie, and had Valentine working hard on the run to no avail.

By that time, it had started raining, so all headed for home, possibly to catch the Women's Rugby World Cup, or to talk what could have been / what was, and a glass or two of refreshment. A great meal in the evening with plenty of lasagne or curry and puddings. Hope its windy on Sunday. First and second were sorted for the day, fourth to sixth were on equal points split on countback. All to play for. Overall: 1st Baillie; 2nd Bassett; 3rd Stuart.

Dalgety Bay SC is `always sunny` - photo © David Valentine

Day two and a spectacular day to wake up to... AP was flying as wind was building though forecasts showed two different directions, east or south, what would it be... After an hour of holding, we were released into a good breeze, and pretty steady compared to Saturday.

Race 1 under way and no Solos to get mixed up with, though one sailor Gibb joined us for the day - something muttered about fun but strange little boats, and that's coming from someone who sails without a bow, anyway I digress in the banter.

Valentine rocketed off the start with Williamson also going well and led us into the first mark with Valentine right on his transom. Down the run, and Baillie, Stuart and Bassett wanting to get in on the action. Hard sailing by the lee and use of angles enabled Valentine to keep right on it, just behind Williamson as they rounded with others closing. Willaimson went hard right, Valentine took a lift going left and played the beat getting to the top mark ahead of all maybe with some tidal assistance, though Baillie and Stuart had taken Williamson before the reach.

Williamson was having a great race. Steady breeze down the run though pushing now into the tide, Valentine got to the leeward with Baillie just behind on his transom, then banged a quick tack in for the line. Valentine held on towards the shore and then tacked keen for the win and gained on a lift to the finish. Baillie in next, then Stuart. Twenty seconds separated the first five boats, always close racing and nothing ever guaranteed in a D-Zero.

Race 2, Baillie and Stuart got off well, with Bassett and Gibb chasing closely. Valentine in the mix with Williamson Tight runs watched everyone split running angles and trying to gain where they could. Baillie pulled ahead of Stuart and Bassett, then another tight battle up the beat. Valentine spent too long going right in search of breeze and was headed, enough to lose a couple of places to Williamson and others. Gibb was going well up the beat, well hiked out and hunting down Bassett.

The reach didn't do much for positions, then the run to home. Baillie and Stuart were away, followed by Bassett and Gibb in close battle, and Williamson and Valentine close enough for danger. Valentine got complacent and whilst looking behind for breeze, spilt it to windward with a huge smack on the water for good effect, though despite a full turtle just lost one place to Kitchen who didn't look back, though Mccarlie and Green suddenly got very interested. Valentine managed to hold Mccarlie off on the reach and then was pushed hard to the line. 1st Baillie; 2nd Stuart; 3rd Bassett.

Last race, the sun still pouring down on us - allegedly its always sunny in Dalgety other than the day before and 2 years ago when the author last visited, though always sunny!

Breeze had softened lightly. Bassett, Baillie, Williamson and Stuart had a great start, and the fleet was tightly bunched as we all approached the windward, all the top runners in the action, all nicely hiked and were fast up the beat. Too fast as it happened and we caught up with the ILCA fleet who had overstood the mark and were reaching on starboard in from the shoreline to be met with a few D-Zero's coming in quickly on port.

Where was the space, was there any space? A few got caught and had some close inspections of their sides and plenty of calls, whilst Bassett and Valentine just got into a space and tacked ahead of the ILCAs and used some acceleration to get round the mark and bear away whilst the ILCAs went for the reach. Bassett and Valentine got away with Baillie not far behind on the first run.

Others had all been caught up, and where a few took some spins, the pack mixed up and enabled the first three to get away. Bassett held Valentine and Baillie off on the next beat, though was close, a breezy reach then died and then off again round the wing into the final run. Baillie gaining on Valentine who was only just behind Bassett. Valentine went deep left, followed by Baillie, Bassett went right then came back and then mixed it with a 400 coming into the final mark on opposite tacks.

Valentine and Baillie smelt blood, though not enough to catch Bassett. Baillie had done enough to secure his overall win; Valentine would need to check some maths first.

Heading for home, and the sun still on nicely, a good wash down, wrap up and a very healthy and welcome spread of food awaited the racers everything to refuel from chicken to wraps to cakes. Another great hosting from Dalgety Bay SC, roll on to the D-Zero Nationals in June 2026, that was a good learning experience of what goes on, cannot wait!

Thanks to the RO and safety / marks team who had some challenges on Saturday with the breeze, though got the races turned round quickly on Sunday.

Racing by Forth Bridge - Annual Regatta at Dalgety Bay SC - photo © Norman Burns

Overall Results: