The Clyde based Savills Kip Regatta which is acknowledged as the biggest and best preliminary regatta leading into the annual Scottish Series, the North of Britain"s most prestigious annual sailing regatta, attracted 57 boats from all over Scotland, the North of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Set up 19 years ago by Kip Marina, who host the regatta, and the Royal Western Yacht Club, the principal objective of the event was to provide intensive, high quality well run racing which would allow crews to test themselves and tune up their craft a matter of weeks before the Scottish Series.

In itself the regatta, which was supported for the first time last year by Savills, has long since grown to become an increasingly significant event on the UK calendar and the top award has become very sought after. Lake District sailmaker Steve Goacher who was Scottish Series champion in 1993 and is many times Flying 15 world champion, proved that he and the crew of Keith Lord"s Isle of Man based A35 A-Crewed Interest could be the form boat for the imminent Bell Lawrie Scottish Series after winning the toughest class at Inverkip. A-Crewed Interest were voted the best performers of the fleet. Up against four fellow past winners in his 16 strong Class 2, Goacher steered the 35 foot French built A-Crewed Interest to two second places and one victory over the four races sailed to hold off the Clyde"s Nick and Miles Stratton in an identical A35, a father and son team who have also individually won the Scottish Series in 1977 and 1994 respectively.

In Class 1 Geoffrey Howison and the crew of his BH41, last year"s overall winners, prevailed. On Saturday in the gentler breezes they struggled to a fourth and fifth but bounced back to post back to back wins in the perfect sailing breeze on Sunday.

The pain of racing in light, unsettled and very unpredictable conditions on Saturday was replaced on Sunday by pure Champagne sailing in sunshine and a northerly 10-12knots breeze. Goacher and crew managed to master the winds in equal measure.

Racing in the Sonata One Design class, one of the classes Goacher cut his teeth in could not have been closer. All three of the top boats finished up with the same total points tally after the four races. On count back it was, ironically, Saraband, the boat in which Goacher won the Scottish Series Trophy, which is now owned and sailed by Port Dinorwic"s Mark Taylor which edged it.

Savills Kip Regatta, Clyde, Results: Class 1: 1 Local Hero (G Howison) 6pts, 2 Duckwall Pooley (K & D Aitken) 8pts, 3 Tan It (R Harris) 8pts, Class 2: Accrued Interest (K Lord) 5pts, 2 Another Djinn (N & M Stratton) 9pts, 3 Sloop John T (I & G Thomson) 9pts, Sonata: 1 Saraband (M Taylor) 5pts, 2 So (McLure/Stewart) 5pts, 3 Pied Piper (A Harper) 5pts. Sigma 33: 1 Ziggy Stardust (Hull/Hathaway) 3pts, Class 4: 1 Farr E Nuff (J Kent) 5pts, 2 Hesperus (A McVey) 6pts, 3 Antix (J Allen) 7pts. Sportsboat: 1 Auf Wiedersehen Pet (P Murray) 3pts, 2 Water Tiger (C Macdonald) 7pts.