Club Racing at Loch Morlich

 

Sailing at 300 metres above sea level, with the Cairngorms rising straight out of the water on every side — Loch Morlich has to be one of the most spectacular places in Britain to race a dinghy. We're the highest altitude sailing club in the UK, and our racing reflects the club: friendly, informal, and just as welcoming to someone racing for the first time as to someone who's been doing it for years.

 

You don't need your own boat, a race-ready CV, or years of experience. If you can sail a dinghy round a course without capsizing every five minutes, you're ready to give club racing a go.

 

When we race

 

• Club Racing: Selected Sundays throughout the season — see the Calendar page for this year's dates

• Social Sailing / informal racing: Second Sunday of the month, May–October, 13:00 start, safety cover provided

• Frozen North Challenge: Season opener, April — kicks off the racing season at the club

• Annual Open Regatta: August — our biggest event of the year, open to visiting sailors as well as members

 

Exact dates, briefing times and start times are published on the [Calendar](/calendar) page and on the club WhatsApp group — always check there for the latest information, especially if the weather's uncertain.

 

New to racing? Start here

 

Loch Morlich is a brilliant place to learn to race — sheltered water, short courses, and a fleet that's more interested in seeing you improve than beating you by a mile.

 

• Turn up. Come along on any club racing or social sailing day and let a committee member know it's your first time — someone will point you in the right direction.

• Borrow a boat if you need to. Members can use the club's own boats (Wayfarer, Fevas, Toppers, Lasers, Optimists) on a first-come basis, so you don't need your own boat to get started.

• Don't worry about the rules yet. Turn up, follow the fleet, and ask questions on the water or back at the clubhouse afterwards. Everyone on that start line began exactly where you are now.

• Safety comes first. A safety boat is on the water for all organised racing and social sailing sessions.

 

How racing works

 

• Courses are set around the club marks on the loch and displayed on the noticeboard before each race, along with the day's briefing.

• Starts follow the standard sequence — warning, preparatory, one minute, start — with one start for all classes.

• Scoring uses the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick handicap system, so different classes of boat can race together fairly on the same course.

• Racing is governed by the RRS (Racing Rules of Sailing), the current Notice of Race, and our Sailing Instructions — copies of both are available on the club website.

 

If any of that sounds unfamiliar, don't let it put you off — see "New to racing?" above. It makes a lot more sense once you're out there.

 

The Annual Open Regatta

 

Our showcase event of the season, open to members and visiting sailors alike. Up to five short races are scheduled over the day, entries are taken on the day from 10:00, and results are handled through Sailwave. Full details, including the current Notice of Race, are on the Regatta page as the date approaches — well worth the trip even if you're travelling from another club.

 

Results

 

Race results are published on the Racing page after each event.

 

Get involved

 

Racing at LMSC only happens because members volunteer — as Race Officers, safety boat crew, and on the results table. If you'd like to get more involved, whether that's racing regularly, helping run a race day, or working towards a powerboat qualification to join the safety boat rota, get in touch via Contact or come and talk to us at the club.

 

Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and involves an element of risk. All those taking part in racing do so under the current Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, and are responsible for ensuring their own equipment, competence and insurance are suitable for the conditions.