SAILORS from Musselburgh took to the waves recently for the annual yacht regatta at Fisherrow.

Organised by Fisherrow Yacht Club, the event was held over two days.

Overall winner Mark McClelland was delighted with his success.

He said: “A short sloppy swell and a perfect 15 knots of breeze from the north east greeted our competitors; just a shame that after such a technicolour week of sunshine everything had turned monochrome.

“The sky was grey, the sea was grey, winter clothes were donned and spotting the marks of the course ended up being the crew’s biggest challenge.”

The yacht fleet is “very diverse” and the small day yachts, Wee Mo and Wee Jo, which are owned by the club, were crewed by members who normally dinghy sail.

The inclusion of these boats to the club fleet is offering members a different type of sailing experience and “progressing” the novice sailors from first principles of dinghy sailing into the complexities of sailing further, and unsupported by the safety boat.

Three races were held the first day and, later in the evening, skipper Paul Hay, of Firecracker, entertained all crew and guests as one-man troubadour/guitarist, while events co-ordinator Ellen Henderson Dott organised a pizza supper.

Yacht Spero was sailed back to Fisherrow from the west coast in time to take part in the regatta.

During the summer, her skipper, Stuart McDonald, had cruised Spero amongst the highlights of the west coast with various guest crew.

David Wilkie, owner of Countess Linda, did not race this year but offered the use of his boat for the race committee.

For three hours on each day, she bobbed at anchor while the committee took times and observed compliance to racing rules.

The yacht club has been able to offer official Royal Yachting Association approved training since 2017.

Several members who had only just learned to sail took part in racing.

The training season has come to a close for this year but anyone interested in learning to sail is welcome to join the club and put their names forward next year once the new programme has been planned.

More information on the club is available from fisherrowyachtclub.com

The regatta results are: 1, Artemis (yacht name), Westerly Merlin (class), Mark McClelland (helm), 1127 (handicap); 2, Swirley, Westerly Griffon, Russell Ramsey, 1078; 3, Sulumar, Moody 27, Dennis Walton, 1147; 4, Spero, Beneteau Sun Odyssey 33i , Stuart MacDonald, 1100; 5, Wee Mo, Kinsman, Heinrich/Ross, 1160; 6, Rebel Rebel, Pegasus 700, Jose Vaz, 1189; 7, Firecracker, MG Club 19, Paul Hay, 1147; 8, Wee Jo, Kinsman, Elliot Hurst, 1160.