Please select your home edition
Edition
Crewsaver 2021 Safetyline LEADERBOARD

Scottish Optimist Travellers at Peterhead Sailing Club

by James Gifford 26 May 2017 19:27 UTC 20-21 May 2017
Scottish Optimist Travellers at Peterhead © Matt Toynbee

When we arrived on Saturday morning in the pouring rain, with the water completely glassy and a damp one hour postponement up, it wasn't looking so great. However, at roughly one o'clock the thirteen of us started the first race in some wind but still just as much rain.

The weather steadily improved from then on, with the wind building but the rain lessening until, by the 3rd and last race of the day it was only drizzling and the toppers were falling over everywhere. Overnight, the results were very close, with 2 points separating 1st (Alastair ) and 2nd (Rory), 2 points in between 3rd, 4th and 5th and so on. It was still all to play for.

We woke up bleary eyed from our tent the following morning into the bright daylight, with the sun shining, and the wind light but sailable. We rigged our boats and sat on the beach/in the water for the normal 15 minutes (I think the toppers are still confused) until we were given the go ahead in the sunshine and decent wind.

The next three races were the deciders to the final positioning, with a few position changes, and believe it or not, the places were just as close as before, with 1st beating 2nd by 2 points, 2 points in between 3rd and 4th and 4th beating 5th on count back. It was an interesting event with a few small hitches caused by the weather, but all in all we really enjoyed it and Peterhead SC were very friendly.

Congratulations to Alastair for winning the event and to Sophie for winning the Regatta Fleet.

Overall Results: (top five)

1st Alastair Coombs (LVSC)
2nd Rory Gifford (Royal Tay YC)
3rd James Gifford (RTYC)
4th Daniel Scott (RTYC)
5th Connor Kennedy (ASYC)

Related Articles

All set for NEYYSA Championship at Ullswater
Youth and juniors from all over the NE and Yorkshire will battle this weekend With less than 24 hours until the first warning signal at the North Region Youth & Junior Championships organised by North East & Yorkshire Youth Sailing Association (NEYYSA) and hosted by Ullswater Yacht Club final preparations are in hand. Posted on 20 Jun
Gill Optimist Early Summer Championships
Brightlingsea delivered a thrilling test of skill and adaptability The IOCA Early Summer Championships at Brightlingsea SC delivered a thrilling test of skill and adaptability for the Optimist Fleet, with sailors battling extreme variations in wind speed and direction over two days of racing. Posted on 19 Jun
Cambridgeshire Youth League at Grafham Water
33 sailors took part in windy conditions The second leg of the Cambridgeshire Youth Sailing League took place at Grafham Water Sailing Club on Saturday 14th June. Despite the forecast for strong winds, 33 intrepid young sailors set sail in gusty conditions. Posted on 18 Jun
Tyson Tops 32nd International Optimist Regatta
Getting good starts and sailing fast led to the win at St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Getting good starts and sailing fast led the USA's Daniel Skutch Tyson to win the 32nd International Optimist Regatta (IOR), hosted at the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC), June 13-15, 2025. Posted on 16 Jun
2025 TOTE Team Racing Championships
USA National Team Wins ahead of the 32nd International Optimist Regatta A good start and a first-place finish in the final race proved a win for the USA National Team, with sailors representing yacht clubs in Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and Rhode Island, in Thursday's TOTE Team Racing Championship. Posted on 12 Jun
12th Carey Olsen Jersey Regatta open for entries
With the GBR IRC Channel Islands Championship this September Slated for Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September, the Carey Olsen Jersey Regatta is open for entries. This, the 27th edition of the combined clubs' flagship event is the sixth to be kindly sponsored by offshore law firm Carey Olsen. Posted on 10 Jun
32nd International Optimist Regatta starts soon
A fleet of nearly 100 sailors will compete at St. Thomas YC One week, three events! The TOTE Clinic kicks off Monday through Wednesday, the TOTE Team Race is on Thursday, and the 32nd International Optimist Regatta (IOR), hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club (STYC), runs from Friday through Sunday. Posted on 9 Jun
Still all to play for in the NEYYSA Series
Off to Pennine SC this weekend Sailors are gearing up for the next round of the North East & Yorkshire Youth Travellers Series which resumes at Pennine Sailing Club on Saturday 7 June after a short siesta over the half term period. Posted on 6 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools. Posted on 5 Jun
Optimist Trophy Kinder Joy of Moving Overall
Sunny but without wind on the final day The third leg of the Optimist Trophy - Kinder Joy of Moving concluded in Villasimius under brilliant sunshine, but the final day of racing was cancelled due to a lack of wind. Posted on 3 Jun
Sunstorm Marine - Halyard BagsCure Marine - Cure 55 - FooterGJW Direct - Yacht 2019 - Footer