Dalgety Bay Regatta was the last event of the 2024 ILCA Scottish Traveller Series. For Orkney ILCA sailors this was an ideal event to get some racing in after the Orkney Regattas are finished. Three Orkney sailors (Joshua Brown, Kavan Kynoch and Andrew Leslie) attended the event. The ILCA class (or Laser) is currently important in Orkney as it will be the boat used for the Island Games in 2025 for the sailing event. For the Island Games there will be racing in both the ILCA7 and the slightly smaller ILCA6 classes. The ILCA6 is suited to less heavy sailors.
A car was packed up with two boats in tow, leaving Orkney on the Friday night Aberdeen ferry in a gale of wind and heavy rain; a team from Shetland were also heading South on the ship, towing a stacked trailer with two Mirrors and a Laser. Conditions improved on arrival in Aberdeen for the drive south to Dalgety Bay, in Fife north of Edinburgh. The boats were unloaded then prepared for sailing as racing began shortly after arrival. The race area was to the west of the sailing club, it took a 20 minute sail to get there. The course for the ILCA classes was a beat followed by a reach over to a windward/leeward sausage.
On Saturday three races were run in light conditions. The current increased during the day and was a significant factor in the racing. The regatta included various classes with the Mirrors starting first, inevitably the ILCA fleet had to sail through the smaller and slower Mirrors. The ILCA4, ILCA6 and ILCA7 all started together giving a very busy start line.
After the Saturday racing there was live music at the clubhouse which kept us entertained till we sloped off for an early night in the tent.
On Sunday morning we woke to glassy calm conditions, the answering pennant was hoisted signifying a delay to proceedings. The first race started in light shifty conditions and was abandoned after the first lap due to a big wind shift. The south easterly breeze settled in and two good races followed. Hot soup and sandwiches were served at the prize giving for the hungry sailors.
Results
ILCA6: The ILCA6 was the biggest fleet at the event and had very competitive racing. From the Orkney team Joshua scored 6, 12, 2, 11, (14) place giving an overall place of 10. Kavan scored 17, 14, (18), 16 and 16 giving an overall place of 16.
ILCA7: The ILCA7 fleet was smaller with very tight racing throughout the event. Andrew scored (6), 4, 5, 4, 3 giving an overall place of 5.
Orkney Laser Sailing 