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 | 2 Scots Aiming for the Olympics will race at Bell Lawrie Scottish Series
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 Charlotte Dobson (aged 19) and Luke Patience (20) both of whom live in Rhu, will be joining up to 1,200 other crews and taking part in this month’s Bell Lawrie Scottish Series yacht racing event. Scotland’s premier yacht racing event and the biggest annual regatta in the UK after Cowes Week, the Scottish Series takes place from 25th to 28th May 2007.
Charlotte Dobson, sponsored by Tiso, one of the race course sponsors at the event, will be racing in her Laser Radial in the Olympic classes regatta in Holland over the weekend, but plans to travel back to Scotland to race with the Tiso crew aboard the IRC Class 1 yacht, Tiso Thunderbird on Monday 28th May. Currently ranked 22nd in the world, she is aiming to be part of the Skandia Team GBR for the London 2012 Olympics.
Luke Patience is also a member of the Olympic Development Squad, helming a 470 (two man dinghy). He will be hoping to go one better at Tarbert this year and win the Sportsboat class, after finishing 2nd overall in the class to previous Scottish Series champion, Hamish Mackay at last year’s event.
Up to 200 yachts are expected to be on the start line in Loch Fyne in a couple of weeks’ time. The yachts race on three separate courses on the clear waters of Loch Fyne with the fantastic Argyll scenery as a backdrop. While on the water racing is fiercely competitive, all the crews enjoy the social side of the event, which starts each evening in the event marquee with the presentation of the daily prizes.
Although much of the action takes place on the water, there’s still plenty happening in the village of Tarbert during the day. Aimed at families and visitors, Tarbert Enterprise Company have put together a fabulous programme, with something for all ages and interests. With live bands playing in the marquee each evening, children’s entertainment, stalls selling unique ranges of clothing, seafood and shellfish, local pipe bands, model boat racing and dinghy sailing in the harbour, Tarbert is set to come alive over the Bank Holiday weekend.
RYA Scotland is again bringing their ‘Sailing in the City’ initiative to Tarbert. The scheme aims to offer local and accessible sailing to young people all over Scotland and has proved really popular in its first three years of operation. Youngsters between the ages of 8-14 will get the chance to learn the basics of sailing. Pre-bookable taster sailing sessions will take place in Tarbert harbour, covering the first elements of the RYA Youth Sailing scheme, with the emphasis on safety and having fun.
To book a taster session, contact Jane Scott, RYA, Tel: 0131 317 4610, email: jane.scott@rya-online.net
Commenting on their eighth year of sponsorship, Fraser Gardiner, Director of investment managers, Bell Lawrie said, “We’re delighted to continue to support the Scottish Series. It has proved itself a valuable platform for us over the years and is a great event to be connected with; we work hard with the Clyde Cruising Club and other sponsors to make it an event to remember.”
The Scottish Series attracts around 200 visiting yachts to the picturesque West Coast village of Tarbert, plus over 1,200 crew who truly bring the normally quiet village to life over the racing weekend. Tarbert hoteliers estimate that on average they generate 15% of their annual turnover during the weekend of the Scottish Series and a economic impact study commissioned in 2005 by Argyll & Islands Enterprise estimated that visitors to the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series generated over £600,000 in expenditure to the local area.
Further details and Race entry forms for this year’s Bell Lawrie Scottish Series are available now from the Clyde Cruising Club website: www.clyde.org
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