West Highland Yachting Week

28th July to 3rd August 2012

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Get set for West Highland Yachting Week!

COMPETITORS are gearing up for the 63rd West Highland Yachting Week that kicks off on July 30th and runs till August 6th 2010. With some new faces added to the regular WHYW contingent it looks set to be another memorable week of racing and après sail social entertainment.

Entries stand at 99 boats to date with the trend of late entering for regattas prevailing. This year the event has an even wider range of classes for both CYCA and IRC handicaps.

With some new faces added to the regular WHYW contingent it looks set to be another memorable week of racing and après sail social entertainment.

Feeder races from Inverkip on Friday 30th July and Gigha and Oban on 31st July bring the fleet to Craobh Marina for the start of the week on Sunday 1st August with the festivities based at the Lord of the Isles. The pub and restaurant are offering a full day catering service with a range of food from the bar, barbecue and restaurant including special WHYW dinners. The popular Oyster and Champagne Bar is also available this year and there will be the famous Marquee Dance in the evening, music from the Mid Argyll Pipe Band and the now traditional fireworks by the Lord of the Isles to celebrate the launch of the regatta.

Caledonian MacBrayne is to host the Skippers Reception at the ferry terminal in Oban where guests will be piped in by the Oban High School Junior Pipe Band. Prior to this the band will play at various venues round Oban in the open topped bus provided by West Coast Motors.

And internationally renowned band Skerryvore is to play for the West Highland Yachting Week fleet at the Skipinnish Ceilidh House in Oban on Monday August 2nd. The well known band from Tiree is now a major player on the world stage.

Angus MacPhail of Skipinnish who runs the Ceilidh House said it was great to have Skerryvore playing on ‘home ground’. ‘There is always a buzz when the West Highland Yachting Week fleet is in town and Skerryvore is a big boost for the event,’ he said.

Local band Chunks play at Oban Marina on Sunday night when the fleet arrives after the first passage race and they will also be serving up a selection of music for the WHYW competitors alongside food from the popular Waypoint Grill.

The fleet always enjoys the après sail social scene in Tobermory with ceilidhs and pub entertainment on the agenda as well as the best of Scottish fare offered by the wide range of restaurants and cafes. The race from Oban to Tobermory starts on Wednesday 4th August with boats racing off Tobermory on 5th August. This year Tobermory Distillery hosts a whisky tasting of their famous Tobermory Single Malt Scotch Whisky in MacGoghans on Thursday night followed by a ceilidh dance with Gunna Sound sponsored by the Distillery.

Tobermory Whisky Race

Meanwhile recognising the sponsorship this year from Tobermory Single Malt Whisky, the Oban to Tobermory Race will be known as the Tobermory Whisky Race and the winner of Class 2 will be awarded the Tobermory Whisky Trophy. The new IRC Class 1a Points Class will compete for the Ben Hiant Cup for the Series. The Oban Common Good Fund Cup will be awarded to the winner of the Class 3a IRC Points Series. The Oban Common Good Fund also sponsors the Social Programme for WHYW.

Sponsorship to help run WHYW 2010 has come from Tunnocks, The Oban Common Good Fund, Tobermory Harbour Association, Tobermory Whisky, Caledonian MacBrayne and The Crown Estate. West Coast Motors also support the event as does BP Marine.