West Highland Yachting Week

30th July to 6th August 2010

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Sceptre returns for Tennents West Highland Yachting Week

THE 62nd West Highland Yachting Week from July 31 to August 7 sees a return for the iconic 12-metre yacht Sceptre after an absence of four years. Skippered by Thomas Smith she will race in IRC1 with a crew of eight plus two children aged 9 and 13.

Sceptre was built by Robertsons of Sandbank as the British Challenger for the America’s Cup in 1958 and is believed to be the only UK challenger still sailing in British Waters. She was re-tuned after her failed America’s Cup bid and enjoyed a heyday of sail with great racing success over several seasons before being converted by Tony Walker of Lytham over an 8-year period. Now owned by the Sceptre Preservation LLP society, members ensure her future with the edict that she remains racing and cruising in UK waters.

West Highland Yachting Week is one such event. Preservation Society member Dougie Lee said: ‘It is a wonderful feeling to know Sceptre is so welcome back up in Scotland -her birthplace and spiritual home.’ He said that all the syndicate members share the same enthusiasm for Sceptre and after a prolonged spell based in the Solent, she has returned to the Clyde and will remain there for the rest of this season following WHYW. She is available for charter and income from this helps preserve the boat.

Race Officer Malcolm MacGregor heads the race team and once again the event will encourage the use of arbitration as a precursor to Protests throughout the regatta. Protest Committee chairman Terence Brownrigg who has been part of the WHYW regatta race team for many years, chairs the protest committee.

Now in its 30th and final year of sponsorship from Tennent Caledonian Breweries West Highland Yachting Week also welcomes Tunnocks, Argyll and Bute Council, Caledonian MacBrayne and The Crown Estate on board as well as support from EventScotland. The spinnaker fleet is known as the Tunnocks fleet with the restricted sail classes the Argyll Fleet when the two race separately. Caledonian MacBrayne host the Skippers’ Reception in their modern departure lounge at the ferry terminal on Monday. The full social programme is on the website.

Tunnocks will be supplying each boat with one of its famous biscuit boxes – full of Tunnocks teacakes and biscuits, and help from West Coast Motors in Oban will see a shuttle bus operating between Dunstaffnage Marina and Oban for the Kerrera Barn Dance where Skipinnish are playing, and for other WHYW events.