The 2023 Round Bute Race

The Round Bute Race 2023

The annual Round Bute Race unfurled its sails on Saturday, June 17, with the 8am time gun rallying 15 sailing yachts, as they poised to circumnavigate the picturesque Isle of Bute on the west coast of Scotland.

When the clock struck 8:30am, the maritime spectacle began, with each boat racing to meet the 7pm finish.

The event was organised by the dedicated Isle of Bute Seasports Club members.

This year was particularly significant as the organisational mantle was handed to a new team following the unfortunate passing of several club stalwarts in the preceding year.

The club’s efforts proved fruitful as they successfully upheld the tradition of this popular annual race.

The ultimate prize for first place was the Grand Bute trophy, a boat-shaped sugar dish made of pure silver that was gifted to the club by the Marquess of Bute years ago.

Fighting to escape the doldrums

As the adventure around the island approached its climax, a dramatic drop in wind strength left many vessels stalled and unable to move forward.

The low winds posed a formidable challenge, causing ten ships to retire from the race prematurely. In the end, the race became a test of endurance and strategy, with only five boats crossing the finish line.

Champions of the Round Bute Race 2023

Claiming the overall winner's title and Grand Bute Trophy, Paul Rae aboard the Suilven emerged victorious, clocking in the best time after adjustments for handicaps.

Adding another feather to his cap, the local resident, proficient architect, and seasoned sailor, Alan Marshall, secured second place while riding the waves on his vessel, Parallel Motion.

Jack Meredith's crew triumphantly claimed first place in Class 1 aboard the Reindeer. Adding to their remarkable achievement, they were also the first to sail past the finish line and placed third overall.

Husband-Wife team tops Bute race

In an impressive display of marital teamwork and strategic prowess, a husband-and-wife team emerged victorious in this year's Round Bute Race, navigating a fiercely competitive field and unpredictable weather conditions to secure the fastest corrected time of the day.

Paul Rae, the team's skipper, shared in a post-race interview that their triumph was largely the result of a cunning strategy: exploiting the Suilven’s position at the back of the fleet to keenly observe wind patterns and avoid the pitfalls that ensnared faster ships.

“Given that we were sailing in the Restricted Sail class, we couldn’t use the big, colourful sails known as spinnakers. Consequently, we were left trailing at Colintraive when the spinnaker class boats hoisted their sails,” Paul explained.

The dynamic duo, aboard their 28-year-old Westerly Regatta 370, faced particularly challenging wind conditions passing Tighnabruaich. However, their tenacity and teamwork ensured they kept their boat moving, albeit slowly at times.

"The breeze picked up in the West Kyle and to the East of Inchmarnock, but we could see all the boats ahead stuck in a wind hole just North West of Garroch Head," Paul observed.

In a game-changing move that ultimately sealed their victory, Paul and Eileen stuck close to the Bute shore, allowing them to bypass all but one of the faster boats. They rounded Garroch Head in second position.

“Fortunately for us we managed to find tiny puffs of wind when others were stuck with none – there can be an advantage to being behind," Paul noted.

The wind conditions improved slightly between Bute and Cumbrae, offering an enjoyable sail back up to Rothesay. Despite being overtaken by two of the faster boats, the Suilven crossed the finish line around half past four, after an intense eight hours of racing. The handicap ensured that their corrected time was the fastest on the day, securing their victory.

Reflecting on the race, Paul said, "The Round Bute race is always a great day out. With only two on board it’s a full-on day of hard work and concentration, but very enjoyable.”

The Winning Scratch

Sailor superstition and strategic tactics propelled the Reindeer crew to first place in Class 1.

Captain Jack Meredith, Simon Hamment, Lisa Johnston, Katrina Seator and the father-daughter duo, Angus and Orla Fergusson, managed to seal a tight win in Class 1, finishing a mere two minutes faster than the second-place winner.

Scratching the Mast

Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, the Reindeer crew remained undeterred, attributing their victory to the use of an ancient sailor's custom.

"We were literally losing it," Simon recalled. "Then we scratched the mast and got miles ahead."

The act of "scratching" the mast, a popular sailor's superstition, is believed to summon the wind. It is traditionally done from the side from which the team anticipates the wind.

At the helm of this mystical tactic was Angus and his daughter Orla, who, despite being only twelve years old, has demonstrated exceptional sailing prowess. Now in her third season with Reindeer, Orla has added another victory to her budding career.

Orla and Angus, an RYA yacht instructor, have shared many seafaring adventures together, from Norway to Tarbert, including a win at the Plockton Regatta yacht race last year.

The father-daughter duo introduced their crew to the practice of "scratching," a tactic they believe was pivotal to their victory at Plockton.

In addition to embracing nautical folklore, the Reindeer crew also leaned on weather data. They keenly observed online weather and wind reports to position their boat advantageously in anticipation of the winds.

"We looked at the weather and knew it was going to come in on the North East," they revealed.

The camaraderie and shared love for sailing were palpable among the crew, as Jack playfully highlighted their biggest challenges - "Getting the bacon rolls before we started, and running out of Haribos – which is a nautical crisis."

Following the race, the crew is setting their sights on the 5 ferry cycling challenge. They plan to return next year to defend their title at the Round Bute Race.

Navigating towards a brighter future for sailing on Bute

Elizabeth McMillan, the recently appointed patron of the Isle of Bute Seasports Club, presented prizes at the club's annual awards ceremony and shared her thoughts about the future of the island's sailing community.

Her appointment as the patron is a tribute to her extensive involvement and rich knowledge of the club's history.

Notwithstanding recent losses of key members, the club pulled together to successfully organise the celebrated race, a feat achieved by many members taking on roles and responsibilities for the first time.

"It went very well. Luckily the wind did come back," said Elizabeth, sharing her satisfaction about how the event unfolded. She felt the increased engagement with the club in recent years was promising, stating, "It’s nice to see it being used again and supported."

Despite the positive turnout and resurgent interest, challenges persist for the sailing side.

"The problem we have is that the young people get trained up and are keen to sail but then have to leave for work or school – so it’s a vicious cycle," Elizabeth explained.

In a bid to navigate these choppy waters, the club hopes to find a way to organise sailing lessons for new and aspiring sailors in an attempt to breathe fresh life into the sailing scene.

The exhilarating day concluded with a much-awaited awards ceremony and buffet, a fitting end to a day marked by the collective efforts of the club members and participants alike.