SYC  NEWSLETTER  October 2025 

 

Message from the Secretary    Graham Gillies

 

As the sailing season begins to draw to a close, at least for most of us, it appears to be going out with a bang rather than a simper. I hope your boats and homes are safe and undamaged in the wake of Storm Amy, which sounds like something of an oxymoron all the more-so for its fierceness. Silverjack is still on her mooring (I hope) and soon to be put to bed for the winter.

 

Our September closing muster at Rothesay went well despite the lack of takers for a race. Thirteen folk were there, three arriving by ferry, with the remainder cruising there on one of the 3 boats that attended, Micky Finn 4, Taylor Maid and Silverjack. The Saturday was overcast and blustery but certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of those attending. After suitable socialising on board, we walked as a group to the Glenburn Hotel for dinner. The walk was shorter than I remembered with a modest incline up to the substantially refurbished hotel. We enjoyed an excellent evening with surprisingly good food and an attentive service. We were also well looked after at the harbour by Iain and the staff at Bute Berthing who provided the cheapest berthing fees of the season which included electricity. There was talk that the venue worked well and may  be worth revisiting.

 

Pint and a Curry. Our next meet up is next week already on Thursday 16^th October when we will be repeating last year’s popular evening of a Pint and a Curry. This is a relaxed and informal occasion to meet up with friends and catch up with their summer exploits. The buffet curry, which is excellent, is at the evergreen Bombay Blues Restaurant at 7pm. Those inclined for a pre-prandial pint (other refreshments are also available) are meeting up at the Horseshoe Bar at 6pm. The Bombay Blues Restaurant is conveniently close to Central Station in Hope Street just opposite the station. If you would like to join us, please let me know by email or text (07876 505307) by Tuesday 14^th next week. I look forward to seeing many of you there.

 

 

 

 

 

Diary of Events for 2025 /26

 

Closing Supper Thursday 16^th October By popular demand, we are repeating our Pint and a Curry experience. Meeting in the historic Horseshoe Bar from 6pm (optional), followed by a Buffet Curry at 7pm at the long-established Bombay Blues Restaurant in Hope Street opposite Glasgow Central Station.

 

The Annual Dinner and Prize-giving on Saturday 6th December will once again be in the inspiring venue of the Glasgow Art Club.

 

Winter Meeting  15th -16th January 2026
We are having a winter meeting in Dundee comprising a tour HMS Unicorn, Scotland’s Oldest Ship, followed by an evening meal in the Jute Restaurant and stay in a local hotel – (most folk have booked at the Apex hotel). The following morning, we will tour Discovery Point and the RRS Discovery, Captain Scott’s Ship. This has already been well subscribed but we could probably include one or two more if you are keen.

 

 

A swallow at sunset      GG

 

 

SYC NEWSLETTER September 2025

Message from the Secretary Graham Gillies

I hope you have been making the most of this summer’s remarkably warm settled weather. It looks like it has left us for the moment, although we can hardly complain. Let’s hope it returns in time for our Autumn muster which is only 2 weeks away, on Saturday 13th September at Rothesay. For those racing, there will be a race on Saturday morning from, and returning to Rothesay. Dinner will be at 6.30pm at the Glenburn Hotel which has been extensively refurbished. Details and application forms are attached to this email. I hope many of you will be able to join us there.

We encountered a pod of dolphins on two separate occasions in the summer both times off Arran’s east shore. We also saw them feeding in Lamlash Bay. With the bay now being a well-established no take zone for fishing, perhaps the dolphins will remain local to the area as some pods do. 

 

Dolphins off Arran      GG

 

Our August barbecue at Ormidale on Loch Riddon was a relaxing and sociable affair. There were crews from 7 boats at the party although not all had sailed there. In addition to the usual suspects, it was good to see Richard and Marie-Anne Poyau there. They are now keeping their Nauticat yacht Gabriella on the Clyde. We were also delighted to welcome visitors Nathan and Eileen, who sailed from Kip in company with Alan Kirk’s Tailor Maid. Midgies were notable for their absence, perhaps aided by the citronella torches and barbecue smoke. Despite forecasts to the contrary, it remained dry and proved to be a most enjoyable evening. 

 

 

Barbecue at Ormidale       Norena McAdam

 

Save the Date January 2026

Winter Meeting - 15th -16th January 2026

The club is planning a winter meeting in the dark days of January, an opportunity to get together, catch up with other members and swap sailing stories.
The plan is to meet in Dundee; tour HMS Unicorn, Scotland’s Oldest Ship, have a meal in the Jute Restaurant and stay in a local hotel. The next day we will tour Discovery Point and the RRS Discovery, Captain Scott’s Ship, the following morning. Hopefully you will put the date in your diary and plan to come along.

Diary of Events for 2025

Autumn Muster – Rothesay – Saturday 13th September There will be a Race as usual before meeting up at the inner marina berths in Rothesay Harbour. Following the customary socialising on board, dinner ashore in the evening will be at the Glenburn Hotel. See attachment for details.

Closing Supper Thursday 16th October By popular demand, we are repeating our Pint and a Curry experience. Meeting in the historic Horseshoe Bar from 6pm (optional), followed by a Buffet Curry at 7pm at the long-established Bombay Blues Restaurant in Hope street opposite Glasgow Central Station.

The Annual Dinner and Prize-giving on Saturday 6th December will once again be in the colourful surroundings of the Glasgow Art Club. 

 

 

 

                                 Settled Sunset Bute August 2025 GG

 

 SYC  NEWSLETTER  July 2025 

 

Message from the Secretary     Graham Gillies

 

I hope you have been enjoying some of this unseasonably warm weather afloat and dodging some of the more impressive downpours. Our June cruise in company was attended by 6 Serpent boats at different stages. Four teams made it to Ballycastle this year at the third time of asking and it was well worthwhile as you will discover in Tom Hutchinson’s account of the trip below.

 

Our next club event is the Ormidale Summer Barbecue at Loch Riddon on Saturday 2^nd August. This is a sociable and informal event often attended by car as well as by boat. I think this may be our seventh time holding the barbecue there. Please bring your own barbecue, food and beverages. There is no set time although folk usually begin to gather and set up later in the afternoon. There is no charge or booking but please let me know if you intend to come by email gwagillies@gmail.com or text 07876505307. I look forward to seeing you there.

 

 

 

Report on the 2025 Cruise in Company and Craobh Muster   by Tom Hutchinson

 

The Serpent Yacht Club cruise in company was conceived to enable members based on the Clyde, on the West Coast and Ireland to meet up and sail together to Craobh Haven for the annual BBQ and Loch Spelve mussel fest.

Following two years of poor weather, the event finally took place with a total of six yachts and two Irish based members joining at various points along the route.

 

On Friday 6^th of June Adastra and Aquaholic sailed from Craobh to Gigha where they were joined on the Saturday by Ataraxia and Exody for a splendid meal in the Boathouse.

 

 

 

Meet up at the Boathouse Gigha      Tom Hutchinson

 

On the Sunday, Adastra, Aquaholic and Exody cast off heading into a choppy south easterly to Rathin Island where we enjoyed a well-deserved meal in the Manor Hotel. Due to time constraints, Ataraxia headed back to Craobh from Gigha.

On Monday 9^th the fleet sailed the short distance to Ballycastle where we received a warm reception from the same Harbour master we had checked in with the previous day at Rathin. We were joined in the evening by Silverjack who had sailed from the Clyde.

 

Ballycastle did not disappoint, and in the evening the crews shared a pot luck meal on Exody. The second day was sunny & bright and various crews explored Ballycastle while some of Silverjack’s crew took the ferry to visit the bird sanctuary on Rathlin.

 

That evening, the group climbed the steep brae leading to splendid Lookout Restaurant where we were joined by Irish Members David and Essie Brice. The 12 of us enjoyed an excellent dinner with the backdrop of a spectacular view.

 

 

A look in at the Lookout

 

Ballycastle Marina is near the town centre & is well sheltered.

 

 

The next day, the fleet set sail towards Port Ellen in a forecasted force 3/5 from the south east, which quickly increased to a force six with some impressive waves quickly building in the North Channel. All arrived safely after a fast and bracing sail. The next day Exody headed to Craobh via the west coast of Jura while Adastra, Aquaholic and Silverjack opted to shelter in Port Ellen for a second night.

 

On Friday the 13^th Adastra, Aquaholic and Silverjack sailed in a dying breeze to Loch Na Cille where we anchored in very calm conditions. After a brief walk ashore the next day we caught the flood tide in the Sound of Jura to sail in company to Craobh where we encountered heavy rain and were reunited with the Exody crew on board Tulla Mhor for refreshments and nibbles.

 

On Sunday 15^th, one day later than originally planned, we held the Round Shuna Race in a moderate breeze from the south. It was a fairly quick race if somewhat dreich at times. The results on corrected time for the four boats that entered were close. They would have been closer still but for a minor navigation error by Exody which cost her time. Congratulations to Tulla Mhor.

 

 

1st Tulla Mhor 69m 13s 

2nd Adastra 70m 3s

3rd Silverjack 70m 57s 

4th Exody 74m 38s

Adastra proved to be a strong contender in her first race. Norena was helming with Tom crewing. (see photo)

The race was followed by the traditional barbecue in the boatshed at Craobh,
where we were joined by our commodore Catherine, and Stewart Toy. The food was excellent and the entire party were on their feet for the highland dancing. Many thanks

especially to Caroline & Tom Hutchinson and the Toys for all their work in making
the muster a success. 

 

Only Aquaholic and Silverjack made it for the last part of the planned cruise in company to Loch Spelve where both crews shared mussels aboard Aquaholic. One pot was of moules marinière and the other of spicy Thai mussels, each washed down with suitably chilled wine.

 

The following evening Tulla Mhor and Silverjack were to meet once again in Loch Drambue by which time the sun had returned and they enjoyed supper together in tea- shirts and shorts in Silverjack’s cockpit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diary of Events for 2025

 

Ormidale Summer Barbecue – Saturday 2^nd August This popular informal party will take place once more in the evening at Ormidale, Loch Riddon. Bring your own Barby & Bottle.

Autumn Muster – Rothesay – Saturday 13th September There will be a Race as usual before meeting up at the inner marina berths in Rothesay Harbour. Following the customary socialising on board, dinner ashore in the evening will be at the Glenburn Hotel.

 Annual Dinner and Prize-giving Saturday 6th December 2025  Glasgow Art Club. 

 

 

 

Sunset at Lochranza July 2025      G Gillies

 

 

 

 

 

2025 Spring muster & Tarbert Race

 The glorious sunny weather continued for the Serpent Tarbert weekend but sadly there was no wind to allow a start in Rothesay Bay.  This suited the Lollypops who were motoring over from Kip and were late but anyway the sensible decision to postpone and motor up up the East Kyle in search of a breeze was taken by the Race Officer on Encore and Lollypop joined the procession amounting to four vessels in all. Once through the Burnt Isles there was evidence of wind in the West Kyle so the Toys on Encore laid a start line off the Kames Hotel at a time nobody can remember.  As it happens this mass forgetfulness turned out to be of no consequence in the results calculation but more of that later.  So Silverjack with the crack team of Norena and Tom assisting Graham performed the perfect start and tacked away, closely followed by Exody with the club's most experienced duo on board.  Lollypop continued inshore on starboard before tacking and this proved to be a good move.  The wind was light and it was simply a matter of looking for wind, avoiding holes and playing the shifts.  By the time Lollypop reached Ardlamont, Silverjack and Exody were well behind.  New member Alan Kirk, sailing Tailor Maid a well-raced Fulmar, appeared from the Largs direction and sailed close by before motoring off to Tarbert. Once round Ardlamont, Exody started to close the distance on Lollypop and then Encore motored past, having had some technical hitch.  Tarbert was unusually quiet with an abundance of vacant berths and Lollypop, first in by some margin went on to an available pontoon assuming it was one of the booked ones. Unknown to them it wasn't and Encore was in the booked position far into the marina.  Exody arrived next alongside Lollypop and we began to be worried by the non appearance of Silverjack but eventually they arrived in acceptable time for the Commodore's reception.  As Encore had retired Exody can claim first place in Class 1 and Lollypop with a handicap advantage over the larger and potentially more powerful Silverjack can be awarded first in Class 2 assuming any of it can be considered a race at all.  The cup polishers will decide.  The Commodores reception in the marquee kicked off the social side with an abundance of carefully prepared nibbles and we were able to meet Alan Kirk and his young crew  Soon after with a bit of prosecco on board the company continued to the Red Herring, a new venue in Tarbert.  It was later unanimously agreed that the service, ambience and food quality were all excellent.   

            

Sunday was to be Ladies race day.  It being a truth universally acknowledged that the Encore team were agog to pit themselves in a match race against the formidable Exody crew, Lollypop and Silverjack agreed that one of them should be the start boat and tossed for it. Silverjack lost and had the unenviable task of arranging a start off Tarbert.  Which couldn't happen. So another start was arranged further down the loch on the west side in very little more wind than nothing.  Eventually Lollypop having tired of attempting fruitlessly to pole out a limp genoa decided to retire and left the others with sails hanging.  However some breeze did eventually appear and Exody rounded the Ardlamont cardinal first closely followed by Encore and then Silverjack who had the handicap advantage.  We can only hope for more of that sunshine which helped make it all a most enjoyable weekend.
   

Ladies Race results					elapsed	corrected	place
Peter & Marian	Exody	GBR6883T	Starlight 39	13.650	2.45.20	2.07.43	1
Stewart Toy	Encore	GBR9770T	Starlight 39	12.750	2.46.10	2.10.52	3
Graham Gillies	Silverjack	2551C	Oceanis 31	16.670	2.58.25	2.08.51	2
Chas Sutherland	Lollypop	2901C	First 29	17.480	retd

 

SYC  NEWSLETTER  May 2025 

Message from the Commodore     Catherine Toy

 

The unseasonably good weather we had in March seems like a dream now, but it did help us all to get ahead with our spring “do lists” in preparation for the start of the season.

 

Some of us managed to meet up for the Fitting Out Supper in Amarone in Nelson Mandela Square on the 10^th April which was an opportunity share good food, chat and to meet friends old and new.

 

Since our AGM, Peel Ports has requested that we prepare a risk assessment for our racing activity on the Clyde.  A copy of this is attached to the email and can now be found on the club’s web site for your information. To meet safety standards it is important that each boat is kitted out for racing and I would encourage you to have a look at the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations Appendix B for Inshore Racing which itemises what equipment you should have on board to race safely. https://d7qh6ksdplczd.cloudfront.net/sailing/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/15104518/OSR-Appendix-B-24v1.pdf

 

I am really looking forward to the opening muster to Tarbert on May 17^th.  Whether you are racing, cruising or driving, please join us for a fun weekend.

Fingers crossed for a return of the good weather.

 

Catherine

 

Message from the Secretary     Graham Gillies

 

Our next Serpent event will be the Spring Muster at Tarbert on Saturday 17th May 2025. This is our most popular muster, and some of you may be pleased to know that we will be going to a different venue for the dinner on the Saturday evening. For those racing, we are planning a race from Rothesay to Tarbert see the Race instructions. There will be a Commodore’s Drinks Reception at the Marina Marquee at 6pm followed by dinner at the Red Herring Restaurant at 7pm. The Ladies Race will be on the Sunday 18th May.

The application form to attend the Muster is at the end of the attached Race instruction document. For those interested, please complete it and return it to myself by email at gwagillies@gmail.com . I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Please also have a look at the details of our program of events for the coming season listed below.

 

 

 

 

Diary of Events for 2025

 

 

Spring Muster – Tarbert Saturday 17th May 2025

 

Cruise in Company in June 2025  We are planning another cruise in company in the days leading up to the Craobh Muster for Clyde based boats heading west and for boats already based on the West. The plan is to meet up in Ballycastle NI (weather permitting) on Monday 9th June, and spending two nights there, before heading north on Wednesday 11^th in time to attend the Craobh Muster on Saturday 14^th June.

 

Craobh Muster, Saturday 14th June. Our customary Round Shuna Race on Saturday will be followed by our lively Barbecue in the evening in the Craobh Marina Boat Shed.

 

Mussel Cook Out at Inverlussa, Sunday 15^th June We will be sailing to Loch Spelve on the day following the Craobh Muster, Sunday 15^th June, for another sociable evening of Mussels & Wine. This will be our third outing to Spelve for this successful event.

 

Ormidale Summer Barbecue – Saturday 2^nd August This popular informal party will take place once more in the evening at Ormidale, Loch Riddon. Bring your own Barby & Bottle.

 

Autumn Muster – Rothesay – Saturday 13th September There will be a Race as usual before meeting up at the Inner marina berths in Rothesay Harbour. Following the customary socialising on board, dinner ashore in the evening will be at the Glenburn Hotel.

 

Annual Dinner and Prize-giving Saturday 6th December 2025 This excellent evening will be once again in the colourful surroundings of the Glasgow Art Club. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Settled Sunset at Otterferry  GG