Cove Sailing Club, Argyll

20/06/2026

Friday 19th June - The Big Report

After a day of heavy rain, the sky cleared and we got a lovely clear evening for racing at Cove. Eleven Loch Longs were on the start line raring to go.

With PRO Kevin unavailable, the keys were handed over to the young guns on the bridge and to be fair, they did well. Course 7 was set which is 'like a triangle but smaller".

This made for an interesting start with almost the whole fleet early for the downwind start. Tik Hai inshore without a spinnaker took full advantage of a big guddle at the pin end to reach up from the inshore end to take the lead at Mark 1 whilst Sonara found a great gap at the pin end to lead the spinnaker fleet. At the leeward mark, oxygen masks were required if you were not at the front of the fleet as the boats pulled away from the mark. Most of the fleet tacked away quite early but Moonshine hung on longer and this payed dividends as she rounded in the lead at Mid Ground which she held at the end of round 2. With such a short course, the fleet was tightly packed and positions were changing at a fare old rate.

On to round 2 and there was a good battle between Moonshine and Tik Hai for the lead and between Electra and Sula for third. The wind was also flicking back and forwarded which saw a number of positional changes. Just before mid ground, Tik Hai worked her way back into the lead and went on to secure her first win of the season. Well done to Robbie D and Calum. That makes it six different winners at Cove this year which is fantastic. Moonshine was a safe second and Sula sneaked in just ahead of Electra. Sonara sailed really well for fifth whilst Dolphin recovered to sixth just ahead of the newly launched Slioch. Grey Goose was the big mover on round 2 with a big gain on the beat to finish ahead of Elizabeth, Finola and Allegro.

17/06/2026

GSS Botanist Regatta - Friday and Saturday 12- 13th June

Saturday brought blustery conditions to Cove for our annual regatta which was very generously sponsored by a combination of GSS and Botanist Gin.

With gusts over 35 knots recorded through the moorings, some decided not to travel which is understandable but those that did were rewarded with an exhilarating sail. Two good races were sailed on top of the Open race on Friday night making it a full on weekend for the hardy sailors.

Some fantastic drone shots of the action were taken and crews returned to the warmth of the clubhouse for good food, good music and a great opportunity to catch up with friends. Commodore Alan Harper led the prize-giving and thanked the small army of volunteers for helping with the event and extended the Club's thanks to the sponsors for their brilliant support😀

Photos courtesy of Gavin Walker and Catrìona Harper.

17/06/2026

Tuesday 16th June

The wind disappeared last night putting paid to the loch long racing. The conditions were good for the cadets though and they practiced capsize drills as well as stopping helms through the session.

To top the night off our local dolphins decided to join in the session making it a truly memorable cadet night. Watch the video right to the end😀

13/06/2026

Friday 12th June - The Big Report

It was a windy old evening at Cove last night but 10 loch longs lined up for racing on the eve of our annual regatta. The wind was flicking between west and northwest so the race Committee decided to send us downhill to Kilcreggan first so as to give us beat back up to loch long.

Dolphin got away well on the outside and had a small lead as the boats turned the corner at Barons Point but as spinnakers started to be deployed, she slipped back a few positions. At Kilcreggan Rosehill, Electra rounded just in front of Capricorn and Moonshine with a big group of boats just behind. On the long drag over to mid ground, Moonshine and Ornsay were going well and it was Moonshine that popped out in the lead at the windward mark holding a slender lead over the pack.

It then looked like the clutch went on Moonshine as she just couldn't get any traction coming away from the mark. The students on Ornsay were revelling in the conditions and a good hoist allowed them to steam up into the lead just after mid ground. There was good competition through the fleet as well between Sonara and Dolphin and then between Viva and Grey Goose.

At Cove, Ornsay rounded just in the lead and headed for home. There was a squeaky bum moment on the final approach to the line but the boys held on to take victory by half a boatlength. A well deserved first win for Rhu and team on Ornsay and yet another winner in the loch long fleet this year. Rhu is now available to talk you through his victory 😀

Provisional Results:

1. Ornsay
2. Electra
3. Moonshine
4. Capricorn
5. Sonara
6. Dolphin
7. Allegro
8. Finola
9. Grey Goose
10. Viva

12/06/2026

Regatta Ready!

11/06/2026

Just a couple of days to go to the regatta and we have entries across the Pipers, Etchells Loch Long and Handicap classes. First start for one design boats is 11.30 and the handicap boats are from 1pm. Just a tenner to enter so please sign up and be part of the action.

https://www.covesailingclub.co.uk/cove-regatta

Holy Loch Sailing Club - SCIO Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club Helensburgh Sailing Club

Cove Sailing Club's GSS & The Botanist Regatta is an annual sailing event hosted by the club, offering exciting and competitive racing on Loch Long. The regatta draws sailors from various sailing clubs in the area, creating a vibrant atmosphere and spirited competition. Cove Regatta is known for its...

09/06/2026

Tuesday 9th June - The Wee Report

There were a few blustery showers just before kick off tonight but it all cleared nicely for the start of Tuesday night racing. The breeze was good from the north west so the bridge team opted for Course 16 which meant a spinnaker start. The young team on Sonara nailed the start at the pin end and were first away with the rest of the fleet taking a bit more time to get underway. It was a fast run down to Rosehill at Kilcreggan and at the mark, it was Capricorn sneaking in just ahead of Sonara and Moonshine. The pack were just behibd and with a long beat up to mid ground in Loch Long, there were plenty of opportunities to make up ground. The majority of the fleet headed into Silver Bay and worked the shore giving the houses on Shore Road an armchair show as the fleet of 12 boats made their way upwind. Positions were changing at a fair old rate and at mid ground, it was now Sula up into the lead from Electra having stayed further offshore. An interesting spinnaker hoist allowed the lead to slip away though as the boats headed to the gybe mark at the club. With first round completed in about 45 minutes and the breeze holding, a second round was sailed and again it was good tight racing. The main movers on round 2 were Sonara stretching up into an excellent fourth place ahead of Moonshine. Ornsay and Elizabeth also made a gain at the expense of Dolphin whilst Finola got the better of Grey Goose after a long battle.

Results:

1. Electra
2. Sula
3. Capricorn
4. Sonara
5. Moonshine
6. Ornsay
7. Elizabeth
8. Dolphin
9. Allegro
10. Finola
11. Grey Goose
12. Viva

09/06/2026

📚 Book Club 📚

As part of your Cove Sailing Club membership, you are welcome to come along and join in with our book club!

Our next meeting is Tuesday 7th July at 6.30pm, and we will be discussing 'The Tenderness of Wolves' by Stef Penney. Don't worry if you've not read it, we'd love to see some more members there, so come and see how we got on with it and decide if it is for you.

The session lasts for an hour, and the bar will be open!

Message [email protected] if you would like any more information, otherwise just come along!

05/06/2026

Friday 5th June - The Big Report

It had been a big day for wind at Cove on Friday with some big gusts through the moorings recorded and there were some massive waves to contend with.

Perfect conditions for Loch Longs and 12 boats were on the start line marking a season high so far. Course 5 was set which was a spinnaker start down to the Knockers followed by a beat back to mid ground. All the boats were well behaved at the start with nobody over the line and spinnakers were set for a fast run up Loch Long. Moonshine was going well at the front but the real battle tonight was in the mid fleet with the boats all rounding in quick succession at the leeward mark. Grey Goose did well at the mark, picking up a couple of spots whilst Allegro broke their Spinnaker pole on the gybe to open the door for the boats close by. The upwind leg was a big one up to mid ground and the big movers were Dolphin to begin with and then Elizabeth on the approach to the mark who seemed to pop out of knowwhere to challenge the top half of the fleet at Mid Ground. It was a tight spinnaker reach back to Black Buoy and some did better than others on this leg. It was great to see Viva in the mix tonight and she was going really well as the boats rounded mid ground.

It was one of those nights where there were little battles all the way through the fleet and the results were keenly contested.

On return to the clubhouse, it looked quiet and then you opened the door and it was like the Southern Comfort advert. The place was heaving and the Chinese food coming out of the kitchen was off the scale! Well done to all involved with the food which was truly fantastic😀

Friday results:

1. Electra
2. Moonshine
3. Dolphin
4. Capricorn
5. Ornsay
6. Elizabeth
7. Sonara
8. Allegro
9. Mosquito
10. Grey Goose
11. Finola
12. Viva

04/06/2026

Just over a week to go!

Cove Sailing Club’s Annual Regatta, proudly sponsored by GSS and The Botanist, is happening on Saturday, 13th June. ⛵🌊☀️

Whether you're competing or cheering from the shore, it's an event not to be missed with a BBQ and live entertainment from late afternoon!

Entry forms and notice of race are now available online — sign up today and be part of the action! 🎉

https://www.covesailingclub.co.uk/cove-regatta

Holy Loch Sailing Club - SCIO Royal Gourock Yacht Club Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club Helensburgh Sailing Club