Stromness Regatta

Stromness, Orkneys, Scotland, July 12, 2026

1. Stewsan – Patrick Sarsfield & Steve Roberts
2. Nefelli – Lloyd Roberts & Anna Taylor
3. Mandarino – Mark Taylor & Stephan Shorter

Orkney Snipe Series

1. Mandarino – Mark Taylor & Stephan Shorter
2. Thumper – Ewan Sinclair & Arabella Kennard
3. Skeldro – Leanne Fischler & Tiphaine Cazenave

Source: Stromness Sailing Club:

Sponsored by Highland Park

The annual Stromness Regatta, hosted by Stromness Sailing Club and generously sponsored by Highland Park, took place over the weekend of 11th and 12th July 2026, introducing an exciting new two-day format that proved to be a tremendous success.

For the first time, the Regatta was expanded beyond its traditional Saturday programme, with two races on Saturday followed by three further races on Sunday to create a five-race championship series. The new format retained the historic Regatta trophies while introducing additional awards for the overall weekend champions.

A fleet of 25 boats, representing Snipes, ILCAs, handicap dinghies, catamarans and traditional Yoles, launched from Stromness Harbour before making their way across the navigation channel to committee boat starts in the Bay of Ireland, behind the Holms.

The club was also delighted to welcome visiting sailors from Bough Beech Sailing Club in Kent, whose participation added to the competitive spirit of the weekend and demonstrated the growing reputation of the Stromness Regatta beyond Orkney.

A Weekend of Contrasting Conditions

The weather provided competitors with two very different sailing challenges.

Saturday tested sailors’ tactical skills with a light north-easterly breeze of 4–8 knots, combined with an ebb tide of around one knot. The light conditions rewarded careful boat handling, good tactical awareness and making the most of every wind shift while negotiating the tidal flow.

Sunday began with a gentle south-easterly breeze of around 5 knots, but conditions steadily improved throughout the day. By the final race the wind had increased to 10–12 knots, producing fast, exciting racing and an excellent conclusion to the weekend.

Despite the changing conditions, the race management team successfully completed all five scheduled races, providing competitors with a full championship series and some outstanding sailing.

Saturday Racing

Following registration, safety briefings and the competitors’ meeting at the club shed, boats launched from Stromness Harbour before sailing across the navigation channel to the committee boat start.

Race Officer Jimmy Clouston, supported by an experienced race management team, delivered two excellent back-to-back races despite the challenging light winds.

Race One

The Corrigal Cup for the Two-Sail Yoles was won by Helga, sailed by Caroline Butterfield and Chris Allen. Lily finished second, sailed by Baptiste Mathie-Claverie, Millie Brown and Thibault Gras followed by Sumato in third, sailed by Ken Sutherland, Miranda and Shane Goodbudy.

The John Hourston Trophy for the Snipe fleet was won by Nefelli, sailed by Lloyd Roberts and Anna Taylor. Stewsan, Patrick Sarsfield & Steve Roberts finished second, with Mandarino, sailed by Mark Taylor and Stephan Shorter, taking third.

In the Mixed Centreboard class, Kyle Harcus sailing Aak claimed first place ahead of Scallywag, sailed by John Orr and Kathryn Moar, while Josh Brown finished third in his ILCA.

The Catamaran fleet saw Williflippit, sailed by Calum Rendall and Scott Johnson, take victory ahead of Awesome, Ian Rushbrook and Andrew Taylor and Plum Crazy, Richard Flett and Florence Urgaro.

Race Two

The afternoon’s Allcomers race again produced close tactical racing as competitors continued to contend with the light breeze and tidal flow.

Helga, Caroline Butterfield completed a perfect day’s racing by winning the Yawls Challenge Cup, ahead of Mohican, Angus Budge and Oscar Spence and Simone Burke and Severen, sailed by Noah Wise, Ian Richardson and Dan Wise.

The Jackie Robertson Cup for the Allcomers Dinghy race was won by Stewsan, Patrick Sarsfield & Steve Roberts with Nefelli second sailed by Lloyd Roberts & Anna Taylor and Thumper, sailed by Ewan Sinclair and Arabella Kennard, taking third place.

The Catamaran fleet again saw Williflippit finish first ahead of Awesome and Plum Crazy, completing an unbeaten day.

Saturday Trophy Winners

Following racing, competitors, families and supporters gathered at Stromness Golf Club for the traditional Regatta meal and prize giving.

Among the principal trophy winners were:

• Blue Riband (Overall Yoles Champion): Helga – Caroline Butterfield & Chris Allen

• Corrigal Cup: Helga

• Yawls Challenge Cup: Helga

• John Hourston Trophy: Nefelli – Lloyd Roberts & Anna Taylor

• Jackie Robertson Cup: Stewsan – Patrick Sarsfield & Steve Roberts

• Davo Harcus Quaich: Stewsan – Patrick Sarsfield & Steve Roberts

The Vintage Snipe Cup was won by Juno, sailed by Colin Pirie and Helga Flett, ahead of Skeldro, Leanne Fischler & Tiphaine Cazenave and Go Faster Blue, Lolo Jones and Lee Clouston

Sunday Championship Racing

Sunday’s programme of three further races completed the inaugural Stromness Regatta Two-Day Series.

As the breeze gradually strengthened throughout the day, the racing became faster and even more competitive, producing some excellent tactical contests and close finishes across every fleet.

Overall Two-Day Series Results

ILCA and Handicap Dinghies

1st – Kavan Kynoch

2nd – George Colcomb

3rd – Kyle Harcus

Snipe Championship

1st – Stewsan – Patrick Sarsfield & Steve Roberts

2nd – Nefelli – Lloyd Roberts & Anna Taylor

3rd – Mandarino – Mark Taylor & Stephan Shorter

Orkney Snipe Series

1st – Mandarino – Mark Taylor & Stephan Shorter

2nd – Thumper – Ewan Sinclair & Arabella Kennard

3rd – Skeldro – Leanne Fischler & Tiphaine Cazenave

The completion of all five races over the weekend was a fitting reward for competitors and organisers alike, with the new format providing significantly more racing while maintaining the traditions of the Stromness Regatta.

A Team Effort

Events of this quality are only possible because of the dedication of a large number of volunteers.

Stromness Sailing Club extends its sincere thanks to Highland Park for their generous sponsorship and continued support of sailing in Orkney.

Special thanks go to Davie and Lorraine Bruce for once again providing their motor yacht as the Committee Boat, enabling Race Officer Jimmy Clouston and his race management team to deliver five excellent races over the weekend.

The club is also extremely grateful to the crews of the safety boats, mark-laying team, launch and recovery crews, race administration volunteers, beach marshals, catering team and the many Stromness Sailing Club members whose hard work behind the scenes ensured the smooth running of the event.

Our thanks also go to Stromness Golf Club for hosting Saturday’s meal and prize giving, providing competitors with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate another successful day on the water.

Finally, thank you to every sailor who travelled to Stromness to compete, including our friends from Bough Beech Sailing Club in Kent. Their enthusiasm, sportsmanship and willingness to travel such a considerable distance helped make the inaugural two-day Regatta an even more memorable occasion.

The introduction of the two-day format has set a new benchmark for the Stromness Regatta. With excellent racing across five completed races, contrasting sailing conditions and a strong turnout from both local and visiting competitors, the weekend demonstrated the strength of sailing in Orkney and the welcoming spirit of Stromness Sailing Club.

The Club looks forward to welcoming sailors back to Stromness in 2027 for another memorable Regatta.

Mark Taylor

Commodore

Stromness Sailing Club