Author: Laura

Dear all,

 

Well …… we are getting excitingly close! I am delighted to update you with the news from our Covid Officer – yes, we have one. Indeed to be sure, we have two – that we should be all clear to go ahead with West Highland Yachting Week. This information not only accords with the latest update from our First Minister, but we also have the approval of RYA Scotland. So if you are still in doubt, please do not be, and get your entry in.

There is now only a little under a week to get your entry in – please bear in mind that entries close on Friday – 23^rd July.

So, with this current glorious spell of weather, what more could you ask for than the thought of taking part in what promises to be a great event. A little different, perhaps, with no “formal” social activities planned, but that should not detract from the joy of meeting old friends, and some good inter bubble banter!

I may have said it before, but I am looking forward to seeing you all there.

 

Gavin.

Chairman – West Highland Yachting Week.

 

 

The latest guidance from RYA Scotland, issued two days ago, is that we should be moving to “level 0” as of 19^th July, which will effectively allow for outdoor gatherings of up to 500 people, with the relaxation of social distancing guidelines for outdoor events. While there is clearly no guarantee that the above change to level 0 will be made, we as a committee are ever hopeful that West Highland Yachting Week will be able to go ahead.

 

This weeks update therefore  is just to assure you all that from a planning point of view, we aim to go ahead with West Highland Yachting Week, and all due preparation is being made. That will remain the case unless there is a dramatic change to the contrary, at which point we would, of course, let you all know as soon as possible. There will be restrictions of one sort or another, and all competitors will be expected to play their part in adhering to those guidelines in place at the time. We will endeavour to keep you fully informed.

 

In the meantime, please get your entries in, get your boats ready, and we will look forward to seeing you on the water!

 

Gavin Marshall

Chairman West Highland Yachting Week.

The entry list is filling up nicely now, we have sent out information to everybody who filled in an entry form about how to pay your entry fee, if any one has any questions or queries about how to pay please give the office a shout and we will help any way we can. 

email office@:whyw.co.uk

tel 07522156568

Dear all,

 

With so much going on, I think it is time for a weekly update!

 

We are aware of the recent surge in coronavirus cases in Argyll and Bute. However the WHYW committee remains committed to doing all that we can to ensure that this years WHYW goes ahead as planned – or as closely to plans – as possible.

 

Not only are we monitoring the situation on a regular basis, but we are in contact with RYA Scotland, whom I am pleased to say are being extremely helpful in assisting us in our aim to run the event.

 

So with this weeks update, I would urge you all please to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that you are on the start line at the appointed hour! But please come with an open mind. We may have to make changes at the last minute. We will be preparing printed race instructions, but they will be worded in such a way as to allow the race officer maximum leeway in his decision making. It is likely that we will use a Whats App group to keep everyone informed, and this will be backed up with announcements on the VHF – channel 77.

 

Take care, and we will look forward to seeing you on the water.

 

Gavin Marshall.

Chairman West Highland Yachting Week.

Dear all,

 

I am very pleased to say that the Joint Regatta Committee are all committed to making this years West Highland Yachting Week happen. I was asked today if I could guarantee that it would go ahead, and I was very tempted to say “yes,” but alas I fear that is not within my powers. But do I believe it will go ahead? Yes, I do! We now have statements of interest from 55 boats, and as soon as we have the website doing what we want it to do, we will be asking you to convert those statements of interest into confirmed entries.

 

We are aiming for a full weeks racing, and in a format as close to the norm as possible, with two feeder races on Saturday 31^st July, one from Gigha, and the other from Oban. Sunday 1^st August will see the fleet racing round Shuna of Craobh Haven. After a second night at Craobh, the fleet will head up to Oban on Monday 2^nd, before a race round Lismore on Tuesday. On Wednesday the fleet will go on to Tobermory, for a two night stay there, with the hope of a days racing “round the cans” off Tobermory, before returning to Oban on Friday 6^th August.

 

As I say the aim is to stick as closely to the normal format as possible. We will of course have to make some concessions to the times in which we live, the one being that there will be no organisation of formal social events. And as the race committee is likely to be working with restricted numbers, the emphasis for the week will be on passage racing.

 

One other departure from the norm is that we will be offering two classes for shorthanded crews – boats with no more than two persons on board. For those who like their bubbles small, this may be an attractive option.

 

Whatever your racing preferences, I very much hope you will join us – I believe it promises to be an excellent week, and hopefully worth the wait!

 

Gavin Marshall,

Chairman Joint Regatta Committee,

West Highland Yachting Week.

 

Well with things hopefully looking brighter for this summer the West Highland Yachting Week committee are busy planning for this years event.

If you would like to reserve your place for this years event please fill in the online entry form.

In the event that numbers are limited at the time of the event we will allocate places in the order they were reserved

There is no payment required to reserve a place and we will keep you updated with all the news and information as we confirm the details. 

As 2020 draws to a close, I suspect that it might  be more appropriate to wish you all a “healthy and prosperous new year,” rather than the more normal “happy” new year.

 

I firmly believe it is important to look forward and plan ahead for the coming sailing season. As I write, the days are short, the weather is cold, we are living under ever stricter regulations, and it would be easy to put off planning for another, hopefully sunnier, day!

 

But there are so many opportunities to be had. And there are many, many aspects of our sport which fit well with any guidelines to which we seek to adhere:

 

• We need not travel abroad to enjoy our sailing
• We can be as isolated as we choose to be on the water, and in a “holiday home” which is well known to us.
• We can sail either short handed or in our own “bubbles.”
• We can choose to go either to busy marinas (if they want our business) and comply with their carefully controlled procedures, or
• We can go to isolated anchorages, away from any centre of population.
• We can socialise entirely in the open air, as indeed we have learnt to do over the course of the last 9 months.
• And best of all, I have yet to hear of a single argument as to how Brexit can dampen our seafaring wanderlust!

 

To go from all of the above to adding in a little gentle competition is not such a big step.

 

I feel therefore that we should press on with planning our event for the week of 31^st July to 6^th August 2021, in compliance with whatever guidelines are in place at the time. We must build flexibility into our format, and I would be delighted to hear from YOU, the competitors, as to what ideas you may have. (my contact details are at the foot of the page). I believe that we can make it an excellent week, regardless of whether we have strict regulation and guidelines, or whether we are a little more free to choose our own destiny.

 

And that is what I intend to ask my committee to help me do. So PLEASE, have a very good New Year, stay healthy, (get your vaccination!) and lets look forward to a great West Highland Yachting Week 2021.

 

Gavin Marshall,

Chairman.

Email: gavin@baddinsgill.com

Mob. 07967 342022

West Highland Yachting Week 2020 – Notice of Cancellation

With much consideration the West Highland Yachting Week Joint Regatta Committee regret to announce the cancellation of West Highland Yachting Week 2020

With the on going Covid 19 pandemic the well being of our competitors, organisers and the communities that welcome the event must be our top priority. We want to thank our sponsors for their continued support, and all of those that help us to make the event what it is.

West Highland Yachting Week will return on 31st July – Friday 6th August 2021, we look forward to you joining us for what we hope will be another great event. 

In the mean time we hope you stay safe and thank you all for your support and understanding.

COVID-19 OUTBREAK
The Joint Regatta Committee are carefully monitoring the situation regarding the Coronavirus outbreak which has forced the cancellation of a large number of events such as the Scottish Series and Cork Week etc. we send our very best to the organisers and all competitors of these events.
We are deferring a decision on whether this years WHYW will be run or not and expect to make a decision on this by the end of April
In the meantime, stay safe and well and we wish you all the very best during this crisis”.
The WHYW Joint Regatta Committee

Let me introduce myself. I have recently taken over from Beppo Buchanan Smith as chairman of West Highland Yachting Week. Beppo described me as possibly the most landlocked sailor he had ever met, and as such I may not be best suited to the post. But balanced against that my entire family sail and for the last few years we have fielded some 8 family members from three generations (in two boats) helping to make up the fleet.
Your committee is already working diligently towards ensuring that West Highland Yachting Week 2020 is a good one and we are particularly interested in your feedback on how you would like us to improve the week.

As examples
– Do you like to race round an island or round the buoys?
– Would you like to see a “semi restricted sail class” which lets you use your spinnaker on the passage races, without the ungentlemanly hassle of coping with it round the buoys?
– Would you like a two handed class?
– How might you encourage your friends to join the event?

Please email any feedback to Laura at office@whyw.co.uk

We will look forward to seeing you on the water in 2020. Thank you for your continued support of this event, and my personal thanks also to all those who work so hard to make it happen.
Finally, I and the rest of the committee would like to wish you the compliments of the season!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Gavin Marshall