Mark Cameron Yachts

Scottish Islands Peaks Race 2019 – Arcona 430 REQUIEM wins Class 2

Arcona 430 wins Scottish Islands Peaks Race

Running over the weekend of May 17th-2oth. One of the most highly regarded adventure races in the UK. The Scottish Islands Peaks Race sees mixed crews of sailors and runners tackle a challenging course around the west coast of Scotland. On land the runners cover in excess of 60 miles, ascending and descending three mountains. At sea the sailors compete in a highly competitive fleet to navigate their way around a course of over 160 miles in the challenging tidal waters of the Sound of Mull, Firth of Lorne, Mull of Kintyre and Clyde Estuary.

Arcona 430 REQUIEM for sale

The triumphant crew of REQUIEM winning Class 2 of the 2019 Scottish Islands Peaks Race.

With a mixed fleet of Multi-hulls and monohulls competing in open classes and no handicap system, the fleet becomes rather dispersed as the weekend passes. This year with relatively calm conditions and a following wind for the longer legs the fleet made good speed towards the finish line. The majority of the yachts catching the crucial south going tide at the Sound of Luing during the early hours of Saturday morning. Fine weather greeted the top half of the fleet as they departed Lamlash on Arran for the sprint to the finish in Troon. The arrival in Lamlash was a little more challenging during the early hours Sunday morning, oars being the order of the night; allowing the yachts to push against the outgoing tide and enter Lamlash bay.

Westerly Storm 33 SORR OF APPIN

Finishing 2nd in Class 2. The crew of SORR OF APPIN, including me!

The overall event was won by the Trimaran Tri Mhor, completing the course in 47 hours and 37 minutes. The Arcona 430 ‘Requiem’ settled the unfinished business from the SIPR 2018 event winning class 2 and finishing the event as the fasted monohull, beating two of the multi-hull class 1 boats in the process. Clearly demonstrating the superb qualities of this Swedish cruiser/racer and her crew of just three. In class 3 AURORA took the line honours after a closely contested race which saw the first three yachts in Class 3 arrive in Lamlash within 10 minutes of each other. Light winds on Sunday morning proved to suit AURORA leaving SORR OF APPIN with me as crew unable to catch her on the water and having to settle for 2nd, very happy to have finished as the 4th fastest boat on the water!

A great weekend on the water for those looking to challenge themselves.