2026 RS Feva Scottish Travellers at Loch Venachar Sailing Club
by Duncan & Emma Hepplewhite 20 Apr 07:54 PDT
18-19 April 2026
The first of the 2026 Scottish RS Feva Traveller Series took place at Loch Venachar 18th-19th April. The fleet assembled for an exciting weekend of Racing in some challenging conditions.
Saturday was a big day on the water with 6 races scheduled in a forecast that offered 15 - 25 knots from the west.
The first race was hotly contested by the Ritchie Boys and Ali & Faith Howlett. The Ritchie boys extended their lead down the final run and looked to have the race win in the bag, until a swim metres from the finish enabled the mum and daughter team of Ali and Faith to take the lead and race win.
Races 2,3,4,5 and 6 all followed the same theme, with the Ritchie boys taking race win after race win and stamping their authority on the event. In spectacular but challenging conditions the fleet fought hard with two boats, Dunn / Hepplewhite and Howlett / Hardie sharing the remaining podium positions.
With the forecast for Sunday looking a little light the RO took the decision to push ahead of schedule and add a 7th race, which followed a similar theme of the Ritchie Boys taking a race win, Howlett / Hardie in 2nd and Dunn / Hepplewhite in 3rd.
On Sunday the sun rose over a glassy Loch Venachar, thankfully the mirror was soon replaced by a steady 5 knots from the west and the fleet launched for a further 4 races. The racing was super tight and while positions changed regularly the Ritchie boys secured a string of 1st places and Dunn / Hepplewhite maintained their consistency with straight 2nd places.
It was great to see Ali & Faith back on the podium with 3rd places in races 9 & 10 and pushing the leaders hard. In races 8 and 11 we saw Unger / Gellatly gaining a couple of podium positions, securing two 3rd places.
The event was a great start to the 2026 season, huge thanks to Loch Vanachar Sailing Club for their very warm welcome and hosting the Scottish RS Feva fleet. 11 races completed in a variety of conditions ranging from 5-25 knots, with the Ritchie boys dominating and setting the standard, it will be great to see the fleet rise to the challenge as the season develops.
Most of the fleet are heading the Rutland for the ET's and then onto St Marys Loch SC in May, before making the trip to Pwllheli for the National Championships.
Thanks to event sponsors Sibbald Training and Sailingfast for the useful sailor goodies picked up at registration.
Overall Results:
1st Cam Ritchie / Finn Ritchie (ASYC)
2nd Morven Dunn / Alexander Hepplewhite (LLSC)
3rd Nat Howlett / Luke Hardie (LLSC)
4th Ali Howlett / Faith Howlett (LLSC)
5th Oscar Unger / Ross Gellatly (DBSC)