Event: ASYC Regatta 2026, Aberdeen & Stonehaven Yacht Club (ASYC), 15 – 16 August 2026
Report by Jamie Hilton
New to the Scottish Skiff calendar in 2026, this was the Yin and the Yang of an Open Meeting for me. Yang in that I only had a 20 minute drive to get there, Yin in that being so far north, very few made the journey to beautiful Stonehaven. I’m not sure the light wind forecast put a firecracker under anyone’s backsides either. Be that as it may, the skiff fleet saw four Musto’s comprising club members, Bob Yeomans and David Frame, topped up with myself a pseudo-local, and Euan Hurter who I managed to coax up the road from Edinburgh. We were joined in the skiff start by a 29er and an RS800 helmed by the ever-impressive, Elsie Munro, with multiple other starts for the likes of the D-Zeros, Fevas, and the general handicap.
Launching off an exposed Sandy beach within the fishing harbour, the fleets made their way out in procession, sailing out from under the cliffs of the harbour and into the main bay. The flooding tide this far north swings round over the top of Scotland and southwards past the Aberdeenshire coast. With a lightish southerly breeze having filled in, the fleet made their way up the course in opposite directions. Local boats went right looking presumably for a bit of pressure and favourable tidal compression near the headland cliffs, while visiting boats tracked out left looking for deeper water and better tide.
In this instance, the tide won, with Jamie narrowly pipping Euan to the top mark. Downwind saw a reverse of this with most boats heading straight back inshore to find less tidal resistance, possibly even the hint of a bay swirling back-eddy. Euan and Jamie traded places downwind, Euan leading at the bottom mark, only for Jamie to pull ahead again on the beat. This pattern continued until the finish, which being halfway up a beat would inevitably be super close. And so it proved, with Jamie narrowly taking the win.
The next race in slightly softer conditions saw Bob win the start with a well-executed port tack out of the pin end. Euan was heard muttering something – no doubt complimentary – before pulling into a lead that he never gave up. David, Bob and Jamie tried various strategies to find some gains, but Euan was not being caught and took a convincing win.
Race 3 started on a changing tide making things a little interesting with the tide changing inshore first, but then stronger offshore once it had turned. Though, as the old saying goes, boat-speed makes you a tactical genius and so it proved for Euan who took the win, but only after a tight battle with Jamie who very nearly got him.
Post racing entertainment was provided in the evening sunshine and a superb setting outside the clubhouse with a generous BBQ, a homemade collection of cakes and a few shandies.
Sunday saw lighter winds and the fleet held ashore under a one-hour postponement, before heading out to the course area. Again, a southerly breeze, and again, a south sweeping tide but having only just turned, was not really settled. That didn’t really matter for Euan who was proving to be lightning quick in these conditions wining all three races of the day.
Bob and David were seeing some gains off the headland side of the course, showing their local knowledge, but never enough to seriously trouble Euan who wrapped up the event in tidy fashion. There was slight drama in the final race where the wind dropped right off with Jamie momentarily finding a better patch of breeze down the final run, only for Euan to dial into something tidally advantageous and secure his fifth win from six and convincingly take the overall win.
All in all, a fun weekend of sailing. The local dolphin pod seemed to agree, popping up regularly to show their support and add some extra splendour to this stunning part of Scotland.
Overall Results
ASYC Open Regatta 2026 Overall Results – Skiffs:
Feature image: ASYC Regatta 2026 (Image: ASYC members)
