The race team

The event is renowned for its excellent race organisation. The race team is headed up by principal race officer Malcolm MacGregor, who has been involved for more than 10 years. Malcolm was last year awarded the prestigious Endeavour Trophy for his commitment to WHYW over such a long period.

Malcolm said: ‘ We are all looking forward to this year’s regatta. WHYW offers such a variety of racing to suit everyone and we are delighted to welcome back so many previous competitors plus all the newcomers. From the race team point of view, we are pleased the tides enable us to run the popular Round Lismore Race and, in order to compensate the spinnaker classes for the loss of the Round the Buoys races off Oban, we will have a day of competitive racing off Craobh on Sunday. We hope everyone enjoys this 70th birthday event.’

A past winner of the Endeavour award and one who has had more than 40 years involvement with the event is Julia Heap. Julia first became involved alongside her parents, Roger and Lilias, who previously headed up the event organisation. She took over the secretary’s post in her own right when her father retired in the eighties.

Julia now oversees the organisation of the race team and is a familiar face to regular competitors. Well-kent David Wilkie, a past commodore of RHYC, is race officer for the white sail Argyll fleet with David Preston also helping with the event. The race team volunteers give up their week’s holiday to run the racing. The organisation and course setting is heralded as second to none by all competitors.