MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Aberdeen Model Yacht Club, Kinghorn Loch

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Kinghorn Loch © Bill Odger

Try, try again and then very trying!

The T3 was the final event in the overall MYA Scottish District IOM Championship where the series winner is presented with the very handsome Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy.

The event was scheduled for Forfar Loch on the 4th October but had to be postponed due to Storm Amy's very high winds. It was then rescheduled for Forfar Loch on 18th October but just days before the event it was discovered that significant weed had appeared on the loch surface. It was then rescheduled for a week later on 25th October for the weed to hopefully drift to the other end of the loch - it didn't happen. It was then rescheduled with Kinghorn Loch as the venue and to be held on 8th November.

Aberdeen MYC is extremely grateful to both Tayside RSC and Kinghorn RSC members for their support and cooperation during these very trying times.

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Kinghorn Loch - photo © Bill Odger

In a variation to the MYA Scottish District SSI's, the event was started almost an hour earlier than normal to maximise the daylight hours. In contrast to the weather of the postponed Storm Amy 4th October date, the 13 skippers from 6 clubs throughout Scotland were initially met with misty conditions and no wind. At the Skippers Briefing, RO John Owens welcomed everyone and announced a delay to racing in the hope of a breeze appearing and trying to set a course. During the delay, it was great to see the camaraderie and conversation between skipper about boat design, rig set-up, etc.

After about 30 minutes, there was a breath of wind and a conventional windward leeward course was set with a beat, port rounding of the windward mark, no spreader, downwind to a gate, back round again and finish across the start line. Well, we tried. Race abandoned as the "breeze" disappeared and, also, several boats encountered weed. Thus, another delay - this lasted nearly an hour during which lunch was taken and more sailing stories regaled (this is unfortunate choice of words and there was no hint of a "gale"!).

So, Race#1 was re-run with the marks adjusted to a slight change in "wind" direction. The "breeze" was still very light with a glassy finish to the water in large areas. Unfortunately, David Redpath had a rudder servo failure that prevented him sailing in Race#1 and #2. Race#1 tested the skipper's light airs skills and was very trying for everyone's patience. More snakes than ladders with a brief zephyr making you feel good one moment as you overtook several boats and frustrated the next as it could lead to a hole and then watch other boats gracefully sail past.

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Kinghorn Loch - photo © Bill Odger

Nevertheless, after nearly 30 minutes on a relatively short course, Stewart Campbell (Tayside RSC) was 1st with fellow club skipper Malcolm Worsley 3rd and Steve Taylor in 2nd place and Ian Dundas (both Aberdeen MYC) in 4th. The 2nd and 4th places were relevant as the overall 2025 MYA Scottish District IOM Championship series trophy was at stake and these skippers were in contention.

The countdown for Race#2 was immediately started trying to progress as many races as possible. This race took about half the time of the previous race. That is not to say it was easy as, again, light airs sailing skills mixed with good fortune were needed. Race#2 was convincingly won by Ted Johnston (Paisley MYC) with Stewart Campbell 2nd and Richard Ennos (Kinghorn RSC) 3rd. Ian Marshall (Greenock MY&PBC) sailing a borrowed Alternative was 4th followed by Ian Dundas, Gordon Allison, Bob Wilson, Steve Taylor, David Levison and Malcolm Worsley. Weed was still an issue and Tich Summers and Simon Thompson were both forced to retire - very trying indeed.

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Kinghorn Loch - photo © Bill Odger

Again, the race team encouraged skippers to come to the starting area as soon as possible for Race#3. This was an interesting race to watch as it characterised the highs and lows of the days for many of the skippers. On the first run, Gordon Allison caught a lovely zephyr that took him from mid-fleet to the lead at the gate only to be left in a hole. A raft of boats then reached the gate at a similar time causing a great deal of calling for room, trying to avoid contact and all happening in slow motion in the very light airs.

On the next beat, the fleet gradually separated with some skippers choosing to go out and others coming more towards the bank before converging at the windward mark. This beat created more spacing between boats. Good calling between the skippers in a timely manner avoided any issues and Richard Ennos established a considerable lead of perhaps 30 boat lengths. However, the wind began to shift and the run became more of a reach and even a run with the skippers behind beginning to pick-up speed and make gains.

The choice of which way to go around the gate suddenly became crucial and the chasing skippers, trying to gain an advantage, decided to do the opposite to Richard. Sadly for Richard, it worked for them. Race#3 was won by Ian Dundas closely followed by Steve Taylor with Richard Ennos 3rd followed by Stewart Campbell in 4th.

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Kinghorn Loch - photo © Bill Odger

At this stage, the "wind" faded away to nothing. The skippers were consulted whether they would prefer a delay to see what happened with the wind or to conclude the event. It was unanimously agreed to stop. Skippers then rigged down, the Race Team sorted the scores and cleared the site.

At the prize-giving, RO John Owens, on behalf of Aberdeen MYC thanked both Tayside RSC and Kinghorn RSC for their help in organising the venue for this event. In addition, a special acknowledgement is necessary for Bill and Fiona Odger who travelled all the way from Peterhead to join the Race Team along with Stuart Teasdale (boatman) and Malcolm Durie (Scorer). After 3 races and hence no discards, the results were 4th place Richard Ennos, 3rd was Steve Taylor, 2nd Ian Dundas and the winner was Stewart Campbell.

Stewart Campbell wins the MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Kinghorn Loch - photo © Bill Odger

Brian Summers (MYA Scottish District Racing Secretary) then announced the 2025 MYA Scottish District IOM Champion was Steve Taylor who was presented with the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy.

It was also an opportune time to present Steve with the recently refurbished MYA Wooden Hull IOM Championship Trophy as he was the 2025 winner. It was also noted that Steve was the winner of the 2025 MYA Scottish District IOM Championship. Well done Steve!

MYA Scottish District IOM Series Champion - Steve Taylor - photo © Bill Odger

Event Results:

MYA Scottish District IOM Travellers 3 at Kinghorn Loch - photo © Bill Odger