Kyle draws the crowds for great Maritime Day
A dry afternoon with sunny spells drew crowds to Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI’s Maritime Day last Saturday, September 8.
The day’s activities began at midday when Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band played a variety of tunes. Throughout the afternoon, Kyle and Portree lifeboats allowed people to get up close to the two different types of vessel with the Kyle boat putting on displays, including a winching display with the UK Coastguard helicopter from Stornoway.
The crew on board coastguard tug ‘Ievoli Black’ allowed people on board for informative and humorous guided tours, food and drink.
The Qinetiq vessel ‘Quasar’ was alongside the pontoons with its underwater robotic vehicles, allowing people to have a go at controlling them.
There was also an unmanned mine-hunting vessel and a replica torpedo from the BUTEC Navy base on display. Kyle Fire Brigade and Kyle Coastguard team also made a welcome return.
The local kayaking club let people try out the sport and ‘Am Bata’, the Plockton High School boat building scheme, was present during the day and sold its recently completed boat.
This year saw the return of the popular tractor pulling competition, where teams of six people had to pull Kyle RNLI’s launching tractor 20 metres in the quickest time with Kyle RNLI crew retaining their title from last year.
Organisers thanked everyone who helped to make the day such a success.