What We Do
Sailing
The sailing calendar at LESC is dominated by both dinghy and keelboat racing every weekend, but Loch Earn has loads to offer the day sailer with St Fillans at one end and Lochearnhead at the other.
The sailing season broadly begins with the First Fling Regatta held at the end of April and finishes with the Final Fling at the end of September. Both the First Fling and Final Fling are traditionally open regattas, meaning that we require a small fee to enter and non-members are welcome to enter. For the hardier members, the club’s facilities remain open after the Spring Work Party at the end of March and after the Final Fling until the Autumn Work Party at the end of October. The water is shut off for the winter every year.
The Sailing Secretary oversees a comprehensive racing and cruising programme every year. There are early and late season races for both dinghies and keelboats every Saturday and Sunday and this is augmented by various trophy races throughout the year for all members including junior sailors and cruisers.
In addition to the fixed schedule, LESC hosts external ‘traveller’ events for classes including Flying Fifteens and Challengers, and has also proudly hosted the Scottish School Sailing Championships since the event’s inception in 1959.
The depth of the loch at LESC prevents anchoring of both a committee boat and marks, so we maintain many permanent marks and run races through the onshore race hut. We typically run dinghies and keelboats on separate starts as needed.
For the less competitive, Family Week and the Lochearnhead Regatta play a big part of the good times spent both on and off the water. The club also maintains several types of dinghies for use by members including junior members in particular.
One of the most popular events open to members and non-members alike, is Training Week in which as many as 50 youth and adult students join two dozen instructors for a week of on-the-water instruction following RYA dinghy instruction standards with many camping on-site during the week making for very nice evenings in the clubhouse.
Weekend Series Racing
Two races a day with separate starts for dinghies and keelboats for a total of twelve races per series (Saturday Early, Saturday Late, Sunday Early, and Sunday Late) with one discard for every four completed. Prizes given at the end of the season.
Trophy and Cup Regattas
These larger events will usually have keelboat and dinghy racing on separate days over the course of a weekend with prize giving at the end of the season. They include the Loch Earn Enterprise Cup, St Fillans Cup, and McKeowan Trophy.
Keelboat Events
The keelboat fleet have a varied calendar for racing and cruising alike that take them further afield than regular events including down to Lochearnhead, round every permanent mark, and on a sunset cruise. The Lochearnhead Regatta is a particular highlight because the fleet demonstrate their anchoring skills (or lack thereof) and with the help of LESC safety boats, go ashore for lunch.
Open Regattas
We host two open racing events to benefit charity each year. All entry fees, takings from the kitchen, and goods sold such as Christmas Cards and diaries go to the RNLI. These events are open to non-members and all competitors must pay a minimal entry fee. Typically there will be separate starts for dinghies and keelboats with prize giving at the end of the event.
Some of the more popular dinghy classes sailed at LESC
LESC maintains a large fleet of dinghies to support junior sailing
Learning and Training
The Loch Earn Sailing Club is an approved RYA Recognised Training Centre lead by our Training Principal who is responsible for all aspects of the club’s sail and powerboating training within the RYA’s standards.
All instructors are RYA qualified and are first aid trained. All courses apply the club’s approved child protection and data protection policies and utilize the club’s fleet of fully-equipped safety boats that cover all training activities.
Many of our students progress from training courses to become independent racers and powerboat drivers. The club offers free use of club sailing dinghies, including double-handed and single-handed boats to competent members. When graduating from our powerboat courses you will be encouraged to use your skills by volunteering for our safety RIBs for weekend racing.
Only club members may attend training sessions and courses unless otherwise specified for specific events such as Training Week, the club’s premiere training event every year.
Note
Trainees must bring suitable clothing for training, for example a good wetsuit or drysuit, spray top, and dinghy sailing boots. The club has a limited supply of buoyancy aids available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the Training Principal for advice as needed.
Changing facilities and hot showers are available in the clubhouse.
LESC reserves the right to cancel any training module if insufficient enrollments have been received by one week prior to the start of the course. In such a case, any monies received less the application deposit will be returned in full.
Training Week
Traditionally held in the first or second week of the Perthshire school holidays in July and includes both on-the-water exercises and classroom sessions leading to the award of certificates under the RYA Training Syllabus including powerboat and first aid certifications. Open to both members and non-members by application.
Sunday Morning Training Sessions
A series of informal training sessions and race coaching subject to demand and instructor availability regularly held on Sundays throughout the sailing season. Open to club members only, these sessions are primarily intended to support LESC junior members in maintaining and developing the skills learned during Training Week. Adult novices are welcome if instructor ratios can be maintained.
Brown Cup Regatta
LESC have been proudly running the prestigous Brown Cup (aka Scottish Schools Sailing Championships) since the first event in 1959. It is named for LESC former Commodore, Jack Brown who had the idea to widen sailing competition beyond club membership to local schools.
What We Do at Loch Earn Sailing Club.
Social Events
There is a strong social element to all events at LESC. Many of us have been active members for decades with multiple generations returning year-after-year.
Some highlights of the LESC social calendar are the First and Final Fling Open Meetings, the Lochearnhead Regatta, and Family Week.
Family Week
Family week is typically packed with with activities including archery, sack races, welly throwing, three legged races, an egg and spoon race, as well as cake decorating. It normally takes place in July and there is a lot of fun both on and off the water for young and old. Visits are made to the nearby villages for ice cream and the Comrie Fortnight. The week culminates in the traditional “Pirates Day” where pirates invade the club while the LESC Navy valiantly fends them off!
Lochearnhead Regatta
LESC hosts social events that bring club members together off the water like the Lochearnhead Race (to the pub at the end of the loch). This race is for all classes of boat including dinghies and keelboats. We start from the club and race all the way up the Loch. At Lochearnhead we go ashore for a relaxing lunch while the cruisers demonstrate their anchoring or mooring skills (or lack thereof). For the exhilarating ride home, the crew takes the helm with spinnakers flying.
Unpacking and Packing Up
Twice a year the membership come together to pack up the club for the winter and then unpack it for the start of the season. It’s a great time to reflect at the end of the sailing year and then get excited about the season ahead.
Post Racing Socials
Do you love the smell of wet booties and sweaty life jackets? Well this is the social for you! The racers clean up and enjoy a cuppa beside the log burner after a day on the water as much as anyone. If you’re not careful, though, you’ll find yourself drafted into the kitchen making warm drinks for everyone!
Check out these getting started videos from the RYA