WEST HIGHLAND YACHTING WEEK

WEST Highland Yachting Week (WHYW) celebrates its 71st birthday this year and the regatta, which runs from July 27 to August 3, remains as popular as ever with a healthy entry list, writes Alison Chadwick.

Event flexibility has always been at the heart of the WHYW success story, as is the format of a ‘moving regatta’ with passage races linking all three ports of call – Craobh, Oban and Tobermory. WHYW gives the opportunity for all the family to take part, racing either in the highly competitive spinnaker classes – The Tunnock’s Fleet – or the non-spinnaker classes – The Argyll Fleet.

With the choice of racing the full points series or just a day or two, the event appeals across the board – to those who just enjoy passage sailing or want to try racing for the first time or for the stalwarts that return year in, year out to compete.

Tunnock’s remains the major sponsor of WHYW with support from Argyll and Bute Council, Tobermory Harbour Association, Scottish Sea Farms, Owen Sails, Dunstaffnage Marina and West Coast Motors.

Feeder races are this year from

Largs to Ardrishaig, Gigha to Craobh and Oban to Craobh Marina. Scottish Canals is offering a WHYW discount for outward and return passages through the Crinan Canal and Caledonian Canal for all entries. All yachts muster at Craobh Marina for the start of the regatta. The feeder race from the Clyde, re-instated last year for the 70th birthday event celebration, looks a popular choice.

Yachts then make passage through the Crinan Canal to Craobh. Those coming from Ireland and other southern areas can take advantage of the Gigha race to Craobh with the northern placed yachts racing from Oban to Craobh.

Peter Bloch from Ireland with his Sun Odyssey 33i Skye was the first entry to the event this year and the early bird entry scheme boosted entries to over 50 in early June.

Additional sponsorship is provided by Argyll and Bute Council, from which The Argyll Fleet takes its title, and Tobermory Harbour Association. More recently, support has been added from Scottish Sea Farms, Owen Sails and Dunstaffnage Marina. In addition, supporters of the sailing instructions include Oban Marina, Craobh Marina, the Lord of the Isles, Gaelforce, Ardfern Yacht Centre, the Iona Shop, Seafare, Cuan Mhor, the Waterfont Fishouse restaurant, the Mishnish, Ardoran Marine, Mark Cameron Yachts and the Gigha Hotel restaurant.