Locals on the start line….

Oban’s Graham Anderson and team on his Hanse 371 Lucky Ned Pepper is back to race alongside Steven Foreith in Shadowfax. Anne and Andrew Campbell’s X34 Ajax, also based in Oban, sails this year in a restricted sail class. James Hardie of Oban races his Grand Soleil 40 Taz and Mid Argyll’s Brian Robertson is another WHYW stalwart with his X332 Celtic Spirit - always a competitive boat. Adrian Laycock also returns with a local team aboard Prime Cut.

More local competition comes from Joey Gough with Tangle o’the Isles, Eric and Irena Chapman with their Sigma 33 Amber Haze and Colin Crawford with his Dehler 34 Nimrod, all from Oban Sailing Club. Racing alongside in his Dehler 34 is David Cooper from Glencoe Boat Club.

Campbeltown’s Owen McManus with his X332 is also a regular, this year in restricted sail Class 2 while fellow CSC sailor Dougie Reid pitches up in Class 7. Class 8 has strong local contention with Darren Taylor of Tayvallich with his SK700 Bluefin and Alison Chadwick’s Hot Toddy from Oban. Marian Austin of Lochaber Yacht Club is back to defend her class title of last year with her lovely Northney Scintilla of the Sea. Fellow Lochaber Yacht Club sailor Hamish Loudon takes on the WHYW fleet in his Fulmar Fumarole – a first for him with this boat and one to watch out for. French sailor Sebastian Harinkouck who has long time connections with Tiree is also another ‘local’ on the start line with Duckwall Pooley.