Published: Thursday, 28th May, 2009 11:00am

McLaren's crew show their metal

Donald McLaren and his crew on Sigmatic clinched the overall Sigma 33 Class Championship today at the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series.

After winning the class last year on Loch Fyne, Helensburgh"s McLaren had set his sights on the Class Championship, the title which unites both the UK and Ireland.

With a consistent pair of second places and a fourth today in the fifteen boat fleet, Sigmatic clinched the overall title with 12 points to spare. McLaren, who has had his 33 foot Sigma for 19 years, quipped this is his first major title since winning in his 13 foot Enterprise dinghy on his native waters off Helensburgh back in 1972.

He said: 'We are very pleased. If experience leads to good starts and consistent tactics, good crew work then you can put it down to experience.

'But even now after all these years I don"t think you ever learn or really can know what is going to happen next on Loch Fyne.

'It"s been a great regatta so far. I think the atmosphere is really good and the race officers have really got it spot on most of the time.

'We had a little bit of a rebellion yesterday when I asked the crew to gybe the spinnaker when we had over 30 knots of wind, but they did a good job.'