RACE1 - SYDNEY 40'S IN MED THIS WINTER

BELL LAWRIE SCOTTISH SERIES.

Andi Robertson

A strong field for this year's Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, the north of the UK's premier annual regatta, seems assured as entries climb towards the 200 boat mark with less than a week to go until the first start guns sound at Gourock on the Clyde and Bangor, Northern Ireland.

With late entries still trickling in at a rate of one or two each day, the 2002 event total of 192 boats has been surpassed, and so with 194 boats on the start list, the 2003 Bell Lawrie Scottish Series is already shaping up to be bigger and better than last year.

As ever the quality of entries down through the IRC Handicap classes, the Sigma 33 and 1720 divisions is as strong as it has been in past years. New this year will be the Laser SB3 class. The flourishing popularity of this easily transportable sportsboat is reflected in the fact that boats are coming by road from all over the UK and Ireland.

Scratch boat in IRC Class 1 will be Keith Miller's new Swan 45 'Crackerjack'.

Stepping up a 'weight' this season are the double Scottish Series Trophy winning crew of Hamish MacKay. They will add considerably to the fray in Class 1 with a chartered Race1 Ker 11.3 race boat as they bid to retain the Scottish Series Trophy for an unprecedented third time in a row.

Racing starts with the traditional overnight offshore race to Tarbert from the twin start lines of Gourock and Bangor on Thursday night and continues on Loch Fyne until Tuesday afternoon.

This will be the fourth year of support as headline sponsor of the regatta by Bell Lawrie White, the investment and stockbroking division of Brewin Dolphin Securities. Course area sponsors this year are Henri-Lloyd (marine clothing), Tunnocks (fine cakes and biscuits), and Talisker (malt whisky).




		BELL LAWRIE SCOTTISH SERIES. Andi Robertson A strong field for this year's Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, the north of the UK's premier annual regatta, seems assured as entries climb towards the 200 boat mark with less than a week to go until the first start guns sound at Gourock on the Clyde and Bangor, Northern Ireland. With late entries still trickling in at a rate of one or two each day, the 2002 event total of 192 boats has been surpassed, and so with 194 boats on the start list, the 2003 Bell Lawrie Scottish Series is already shaping up to be bigger and better than last year. As ever the quality of entries down through the IRC Handicap classes, the Sigma 33 and 1720 divisions is as strong as it has been in past years. New this year will be the Laser SB3 class. The flourishing popularity of this easily transportable sportsboat is reflected in the fact that boats are coming by road from all over the UK and Ireland. Scratch boat in IRC Class 1 will be Keith Miller's new Swan 45 'Crackerjack'. Stepping up a 'weight' this season are the double Scottish Series Trophy winning crew of Hamish MacKay. They will add considerably to the fray in Class 1 with a chartered Race1 Ker 11.3 race boat as they bid to retain the Scottish Series Trophy for an unprecedented third time in a row. Racing starts with the traditional overnight offshore race to Tarbert from the twin start lines of Gourock and Bangor on Thursday night and continues on Loch Fyne until Tuesday afternoon. This will be the fourth year of support as headline sponsor of the regatta by Bell Lawrie White, the investment and stockbroking division of Brewin Dolphin Securities. Course area sponsors this year are Henri-Lloyd (marine clothing), Tunnocks (fine cakes and biscuits), and Talisker (malt whisky).