K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race 2026 at Loch Lomond Sailing Club

The K1 Class Association enjoyed a stellar weekend of racing on October 3rd-4th at Loch Lomond Sailing Club, hosting a combined event that featured both the 2026 K1 Scottish Championship on Saturday and the rescheduled K1 Long Distance Race on Sunday.

A record entry of thirteen boats — comprising nine travelling visitors from as far afield as Royal Harwich and Datchet Water alongside four local entries — underlined the momentum building within the fleet. With K1s appearing at two new Scottish clubs this year, interest in this technically challenging, single-handed, bulb-keeled dinghy continues to surge.

K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race at Loch Lomond - photo © Katie Hughes

Saturday: K1 Scottish Championship

Saturday's format delivered four fast-paced races (best three to count) on a windward-leeward course. With the South-South-Westerly breeze arriving between Inchcruin and Inchfad, oscillating between Force 2 and Force 4, playing the left side of the track frequently paid dividends.

Race 1: Richard Sims nailed a pin-end start to lead the fleet home, hotly pursued by John Richardson and Class Chairman Jeremy Hudson.

Race 2: Showing impressive pace regardless of hull age, Rory Yardley (Maybe Tomorrow) vied for the lead before John Richardson secured line honours.

K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race at Loch Lomond - photo © Katie Hughes

Race 3: Jeremy Hudson found his rhythm to take the win ahead of Sims, setting up a winner-takes-all showdown in the final race between John, Richard, and Jeremy.

Race 4: Richard clinched the decisive final heat, taking line honours ahead of Jeremy and John to wrap up the overall Scottish Championship title.

Tight racing extended right through the fleet, with three positions settled on countback. Jeremy Hudson edged John Richardson for 3rd overall on equal points, Rory Yardley took 5th ahead of Ian Duke on countback (despite Ian winning three of their four head-to-head encounters), and Phil Noak pipped Peter McLaren for 7th.

K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race at Loch Lomond - photo © Katie Hughes

Sunday: K1 Long Distance Race

Sunday saw the K1 fleet join the local cruiser fleet for a two-leg island navigation race. The course featured a mid-point finish line and restart, with cumulative elapsed times determining the overall Long Distance Champion. Despite overcast skies, rain squalls, and periodic gusts, conditions made for tactical, island navigation.

Leg 1: John Richardson led early on a close reach before the breeze shifted South-West into a beat. Caught in the wind shadow near Inchlonaig, Ian Duke squeezed past John Richardson to windward. Building a dominant lead in the rain squalls, Duke crossed the mid-point line 6 minutes clear of the pack.

K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race at Loch Lomond - photo © Katie Hughes

Leg 2: Richardson again commanded the second start rounding Mark K to port. However, navigating the wind shadow behind Inchcruin allowed Ian to slide back into the lead. Rounding Inchfad, the fleet enjoyed a blistering run down the backside of the island. Richard capitalised on a late shadow off Inchfad to slip inside Ian, taking the second leg by a boat length.

Combined times handed Ian Duke the overall 2026 K1 Long Distance Trophy, with Sims taking 2nd.

K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race at Loch Lomond - photo © Ian Duke

Long Distance Race Overall Results:

1st Ian Duke
2nd Richard Sims
Joint 3rd John Richards and Mike Clayton

Beat Your Predicted Place (BYPP) Winners:

The class's mathematical handicapping algorithm — ranking competitors against their historic 3-year performance baseline — saw the following sailors claim BYPP honors...
Rory Yardley
Mike Clayton
Phil Noak

K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race at Loch Lomond - photo © Ian Duke

Class Dynamics and Hospitality

Loch Lomond sailing club every year provides legendary hospitality which started on Friday afternoon, with Robin explaining a Whiskey finish! through to Saturday's outstanding volunteer-catered dinner.

Special thanks were extended to race officers Paddy Adler, Sandy Day, Katie Hughes, and the dedicated shore team. Pit crew support was equally strong, with Lois, Rosemary, and Trish travelling north to support the fleet following the recent National Championships at Torquay.

Thanks again to our event sponsors Ovington Boats and Craftinsure.

Class information: www.k1association.co.uk and www.facebook.com/groups/303054806944246

K1 Scottish Championships and Long Distance Race at Loch Lomond - photo © Katie Hughes

Event Results: