IOCA(Scotland) - the home of Optimist Sailing in Scotland
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Welcome to the home for Optimist Sailors in Scotland.
You'll find us scattered around the length and breadth of Scotland - from St Mary's Loch in the south, to Invergordon in the north, via the Clyde, the Forth and several inland lochs. This is a loose, friendly gathering. If you fancy some new scenery, and a warm welcome, why not join us? Helms should be IOCA / RYA grade 2 or above for traveller's events. Grade 3 is recommended for coastal waters. Events are normally split into a coached regatta fleet for those new to racing, and a main fleet. All the traveller events are Open Events run by the host club, and are typically two day events. Racing is normally Saturday lunchtime to mid afternoon Sunday.
Main fleet boats are expected to be fully measured and certified: regatta fleet boats do not need formal measurement certificates, but should be seaworthy.
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| Boats and RIB safely arrived at Riva del Garda Garda Easter Regatta. Apr 2010 © Copyright M Johnstone |
 | 11:38 01 Sep 10 by AI | End Of Seasons End of Seasons (Rutland 9/10 Oct) online entry now available - http://www.kbsuk.com/Optimist/IOCAEvents/index.asp?EventID=27 |
| 09:54 01 Sep 10 by Iain A | Chandlery Van Duncan Hepplewhite will be bringing his chandlery van with Optimist, 420 et al. spares to the following events:
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23:09 23 Aug 10 by Iain A | Loch Lomond Results The LLSC results are now on the website, and have been incorporated into the series results. Please check that:
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17:03 23 Aug 10 by AI | Traveller 7 - LLSC Bright, blustery conditions greeted the 30 boats that gathered for Traveller 7 at Loch Lomond SC. An 18kt NW’ly kept the midges away from the spectators as the Race Management team set a short trapezoid course close to the clubhouse. R1 started bang on time with Alasdair Logan leading the 18-strong Main Fleet from the start. Alasdair ‘Scoop’ Ireland followed, with Jack Gillespie in 3rd. Another clean start saw Scoop take R2, with Jamie Calder 2nd, and Jack again 3rd. Final race of the day saw a win for Jamie, with the photo-finish for the next 3 places resolved in the order Sophie Taylor, consistent Jack, and Scoop. Sunday started overcast with drizzle, but a steady 10-12 knots and a longer course. Sophie led R4 all the way until the final offwind leg and was pipped by Jamie, Scoop taking 3rd. R5 started in heavier and more persistent rain and was won by Jamie, 1 boatlength from Scoop, with Alasdair Logan in 3rd. Scoop led R6 from the start, only to be beaten narrowly again by Jamie who had worked his way impressively up the fleet following an uncharacteristically middle-of-the-fleet first leg. Alasdair Logan took 3rd again. Overall a win for Jamie, with Alasdair Ireland in second and Sophie just ousting Jack on countback on 3rd. Special mentions also to Rory Harper and Ruaridh Mills who gave some of the squaddies a run for their money and split the results table. Anna Protheroe dominated the Regatta Fleet and had the luxury of discarding a 2nd. Finn Mitchell took 2nd overall despite a catastrophic centreboard failure which ruled him out of the last race and ended his chances of a late charge. Sandy Simpson sailed very consistently into 3rd, with furthest-travelled Matthew Scott starting brightly with a 2nd in R1 and finishing 4th overall in his first event with the travelling circus. Testing conditions for some, especially on day 1, but the coaching team of Lynn and Amy got the most out of the 12 strong fleet. The catering was up to the mark as usual, especially the Chili after sailing in the rain throughout Sunday. Seven down, 2 to go! | |
17:53 07 Aug 10 by Alan Henderson | CALLUM TAKES HIS SECOND OPTIMIST NATIONALS Scotland’s Callum Airlie,15, took the 2010 Optimist Nationals at Weymouth, writes Alan Henderson. He adds the 2010 title to the 2009 one which he won on home waters at Largs. Winning successive Optimist Nationals titles is a rare achievement in the ultra competitive Optimist class, and Callum has become only the 6th sailor to achieve two successive National titles. Callum comes from the Scottish Borders and sails at East Lothian YC. The 49th Volvo Musto Optimist British National and Open Championship was sailed over 8 days of glorious sunshine and remarkably steady winds, mostly 15 knots or so from the West. The full 12 race series was sailed in the main Senior and Junior fleets. Callum was delighted to finish his Optimist career on another high. “It was quite strange to cross the finish line for the last time in an Oppie, but I have really enjoyed the entire week, it’s mostly been great conditions and it’s just been brilliant. The Optimist class has been such a great experience for me, sailing is really the best sport and I doubt you can find a better feeling than when you are sailing well." Callum will now switch to a 420. Visiting 470 sailor Saskia Clark, a former Optimist sailor herself, remarked “When I was sailing Oppies, the British Nationals had around 200 to 250 entries, so it’s doubled in size now!” Total entry was 497, but the quality of the entry has also increased considerably in recent years, with top sailors of many nationalities coming to compete, making it into a de facto international event, much more than just a Nationals. There were almost 100 overseas entries from 12 nationalities from as far away as Asia, with very strong Spanish, US and Irish teams. There were gold and silver fleets for both Seniors and Juniors, with about 80 competitors in each of the fleets. Over half of the competitors who made it into the Senior gold fleet were from overseas, showing their quality. While Callum managed the rare feat of successfully defending an Optimist Nationals title, a Spanish girl, Silvia Mas Depares,14, took the Open Championship in good style. As with some of the other visiting teams, Scotland this year took a bigger and stronger team than at last year’s home event at Largs, as 20 Scottish Optimist sailors of a wide range of ages and experience made the trip, accompanied by two coaches and four RIBs. One debutant was Sandy Simpson, 8, from Annandale. His Mum told Yachting Life Sandy loved the Nationals, a wee bit scared at the start line but he stuck them all out and finished every race. He said on the way home, “Thanks for taking me to the Nationals, I really really enjoyed myself.” Olympians Ben Ainslie and Sarah Ayton were lovely and signed everything that the kids took to them. What a treat for an 8 year old to meet gold medal winners, he's been telling everyone! There were plenty of other top performances by the Scottish team, who were led by coach Robbie Burns. In the Seniors Jack Gillespie finished well up in the Gold fleet, with Sophie Taylor and Alasdair Logan also making the Gold fleet. In the Senior silver fleet, Alasdair Ireland and Angus Johnstone finished 10th and 11th, on same number of points after 12 races! Ruaridh Mills, at his first Oppie Nationals, did well to finish mid fleet in the Senior Silvers. There were two | |
07:39 09 Jul 10 by Iain A | Pre Nationals Training Two days of training, Thursday and Friday of next week (15/16 July). £20 per sailor per day. Coaching led by Robbie Burns, assisted by Lynne Crichton and Moray Clarke. Main Fleet and Regatta Fleet members welcome. IOCA membership is a pre-requisite for this training session. Contact Alec for further details. Enter now at the usual place | |
17:05 28 Jun 10 by Alasdair Ireland | Toward SC Traveller The 9 boats that travelled to Toward SC enjoyed 7 great races over the weekend. Sat. Race 1. Wind SE 5 kts. Race leader (identity kept secret to prevent embarassment, OK son?) set off in the wrong direction after the windward mark, followed by half the fleet. Nicollo Vetta made the most of the confusion to win, leading Fiona Mckay and Rachel Mawer. Conditions were similar for R2, and after much place-changing Sophie Taylor won from Alasdair Ireland and Angus Johnstone. R3, under bright blue sky and a slightly backing wind was again fantastically close, taken by Alasdair, with Sophie pipping brother Hamish by the thickness of a Volvo-Musto sticker on the line. Sunday started grey, but by the time racing commenced it was under clearing skies and a building S Easterly. These breezier conditions suited Jack Gillespie who had been mid-fleet all day Saturday, but scored his first bullet in R4, followed by Angus and Sophie. R5 started in perfect conditions. Wind 12-14 kts, bright sun and building sea. Another very tight fight with Jack claiming his second win from Alasdair and Angus. After a short break ashore for lunch the scene was set for 2 final races as some of the best conditions of the traveller year so far persisted. Angus led R6 from start to finish to win by a huge margin, followed by Alasdair and Jack. The seventh and final race was back to nip and tuck, with a win for Alasdair, Jack next, followed by Sophie. So the 7 races produced 5 different winners and some incredible photo-finishes all the way through the fleet. Unfortunately the Regatta Fleet was limited to 2 boats from Isle of Bute SC, who sailed across on Sunday morning only to find that by start time the conditions were a bit too testing for racing. Full marks for trying though lads! Thanks to TSC for a great venue, our own race area, smart prizes, brand new racing marks, first-rate bacon rolls (the universal way to judge a traveller!) and lots of cakes at the prizegiving. Overall results (6 best from 7) 1st Alasdair Ireland, Toward SC, 12 pts. 2nd Jack Gillespie, Largs SC, 17 pts, 3rd Sophie Taylor, CCC, 18 pts. | |
10:14 10 Jun 10 by Iain A | Absence from Traveller For the last few years, we have allowed squad members missing Scottish events due to conflicting GBR Optimist events to count average points. This is the equivalent of the more common OOD concession operated by many clubs. This season Jamie Calder, Alasdair Logan, Ali Gray, Rachel Mawer and Callum Airlie will all be missing Scottish events due to Optimist Team GBR commitments. Their scores at these events will be shown in the series as GBR, which will count as the average of all their sailed races - and so can (and probably will) change during the course of the season. Whilst some have argued that GBR team members should not be concerned about 'local' events, we have never subscribed to this view due our smaller numbers. We feel that the average points approach is better for Scottish sailing as:
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20:29 07 Jun 10 by Iain A | Helesnburgh Traveller Note that although the club have not yet confirmed the entry fee for the regatta, entries are open. Paperwork and payment should be brought to the club on the day. The class levy can be paid via google checkout if you prefer. | |
16:02 31 May 10 by Iain A | East Lothian Traveller The next traveller at East Lothian is almost upon us. On-line entry closes soon - get in quick, particularly regatta fleet, so that the correct number of coaches are lined up. Duncan Hepplewhite of  Scottish Sailing is now a Scottish Dealer for North Sails: he has a P4 and a P5 available for testing  . Contact him direct for details. Main fleet sailors should remember that changing equipment (other than damage replacement) during an event is in breach of class rules.For those attending the Nationals, Iain Calder has agreed to offer pre-measurement at N Berwick. | |
13:47 13 Aug 10 by | The Walrus and the Carpenter The time has come the Walrus said to speak of many things. of ships, and string, and sealing wax. Of cabbages, and Kings! The fleet has grown Mad Alec said. beyond all kinds of ken. With boats from here, and there, and far by carrier, and with friends. Time moves on, the Old Hands said and sailors change their boat. but needs remain the same you see, to keep the child afloat. With spars and parts the parents tread, 'longsde their offy spring. delve deep in pocket, and help on shore What! Not another thing! Results they like, and names in print some photos - they'd be good! but time it takes - and willing hands not just preparing food! (with apologies to Lewis Carroll) Seriously - we do need new blood. The class by definition has transient adults. We do now need people to help with:
Please - talk to Alec, me, Charlie - or any of the parents that have been there, done that! There is a lot of knowledge out there - don't lose it through apathy! Some has been distilled and filtered for public consumption via the website. We all started knowing nothing! Iain | |
13:12 21 Sep 09 by dumbledore | Content Management The news is now held in our database, so it is easier for the site to be managed. This also means you don't need to know html to be able to enter articles, although it helps! The 'new' icon indicates articles created (or edited) within the last week. |
