History of the Loch Insh Highland Splash-In
Duncan and Muriel Cameron have provided the information for this short history of early model waterplane flying at Loch Insh.
Please send any corrections, omissions and further interesting facts to the web editor for inclusion in later versions.
The Loch Insh Highland Splash-In made its début in 1984, the first club-organised model waterplane event in Scotland.
It was the British Waterplane Association who came up with the idea. At the time, Duncan Cameron was member number 10 of the BWA (the first 9 numbers are reserved for full-size waterplane pilots) and had been attending model waterplane events in England. The BWA members wanted to know from Duncan (the sole Scottish member) why there were no model events north of the border, which seemed a reasonable question giving the amount of water we have!
There was a bit of doubt at first over whether modellers would be prepared to travel so far for an event, so a venue was first sought (unsuccessfully) in the central belt. Next choice by Duncan was Loch Alvie on the Kinrara Estate between Loch Insh and Aviemore. Duncan chose Loch Alvie because of its historical connection with aviation.
Lady Lucy Houston, one time owner of the Kinrara Estate, sponsored the 3rd and final Schneider Trophy race, the result of which we all know. Incidentally, she also sponsored the ground-breaking flights over Mount Everest carried out by RAF personnel in civillian aircraft, the Westland Houston Wallace. However, a disappointment, as the current owner refused permission.
Option two was nearby Loch Insh, specifically Clive Freshwater's Watersports Centre. Good road access and parking, a beach, bar and restaurant and a good range of overnight accommodation. Clive was delighted with the proposition.
In the early 1980s, he was preparing for winter during the first week of September by removing the boats from the water and so suggested the 2nd weekend in September, a date which has become a permanent calendar fixture. He even suggested holding a model boat regatta in the spring, but this has never come to fruition.
Nobody was sure if the modellers would turn up for the first event, so it was widely advertised by the BWA (as well as by local public advertising in the Spey Valley). (Because of this public advertising, the BWA took out a special insurance for the event.) In fact, around 20 modellers did turn up from far and wide and the 1984 splash-in was a success, as you can read in this article which later appeared in the November 1984 edition of Radio Control Model World. Elgin Aeromodellers provided the transmitter control and Duncan provided the commentory. Modellers came from all over Britain, including Roy Tassel, founder member of the BWA, from Stogumber in Somerset.
1985 saw upwards of 60 models at the splash-in and in 1986, with upwards of 80 models arriving for the weekend, it was decided to stop the advertising. The event was in danger of becoming a victim of its own success and was becoming too big for Duncan and Muriel to handle.
At a Large Model Association (LMA) meeting, Duncan met Dr Jeremy Shaw and invited him to Loch Insh for the 1987 splash-in. Jeremy's model Supermarine Stranraer powered by twin Lasers flew majestically and memorably above the waters of Loch Insh. Other notable models that Jeremy has flown at Loch Insh are his Saunders Roe (SARO) Cutty Sark, his Grumman Widgeon and his giant Mallard.
The First Loch Insh Highland Splash-In 1984
 Radio Control Model World, November 1984 |
 And the article inside, written by Duncan Cameron |
And The Strathspey and Badenoch Herald, 21st September 1984, reported as follows :
"The Spey Valley Model Club, formed only six weeks ago, got a model launching on Sunday when some of the country's top modellers turned up on their doorstep at Loch Insh.
The occasion was the first sea plane competition to be held in Scotland, which was organised jointly by the British Water Plane Association and the Scottish Aero Modellers' Association.
And such was the success of the event that it could become an annual feature at Loch Insh, attracting hundreds of enthusiasts from throughout Britain."
The Strathy got it right !!