Earlier this month twenty three yachts raced on the Clyde Estuary in Scotland over six days. The images that have emerged from the Regatta, are somehow a relief from the absurdly sunny, sparkling press releases that seem to flow like Veuve Clicquot out the Mediterranean at this time of year.

In Scotland the yachts at the Richard Mille Fife Regatta ranged from 24’ to 105’ LOA and sailed in rain, hail and shine. The no doubt, immaculate crew uniforms were hidden under full wet weather gear and the racing was somehow relatable unlike its Cote D’Azure counterparts.

The sometimes thorny issue of what exactly makes a boat a Fife is easily dealt with in the Notice of Race

4 ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
4.1 The Event is open to boats that have been invited by the OA.

This slightly amateurish video clip below, is all the more relatable for its unedited, hand held shakiness, and perhaps that’s why found it compelling.

The Incident at the 4:38 minute mark is gut wrenching. I don’t know whether to look or look away. I’m no expert on these huge gaff cutters but when the 82ft THE LADY ANNE trys to fly a massive modern asometrical spinnaker in what looks like 20+ knots of wind, then I think that WFIII would have been turning in his cold, damp Scottish grave.

Full Results Here

Fife in the Antipodes.

So, watching and reading about the Scottish event, led me to thinking… what if, by some miracle of chance and organisation we could have a Fife Regatta here in Australia. Here’s my list of potential entries. Let me know of the ones we have missed!

SAYONARA- 1897 L.O.A. 57’7” Fully Restored Currently at R.Y.C.V.