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Eights back on the Clyde

The Eight Metre World Cup 2024 was held on August 17-24th in Helensburgh, Scotland under the auspices of the historic Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club and Mudhook YC. Thirteen yachts from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK and even a team from Canada had a windy and wild week of racing and perhaps an even wilder week of social events.

The Class is noted for its dedication to sailing perhaps the World’s most beautiful and affordable boats, in outstanding locations offering opportunities to take families and friends along and still compete at the highest level. The Clyde event proved no exception and competitors found out why the history of Eight racing runs deep in this area.

The waters of the Clyde near Glasgow are the home of the great William Fife dynasty of yacht designers and the boatyards around its shores are where many of the competing yachts were built. Silvers yard at Rosneath just 1k away from RNCYC is also next to the site of Mcgruers yard, and around the local coastline you can find names from the past including Robertsons at Sandbank in the Holy Loch, Milne’s yard and of course Fairlie where the Fife yard was based.

So, the return to the Clyde of Fife-designed yachts of Saskia, Severn, Carron II, Falcon and Fulmar was a sight to behold and a great opportunity to imagine the races of almost 100 years ago when the class was developing and trialling new designs and shapes, and pushing the boundaries.

The Neptune Class prevailed in terms of providing eight of the entrants. These are the more traditional looking boats majority of boats typically with 100 year old wooden hulls with classic white sails including spinnakers. The line-up of Fife boats’ bow dragons made visiting mouths water and hopefully will bring more enthusiasts into the re-developing Clyde fleet.

The racing was extreme due to 20kn, gusting 30kn, winds every day. The fact that these conditions were accompanied by driving rain didn’t seem to deter the teams who were out in enthusiastic form for every day and every race. It is true that the number of thermals bought in mid-summer from the local chandlers was a surprise to us all, but the dedicated Eight teams definitely were up for 6 days of hard racing.

The two Modern Class eights of Yquem 2 and the old Yquem 1, now re-named Spirit, were ready for a fight. Jean Fabre previously owned both boats and was keen to see how the new owners, Richard Urquhart and David Wolff, had prepared the boat in the short time since bringing her across from Canada. With new sails and a new mast this was a steep learning curve.

A great initiative proposed and supported by the Eight Metre Class Association (IEMA) was to sponsor a Youth Team. The very kind and generous owners of Athena, the Earl of Cork and Orrery and David Parsons, offered this 1939 Tor Holm designed boat for use by a suitable team. The Ebitichoke Yacht Club from Canada rapidly found some regular Eight sailors who are also sailing instructors with a high level of competence, to crew the boat. They excelled in their ability to master the boat in only a couple of days before the event and safely and successfully compete throughout the regatta. Hopefully IEMA can repeat this opportunity in other World Cup events around the globe.

The social events will be a hard act for any future hot clubs to follow. Starting with a civic reception in the historic town hall, then a seafood extravaganza serving Scotland’s excellent shellfish, a whisky tasting hosted by the Urquhart brothers of Benromach whisky and of 8mR yacht Spirit (aptly named), a mini-highland games with caber tossing, and finally a Scottish night with haggis, bagpipes and highland dancing. The success and feeling of the week was totally embraced by the Class and the 50+ volunteers who helped make it all happen.

Yquem II prevailed and won the World Cup, and Vision won the rest of the trophies apart from the Corinthian Cup which was won deservedly by the Canadian Youth Team on Athena.

Team Yquem II
Team Vision
Canadian Youth Team
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