West Highland Yachting Week

28th July to 3rd August 2012

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Get set for Tennents West Highland Yachting Week!

CALEDONIAN MacBrayne and the Crown Estate have come onboard to support Tennents West Highland Yachting Week, joining Tunnocks and Argyll and Bute Council. The partnership will bolster the success of one of the most popular yachting regattas in the UK that runs from July 31 to August 7 2009.

Caledonian MacBrayne is known throughout the western seaboard for lifeline transport services to the islands and their communities. The famous white, red and black ferries are a well established sight on passage during the event. The passage races of WHYW mirror CalMac’s sailings between ports that now include 24 Scottish destinations. The Crown Estate support recognises the increasing community focus of West Highland Yachting Week in the venues of Craobh, Oban and Tobermory which ties in with their stewardship of marine communities.

In addition West Coast Motors will be providing transport between Dunstaffnage and Oban to link up with après sail events, particularly the Kerrera Capers at Oban Marina on Sunday night. Bringing people together since 1923 the link is a parallel with West Highland Week that has similarly brought people together to race for 62 years. And competitors will travel in style – for West Coast Motors will provide their Double Decker open top bus that should provide a great spectacle during the event! A bus and ferry timetable will be included in competitors’ packs. The Skipper’s Reception will be held once again on Monday evening in the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal.

A special welcome is planned in Tobermory for the fleet with the local pipe band and other entertainment at Ledaig as the boats arrive on Wednesday. Top Scottish music in the main pub venues and a ceilidh in the Aros Hall are all part of West Highland Yachting Week’s lively social programme. The dancing continues after the fleet arrive back in Oban to a spectacular final fling for the prize-giving ceilidh. Kilts will be de rigueur!

Last year’s IRC success at Tennents West Highland Yachting Week widened interest in the event. Eight other classes use the CYCA handicap system with three of these being for restricted sail. White sail classes will be known as The Argyll Fleet. The spinnaker classes will be The Tunnocks Fleet. Changes are planned for the Argyll Fleet course on Thursday off Tobermory with a longer distance for the Class 2 boats.

2009 also marks the 30th and final year of sponsorship from Tennent Caledonian Breweries so a strong entry is expected to celebrate the culmination of one of the longest ever sporting sponsorships.