Change in weather sees two festivals cancelled

● Aberdeen Mela and Bute Fest hit ● Yachting Week sailors warned

Heavy rain and strong winds over the past few days have affected festivals and events across Scotland.

The Aberdeen Mela festival due to take place in the city’s Westburn Park yesterday was cancelled as a result of the poor weather.

The Aberdeen Multicultural Centre said: “Due to the weather forecasts for the day and current conditions at Westburn Park, we unfortunately will not be able to proceed with this year’s Mela festival.

“The weather forecasts present potential risks and the safety of everyone who would have been here today is of paramount importance to us.”

The annual Bute Fest music festival was also affected, with high winds forcing the closure of the site on Saturday night.

Organisersoftheislandevent posted on Twitter: “Unfortunately the very strong winds have caused us to close the site for safety reasons.

“If you are in the campsite and have tent-related issues / nowhere to stay please come to the welfare or staff catering tent in the campsite and we will look after you.”

The site reopened and the festival got under way again yesterday.

Meanwhile, yacht owners have been warned to take care after four vessels ran into troubleinpoorweathernearoban. Coastguards warned of “challenging” conditions including strong winds and big tides in the area, which is currently hosting the West Highland Yachting Week event.

In the first incident on Saturday, three people were rescued by the Oban RNLI lifeboat after their yacht ran aground at Puilladobhrain Anchorage, just south of Oban, at about 10:30pm.

Half an hour later, Oban Coastguard Rescue Team attended after another yacht with one person on board reported dragging its anchor in Loch Feochan, also south of Oban. The team was stood down after an improvement in the weather allowed the yacht to regain its anchor.

A third yacht with one person and a dog on board made a mayday call at midnight after running aground on Lismore. The Oban lifeboat was again called out but the vessel refloated on the rising tide. Another yacht reported dragging its anchor at about 1:15am yesterday at Loch Aline, with the Tobermory lifeboat dispatched to tow it back to shore.

“We advise yacht owners to take care when anchoring to ensure they have good holding”

GRAHAM CAY HM Coastguard