The Stewart Brewing Festival Series 2025
Published 12:58 on 19 Aug 2025
Our popular Festival Series was back this year! The BIG difference this year was the generous sponsorship by Stewart Brewing. They are a local company based in Loanhead, who produce fabulous beers with very interesting names: for example, Jurassic Guava, Gert Lush and Pulp Friction to name but three.
The fourth year of this White Sail Regatta was free to enter and offered basic level competition. Yachts travelled from Burntisland and Port Edgar and had the timings been a little better, yachts from Dunbar and Fisherrow may have come along! Royal Forth boats, together with the Corinthians and visitors comprised 10 dayboats and nine Cruiser Racers. We also ran a mini cruise in which two boats took part.
Last year saw folks experience Day 1 with hardly any wind and Day 2 with far too much. This year there was fabulous racing weather for both days, with a good Force 4 on the Thursday and a friendly Force 2/3 on the Friday. Yachts of all shapes and sizes took part:
The Black Prince (PEYC) took line honours in both Cruiser Class races and won her class overall. Crew Neil Wood was left to pick up the Cup and their beer, while the rest of the crew sailed off into the sunset, bound for Port Edgar. Although Neil did not bring a wheelbarrow, it would have made life easier for him!
The Day boat Fleet comprised H Boats, a Squib, a Hunter 707 a Wayfarer and a Dragon.
Overall results were:
1st Place: Three Fat Lad(d)ies - Derek Gibb and his crew (Sqiub)
2nd Place: Grand Cru - Stewart & Sarah Robertson and crew (H Boat)
3rd place WizzToo - Helen Horsfall and her crew (Dragon)
The Cruisers ranged from a 35 ft Beneteau First to a 20ft Hunter Medina.
The Cruiser Class was led from start to finish by The Black Prince (owned by Terry Kirchen), who displayed faultless navigation round the tight courses.
Second Place went to the RFYC yacht Ingrid owned by Torben Sell. On finishing the final cruiser race he promptly sailed off into the sunset to spend the night anchored off Inchkeith!
Third place was taken by the Westerly Griffon Kashangi II skippered by the skilfull Corinthian John Anderson and his crew.
Black Pig (RFYC) took part in the Mini cruise out to West Gunnet on Thursday but unfortunately had to return to port under engine power so he retired.
Pegasus (FCYC) won the Mini Cruise section for their cruise out to Buoy 'I' and back on Friday.
The results for both classes can be found in full on our website.
There were prizes galore, from our wonderful sponsor:
Many thanks go to all who helped make this event a success: our main sponsor, Stewart Brewing; those who solved the unexpected problems, especially the Forth Corinthians who helped out by providing us with their new Committee Boat 'Luffy', and their driver, Martin with his 'sidekick', Ben.
Thanks to Colin on the support RIB and Bar Staff Fiona and Andrew.
Thanks to Cathy, Joe, Sheena and Pete for Race Officer, Driving and Scoring duties. Thanks also to Pete for all the fabulous images!
Thanks to all the behind-the-scenes members too, but thanks most of all to all the competitors who made the effort to turn out!
Ken Allan
PRO
Stewart Brewing Festival Series
Last updated 12:29 on 21 August 2025
