Largs

Jim Saltonstall looks at Largs, a popular venue on the west coast of Scotland

Largs has always been a favourite venue on the west coast of Scotland. Chosen as a national centre, Largs offers all the facilities that are required to host a major event, including a new club house and marina. Largs has the added bonus of being close to the international airport in Glasgow.

The venue also has the full support of the Inverclyde Centre, with all its catering and accommodation facilities, both on the mainland and the Isle of Cumbrae. Accommodation in the town is also plentiful, with numerous hotels, bed and breakfasts, and houses to let. But it’s still important to book in good time, as it is a popular resort during the school holidays. More information on all these matters can be obtained from the Inverclyde Centre (see below). Restaurants and pubs in the town are not in short supply, there are also facilities in the marina and at Largs Sailing Club. I’ve been to many events at Largs over the years, and their professionalism, hospitality, friendship, and social events have always been marvellous.

Race Area

Largs offers two main race areas. One is to the north of the Isle of Cumbrae, which is the principle race area; and the second is between the Isle of Cumbrae and the mainland, which is mostly used in the upper wind range. Both race areas are predominately land locked, with high ground to the east and west. The clearest wind directions are blowing from the south-to-south-west and north-to-north-west. The water is very deep, and the mark layers need to have arms like gorillas - George Purvis and Jim Macdonald know all about it! The water temperature is relatively mild all year round, as it’s clipped by the Gulf Stream. It’s also quite tidal, with up to two knots of current during maximum springs.

North of Cumbrae

Wind Direction

000 degrees: Only rarely does the wind blow from the north during the summer months. But when it does, go left for the wind, away from the high land mass on the starboard side of the course where you will find a divergence area of wind - less velocity. There will be more breeze on the left-of-middle of the course looking upwind.

000-040 degrees: With the wind now coming off the mainland at an angle, the left-hand side of the course pays as you go upwind on starboard tack from the starting area. You will start being headed, with lifts on port tack sailing into the shore. The problems are the gusts and the lulls as you near the shore. It’s important to keep your eyes out of the boat looking for the wind on the water. Watch out for that killer gust, the big heading shift that will capsize you to windward!

040-130 degrees: This is the worst possible wind direction for Largs, straight over the top of the hills to the east. It’s gusty and shifty, both a competitor’s and a race committee's nightmare! If you race with the wind in this direction, its pot-luck time. And whichever direction is successful up the first beat, doesn’t mean that it will pay on any subsequent beats. Keep the odds high by getting your eyes out of the boat, and using all the shifts.

130-180 degrees: In this direction, left normally pays. There’s convergence of the wind on the port side of the course, and as you go in on starboard tack, you get headed, then lifted back out on port.

180-210 degrees: Another shifty direction, as the wind comes off the Isle of Cumbrae. Looking to windward at the island, there will be more breeze coming along its western edge, as this is the convergence side. That means the starboard side of the course should pay for more wind.

210-270 degrees: With the wind in the south-west sector, it pays to go left for the wind, due to the convergence of wind coming along Cumbrae's western shoreline (more velocity). There is also a header on starboard tack as you go towards the island, with lifts on port tack sailing parallel to the northern shore line of Cumbrae.

270-000 degrees: The north-west wind direction is the most stable. But there are still some shifts - 10-15 degrees, gusty and blustery. This is another good time to keep your eyes out of the boat looking for the gusts and lulls, the gusts normally tend to lift starboard tack.

Tide

During maximum spring tides, the rate can get up to two knots. The main flood stream runs at approximately 010 degrees in the race area north of Cumbrae. While it runs at 350 degrees through the Largs channel, which affects the eastern side of this race course. During neap tides, the rate is down to 0.5 knot. An hour before high water the tide eases off, turning slowly over a period of one hour. Then it runs out on a bearing of 190 degrees in the mid-to-western half of the course area, and on a bearing of 170 degrees on the eastern side, down the Largs channel.

Between the Isle of Cumbrae and the Mainland

This race area is normally used in the upper wind range, as a safer option. The clearest wind directions are 340-000 degrees and 180-210 degrees. From the western sector it is very gusty and shifty as the wind comes over Cumbrae. From the eastern sector, the wind is all over the place, even from above! It is very rare that you will get easterly winds at Largs, with the prevailing winds being out of the western sector. If you do, I doubt very much that the committee would race you in the Largs channel.

Wind Direction

350-010 degrees: Go left for the wind, as it is stronger on the port side of the course with the wind convergence on the left.

010-040 degrees: With the wind coming slightly off the mainland shore, you can expect to get lifts on port tack near the shore. But in gusty conditions don't get too close to the shore, because it will be lighter in there.

040-150 degrees: Nightmare racing conditions in this area - not recommended!

150-200 degrees: On the beat go left for the wind, with convergence on the port side of the course there’s more pressure.

200-240 degrees: Looking upwind, the right-hand side of the course now provides lifts on port tack, but in less velocity and gusty conditions. This may be the best way to go when the tide is flooding, but not during the ebb, so check it out pre-start.

240-350 degrees: In this sector, the wind shifts have got to be used all the time. Knowing when you are high and low on each tack is critical to being amongst the chocolates at the windward mark.

Tide

In the Largs channel, the tide is strong during springs as you would expect. It’s squeezed through a narrow gap, stronger in the middle and weaker at the edges during both the flood and the ebb. The flood direction is predominately 000 degrees, and the ebb runs at the reciprocal 180 degrees.

Sea Breeze

The prospects of getting a good sea breeze in Largs are relatively poor, as the whole area is land locked. The best chance is when the mainland gets really warm, with no gradient wind component. Then there’s a possibility of the wind filling in from the south-west late morning or early afternoon, veering to the north-west as the day goes on.

Other Information Sources

Admiralty Charts

1907

Contact either RYA Scotland on: 013 1317 7388
Or Bob Smith at the Cumbrae Centre: 014 7553 0757

Tourist Office

Largs, phone: 01475 673 765