Loch Earn Sailing Club Announces 2025 Optos Brown Cup Scottish School Sailing Championships
by Scottish School Sailing 10 Mar 13:11 UTC
9 June 2025
Brown Cup Scottish School Sailing Championships © Craig Pagett Photography
Loch Earn Sailing Club (LESC) is delighted to announce the return of the Optos Brown Cup Scottish Schools Sailing Championships for 2025.
The event, scheduled for Monday, 9th June 2025, continues its tradition as a grassroots inter-school sailing regatta, encouraging youth sailing from across Scotland.
Event Overview
- Date: Monday, 9th June 2025
- Location: Loch Earn Sailing Club, Sandy Point, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NG
- Participants: Open to pupils aged 7 to 18 from primary and secondary schools
- Format: One-day regatta with separate class racing for Optimist, Topper, and general handicap fleets, including Laser, Feva, and RS200 classes.
The Brown Cup is a "bring your own boat" event, welcoming all established sailing dinghies with
RYA Portsmouth Yardstick handicaps. Schools are encouraged to enter multiple teams of three boats each, competing for the coveted Brown Cup trophy.
The regatta is a "supported" event and provides additional explaining and on-water assistance for those who are competent sailors but new to racing. A limited number of LESC Topper dinghies are available for charter hire for the event.
Sponsorship Renewal
LESC is delighted to announce that Optos, a leading retinal imaging company owned by Nikon, has extended its sponsorship for another three years, covering 2025 to 2027. This continued support underscores Optos's commitment to nurturing young sailing talent in Scotland.
2024 Winners
Largs Academy won the 2024 Brown Cup, with team members Cameron McDaid, Eva Farnell, and Kate Shelley consistently performing in the Handicap.
Class Winners
The 2024 event showcased excellent development across various classes.
Optimist Class: Andrew Perratt from Lomond School demonstrated remarkable skill, achieving a perfect score of 3 points. Former Loch Earn Sailing Club member Neil was delighted to witness his son advancing in the sport, with Finlay Ritchie securing an impressive second place in the Optimist Class. LESC club member Matthew Williams, sailing for Dunblane HS, improved his ranking and gained experience from the event.
Topper Class: Emily Shearer of Jordanhill School secured first place with consistent top finishes.
Handicap Fleet: Cameron McDaid from Largs Academy excelled in the Laser Radial/ILCA 6, contributing significantly to his team's overall victory. LESC club member Charlie Galloway sailing for Bertha Park HS competed in his first Brown Cup.
These results highlight the depth of talent and dedication among Scotland's young sailors, setting a high standard for the upcoming 2025 championships.
Historical Significance
Established in 1959 by Jack Brown, a former Commodore of LESC (1960-1962), the Brown Cup began as a regatta for members' children and expanded in 1992 to include all Scottish schools, thanks to Harvey MacMillan. The event has grown significantly, with past regattas attracting over 100 boats. Interestingly, his son Mike MacMillan is part of the Brown Cup organisation team and acting as Race Officer.
Location
Loch Earn is a picturesque freshwater loch situated in the southern Highlands of Scotland, within rural Perthshire. It is approximately 45 km from Perth, 151 km from Aberdeen, and 122 km from Inverness. The Loch Earn Sailing Club is located at Sandy Point, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NG.
LESC looks forward to welcoming schools from across Scotland for an exciting day of competition, camaraderie, and the celebration of youth sailing excellence.
Entries are now open at scottishschoolsailing.org/online-entry
Contact
For more information, please visit the official Scottish Schools Sailing website at or contact Loch Earn Sailing Club directly through the contact page at scottishschoolsailing.org/contact
An event run by Loch Earn Sailing Club.