Sigmatic claims Sigma 33 win

Conditions moderate at Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series

In more moderate wind conditions which offered a welcome contrast to yesterday, Donald McLaren and his crew on Sigmatic clinched the overall Sigma 33 Class Championship today at the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series.

After winning the class last year on Loch Fyne, Helensburgh's McLaren had set his sights on the Class Championship, the title which unites both the UK and Ireland. With a consistent pair of second places and a fourth today in the fifteen boat fleet, Sigmatic clinched the overall title with 12 points to spare. McLaren, who has had his Sigma 33 for 19 years, quipped this is his first major title since winning in his 13 foot Enterprise dinghy on his native waters off Helensburgh back in 1972.

"We are very pleased," said McLaren. "If experience leads to good starts and consistent tactics, good crew work then you can put it down to experience, but even now after all these years I don't think you ever learn or really can know what is going to happen next on Loch Fyne. "It's been a great regatta so far. I think the atmosphere is really good and the race officers have really got it spot on most of the time.

"We had a little bit of a rebellion yesterday when I asked the crew to gybe the spinnaker when we had over 30 knots of wind, but they did a good job."

Damage to a spinnaker pole casting robbed Dublin Bay's Tim Goodbody of his chance of retaining the title. His White Mischief ran into trouble in yesterday's big winds and they could not race today.

If the Class 1 leaders Argie Bargie thought they would get an easier time of it in the lighter breezes today but the series leading King 40 of Allan Hogg suffered a broken main halyard had to retire from the second race today with a broken main halyard. That is their discard and they still lead both past Scottish Series Trophy winners Geoffrey Howison and Jonathan Anderson in second and third respectively.

Closest and most exciting racing today was in IRC Class 3 where Nigel Bigg's Christie Cancer Care, the J/109, has consistently strengthened their challenge for the overall Scottish Series Trophy with a string of four back to back wins in this highly competitive fleet. Two more wins today were hard won against John Corson's Clyde-based Corby 33 Salamander XX. Christie Cancer Care is ahead of three past Scottish Series Trophy winners in the form of John Highcock who is tactician on Salamander, Steve Goacher on A-Crewed Interest, the A-35 which is fourth and Cork's Anthony O'Leary who lies eighth with his modified 1720 Antix Beagh.

"We are having great racing and can just about stay ahead when it is above 10-12 knots, but otherwise Salamander has the edge but they are sailing exceptionally well," commented Biggs.

Racing finishes tomorrow Monday with two more races scheduled for the IRC Handicap Classes.

Results, Standings Day 3:

IRC Class 1: 1 Argie Bargie (A Hogg) 7pts, 2 Local Hero (G Howison) 11pts, 3 Playing FTSE (J Anderson) 12pts
IRC Class 2: 1 Impetuous (R Fildes) 8pts, 2 Bateleur 97 (C Bonar) 10pts, 3 Tan It (P & R Harris) 16pts
Class 3: 1 Christie Cancer Care (N Biggs/T Hyland) 8pts, 2 Salamander XX (J Corson) 8pts, 3 Tigh Soluis II ( K Grant) 19pts
Class 4: 1 niJinsky (R Yates) 9pts, 2 Movistar Bleu (R Killops) 10pts, 3 Hops (Bolton/Robertson) 12pts
Class 5: 1 Antix (J Allen) 9pts, 2 Shadowfax (B & S Fortieth) 11pts, 3 Chia Chia (P & A Eagleton) 13pts
CYCA Class 6: 1 Aquasmart (C Davis) 13pts, 2 Celtic Spirit (B Robertson) 16 pts, 3 Skywalker (I Laidlaw) 18pts
CYCA Class 7: 1 Bambi (P Doig) 6pts, 2 Tangle O'The Isles (J & V Gough) 11pts, 3 Piecemaker (S Hamilton) 15pts
CYCA Class 8: 1 Hesperus (A McVey) 6pts, 2 What's New Pussykate (S Scott) 6pts,
Sigma 33 Class: 1 Sigmatic (D McLaren) 18pts, 2 Fandango (Prentice/Fair/Byres) 29pts, 3 Mithril (R Boyd) 37pts
Sonata Class: 1 Blue Tack ( D Boatman) 14pts, 2 So (Higgins/McLure/Hutchinson) 19pts, 3 Jazz (K Manderson) 19pts
RS Elite: 1 Elixir (D Mclean) 15pts, 2 Fullmarks (M Brien) 15pts, 3 E'Tu (S Powell) 21pts
Sportsboat Class 1: Tabula Rasa (C Frize) 7pts, 2 Water Tiger (C MacDonald) 16pts, 3 Wild Raver (M Suddes) 28pts
Sportsboat Class 2: 1 Prelude (Manuel/Bourke) 13pts, 2 Haggis (E Mackay) 18pts, 3 ASBOat (G Whyte) 25pts
CYCA Class 9, Restricted Sail: 1 Xanadu (A Knowles) 7pts, 2 Scary…the Boat (S Andrews) 10pts, 3 Lady Rhona (I Cameron) 12pts.

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