The Fife Regatta Returns in 2008
The Fife Regatta is set to return in 2008 and promises to attract some of the most prominent Fife’s that are around today.
The weeks’ racing starts and finishes on the Clyde Estuary to the west of Glasgow on the west coast of Scotland. If the 2003 event is anything to go by Largs Yacht Haven will accommodate the fleet for a few days at both ends of the week, suitably located between Largs and the home of the Fife dynasty, Fairlie. Sadly, a model of the 70ft 1936 Bermudan Yawl, ‘Latifa’, that stands as a wind vane on the Fairlie Parish Church Spire, is one of the few reminders of a by-gone era.
During the week there is racing around the Isle of Cumbraes and stopovers in Rhu, near Helensburgh, and in Rothesay on the Isle Of Bute.
The competitive racing is superbly complemented in the evenings by the infamous Scottish hospitality that takes the excitable owners and crews to banquets in manor houses and historical castles with Scottish traditions such as the ‘Piping Of The Haggis’.
The previous event in 2003 boasted 22 competitors in two classes that included over half a Century of Fife designs ranging from the19ft 1894 Gaff Sloop ‘Hatasoo’ to the 51ft 1950 Bermudan Sloop ‘Sonata’.
Class 1 consisted of the larger Fifes present. ‘Belle Aventure’ and ‘Kentra’, both Ketch rigged came up from the Mediterranean scene along with the impressive Gaff Cutters, ‘Moonbeam IV’ and ‘The Lady Anne’. The smaller but incredibly quick ‘Mikado’ gave the larger yachts a run for their money and came in second overall. Also present was the Bermudan Sloop ‘Solway Maid’ that is recognised as being the last yacht where William Fife III contributed to the design.
The smaller fleet contained a number of the Fife ‘Class’ yachts including 4 Menai Straits One Designs (Thelma III, Siglen, Kookaburra and Sian II), a Belfast Lough One Design (Tern) and a Cork Harbour One Design (Jap).
After two successful events and with sufficient sponsorship for the first time interest continues to grow and there maybe more entries than ever before. Talk among the big boats in the Mediterranean suggests that competitors may include the majestic 23 Metre, ‘Cambria’, the 19 Metre ‘Mariquita’ and the three 15 Metre designs, ‘Tuiga’, ‘The Lady Anne’ and ‘Hispania’ who is in the final stages of a restoration in Majorca. The Bermudan Sloop, ‘Halloween’, now under new ownership is also expected to be present and the only remaining William Fife II design, ‘Ayrshire Lass’, is hoped to make her debut.
Keep an eye out for the updated website soon to arrive at www.fiferegatta.com where all the event details can be found and keep a week free in 2008 because this is going to be one regatta not to miss!
