The first major storm of Autumn beckoned for Sunday, with F8-9 out in the Minch. It was with much relief that Hugh Macintyre - Race Officer for the annual Gairloch Challenge – announced at the Saturday briefing that Sunday sailing was cancelled.
However, with four handicap and four Topper races planned for the Saturday, with only one discard allowed, competitive sailing was likely.

The Gairloch Challenge - an annual club challenge for clubs in Scotland - is always well represented with sailors from Loch Morlich, Lochcarron and Invergordon Sailing Clubs.

Although the forecast for Saturday suggested a gentle F2-3 SW, with eighteen dinghies racing, four safety boats were on the water. The course, set by Hugh, Peter MacDonald and Peter Macintyre, afforded superb views of the race particularly as the gybe mark was set within 100 metres of the pier. However, fairly light conditions were the order of the day, and the safety crews saw no action.

Individual First in the handicap races was Dave Allan with Dave Finlayson in the Albacore from Invergordon SC, followed by Gairloch BC local Ewen McLellan in his RS Feva, and John and Fiona Newman third from Loch Morlich SC in their Laser 2000.

For the second year running congratulations to Ian Nelson who won all four races in the Topper class.

Lochcarron SC won the Challenge trophy, and Loch Morlich the friendship Quaich.

After sailing, 42 sailors and helpers retired to the Myrtle Bank for a superb Italian buffet.

As always, many thanks to Len, Peter, Stuart and Colin from the Coastguard for manning the safety boats.

Martin Rowe