The RNLI Ness Cup
The RNLI Ness Cup is one of the highlights of the Chanonry Sailing Club calendar and is sailed over a longer distance using the wider expanse of the Inverness Firth. The race is a little bit different as it pits the wits of the seat of the pants dinghy sailors with the seamanship skills of the yachts. Sailors from any club are very welcome and given the larger course in more open water, this race is normally suitable for the more experienced dinghy racer. All proceeds from entries and food go towards the RNLI.
History - Author Joan Maxwell in 2022
The Ness Cup Trophy dates back to the 1930s, the Trophy originally provided by Oliver H Gossip, a dentist who lived in Inverness and donated the Trophy. He was a founder member of the Beauly Firth Yacht Club in 1937 and their Commodore in 1940. It is a sterling silver cup with beautiful engraving.
The first winner was J Stuart Oliver in 1938. No events were held between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War and for the following few years due to the shortage of petrol.
The Beauly Firth Yacht and the Inverness Boat Club amalgamated in 1951 to become the Highland Cruising Club and in 1967, after the Highland Cruising Club was wound up, all their assets including trophies were freely given to Chanonry Sailing Club.
In May 1967 Club agreed that the Ness Cup be used for competition by club members in a Race to Kessock (in one direction) to be held on Sunday 23rd July according to the tide. The first winner was Frank Gale in his GP 14 called Yarrum and the first cruiser to win the Ness Cup outright was Ronnie Wilson in his Sonata called Harmony in 1979.
During the early years, the sailors and club members had their picnic lunches at the end of the first leg on the beach at the Lighthouse in North Kessock. The keel boats usually anchored, and the crews were then ferried ashore to join the picnic. However, one year a boat owner got no lunch as he forgot to tie on the rope for the anchor when he threw it overboard.
Until the completion of the Kessock Bridge in 1982, the finish line for the first leg was on the North Kessock village side of the Lighthouse. This caused an interesting time for one dinghy when she was nearly swept on to the piers of the partly constructed bridge.
In 1983 it was sponsored by The Great Glen Water Park Charters and it is noted in the CSC September minutes of that year that the return leg of the race was survival test, with 10 of 21 boats retired, Torella an Ablin Viggen helmed by Brian Fieldsend’s younger son Colin finishing first beating Ian Morton in his hornet ‘Talking Dog’ by 9 seconds.
In 1984 it was decided to change the course because of navigation around the Kessock Bridge. The first leg ended at Kilmiur and the second leg started there. The Telephone Box at Kilmuir was used as the Race Office for the Start and Finish of the different legs.
In 1987 was the first time that the race be held in aid of the RNLI and renamed the RNLI Ness Cup. The course was also changed to a turn- around buoy at Kilmuir.
The format of the race has continued over the years, with minor changes to the course depending on conditions and tides and has always provided a great spectacle in the Firth.
The first winner was J Stuart Oliver in 1938. No events were held between 1939 and 1946 due to the Second World War and for the following few years due to the shortage of petrol.
The Beauly Firth Yacht and the Inverness Boat Club amalgamated in 1951 to become the Highland Cruising Club and in 1967, after the Highland Cruising Club was wound up, all their assets including trophies were freely given to Chanonry Sailing Club.
In May 1967 Club agreed that the Ness Cup be used for competition by club members in a Race to Kessock (in one direction) to be held on Sunday 23rd July according to the tide. The first winner was Frank Gale in his GP 14 called Yarrum and the first cruiser to win the Ness Cup outright was Ronnie Wilson in his Sonata called Harmony in 1979.
During the early years, the sailors and club members had their picnic lunches at the end of the first leg on the beach at the Lighthouse in North Kessock. The keel boats usually anchored, and the crews were then ferried ashore to join the picnic. However, one year a boat owner got no lunch as he forgot to tie on the rope for the anchor when he threw it overboard.
Until the completion of the Kessock Bridge in 1982, the finish line for the first leg was on the North Kessock village side of the Lighthouse. This caused an interesting time for one dinghy when she was nearly swept on to the piers of the partly constructed bridge.
In 1983 it was sponsored by The Great Glen Water Park Charters and it is noted in the CSC September minutes of that year that the return leg of the race was survival test, with 10 of 21 boats retired, Torella an Ablin Viggen helmed by Brian Fieldsend’s younger son Colin finishing first beating Ian Morton in his hornet ‘Talking Dog’ by 9 seconds.
In 1984 it was decided to change the course because of navigation around the Kessock Bridge. The first leg ended at Kilmiur and the second leg started there. The Telephone Box at Kilmuir was used as the Race Office for the Start and Finish of the different legs.
In 1987 was the first time that the race be held in aid of the RNLI and renamed the RNLI Ness Cup. The course was also changed to a turn- around buoy at Kilmuir.
The format of the race has continued over the years, with minor changes to the course depending on conditions and tides and has always provided a great spectacle in the Firth.