Sailing: Experience tells as Hamish Mackay sails to victory

EXPERIENCE gained from nine principal trophy triumphs over the last 21 years from all Scots teams proved the backbone of the English-based J97 Jackaroo's overall victory at the 107-boat Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series which finished in perfect sunshine and moderate breezes on Loch Fyne yesterday.

Four race wins and two second places over the six races from South Queensferry-based skipper-helm Hamish Mackay on Jim and Steve Dick's French- built, American-designed J97 ensured a unanimous decision from the jury consisting of regatta officials from the Clyde Cruising Club and the sponsors.

Mackay joins Clyde skipper Jonathan Anderson as the only two skippers or helms to have won the regatta's principal trophy three times.

The immediate past chairman of the Royal Yachting Association in Scotland and past Olympic triallist, Mackay won in 2001 and 2002 steering yachts for the Slovenian Elan marque.

After a weekend of near gale-force winds which reduced the complement of races to just two, one apiece on Saturday and Sunday, the Jackaroo team promoted themselves to the top of the shortlist of trophy candidates when they won twice yesterday in 9-13kts of westerly winds which were riddled with typical Loch Fyne wind shifts and changes in velocity.

"It is always a surprise to win. All you can do is win your class and get yourself on to the shortlist and see what happens. The Class 1 boat Tokoloshe put together a good series but all we could do was win our own fleet. The boat is excellent and we had some excellent people on the boat and that really made the difference. I don't think I can really remember when it was last as windy here as it was over the weekend. I was surprised that the race officers started us but I was pleased they did," said Mackay, who has also been a regular class winner here, as well as winning the top trophy in 1992 as crew on Anderson's Suave Dancer. "I think it is difficult every year here. Today was typically difficult Tarbert conditions, with the breezes coming down off the land. So we were keen to be on top of it today and to get two firsts to get ourselves on the shortlist, which we did. So we are all very pleased. It is a premier regatta, worth working at to put together a good programme for and I'm happy we did it."