West Highland Yachting Week

30th July to 6th August 2010

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Skipinnish to get feet tapping at Oban Marina’s WHYW Barn dance

Skipinnish are to play at Oban Marina’s Island Dance for the Sunday of Tennents West Highland Yachting Week. Well known throughout Scotland and now with a base in Oban at the ‘Ceilidh House’, the band is guaranteed to be a huge crowd puller for this popular island event. This will follow the opening night at the Lord of the Isles at Craobh Marina which was last year described by many competitors as ‘sensational’ and ended with a fireworks display from the causeway.

Both will make it a fitting start to the 62nd regatta Week and the 30th and final year of sponsorship from Tennent Caledonian Breweries. This year Tunnocks also step aboard to support the event as do Argyll and Bute Council. The spinnaker classes will be known as the ‘Tunnocks Fleet’ and the restricted sail class will be the ‘Argyll Fleet’ on the two days the fleets race separately. Tunnocks’ biscuit products have acquired the proud status of genuine Scottish icons and their support is a befitting partnership with a unique Scottish regatta.

After the feeder races to Craobh Marina, the first race of the week sees the WHYW fleet sail from Craobh to Oban. Skipinnish will play at the massive boatshed drawing sailors together for a true ‘barn ceilidh’ said Oban Marina manager Sue Price who added the format would be similar to last year.

‘We will have our hay bale can bar and seating in the top shed and the WayPoint Grill will be producing a superb selection of seafood as well as other produce to suit all tastes.’

Tuesday will see music and entertainment at the Wide Mouthed Frog at Dunstaffnage Marina. Neil McLauchlan of Dunstaffnage said they would be co-operating with the WHYW committee to provide an excellent night at the marina. ‘We want to see Oban as a festival destination and events like West Highland Yachting Week can provide a springboard for a carnival atmosphere throughout the town and beyond,’ he said.

Meanwhile in Tobermory, the Joint Regatta Committee is working closely with Tobermory Harbour Association to give competitors the usual welcoming reception and add on to the events of last year. With Tobermory holding a special place in the hearts of competitors there is the prospect of the open-air ceilidh returning to complement the excellent entertainment provided by the pubs throughout the village.

The Window-dressing competition is still enthusiastically pursued by Tobermory shop outlets with the aim of achieving the best display promoting Tennents West Highland Yachting Week. A silver trophy is presented to the ‘best dressed’ shop.