A few weeks ago Strath Sailing took on the honour of holding the national Women’s Team Racing Championship. It all started as any classic event weekend would—with plenty of boat prep and high anticipation. Strath welcomed 24 fantastic women’s teams to Glasgow, all ready to battle it out for the all-important BUSA Women’s Championship, making Lass O’ Strath the largest women’s university racing event to date! With 144 competitors eager to hit the water, the stage was set for an unforgettable weekend. 

Once all the teams had arrived from far and wide, it was time to kick off the weekend’s social activities. As usual, no event weekend would be complete without a themed night, and Friday delivered with a decade’s theme—from fabulous flares to Gangnam Style gangsters, the outfits did not disappoint. With disco tunes blaring, the dance floor was well and truly warmed up, setting the tone for a weekend of high-energy competition both on and off the water. 

In true sailing style, Saturday saw a bright and early start, with the first warning signal at 08:57. As the wind built gradually throughout the day, a switch to cut-down sails became inevitable. Everyone rallied together to make the transition as swift as possible, allowing racing to carry on at full throttle. By some Bardowie miracle, we powered through nearly 120 races in the round-robin stage by the end of day one—a huge triumph given Bardowie’s usual unpredictable conditions. 

With racing wrapped up for day one, it was time for the main attraction of any Scottish sailing event—the Ceilidh! A quick dash back to the flats to swap sailing gear for fancy frocks, a bit of strategic stomach-lining, and then it was off to Drygate Brewery, the home of Scottish beer, for a night of dancing. For many of the Lass O’ Strath competitors, this was their first taste of a true Scottish ceilidh, and judging by the enthusiasm, we hope to see plenty of them back on our dance floors in the years to come! The night was made even more special with fantastic music from all-female ceilidh band, Barrasaig, providing the perfect atmosphere for an evening of dancing. 

Thanks to Saturday’s racing marathon, we were in a strong position heading into Sunday, where we moved onto 60 league races to determine the final standings. Sunday’s trying and ever-changing winds made for a challenging day on the water. An applause must go out to all competitors and volunteers for persevering through everything Bardowie’s weather threw our way. 

After a weekend of fierce competition, huge congratulations go to Exeter University for topping the leaderboards and taking home the Women’s Trophy! A well-deserved victory after an outstanding performance throughout the event. 

A huge thank you goes out to all our volunteers and umpires, whose hard work kept the event running smoothly. A special shoutout to the Strath boys, who truly pulled a shift to make sure everything—from mark laying to results—went without a hitch. And a big thanks to the galley staff for keeping us well-fed and fuelled throughout the weekend! And finally to K-Sail for their unwavering support of university sailing—we couldn’t do it without you! 

It’s safe to say Lass O’ Strath 2025 will be an event to remember!