West Highland Yachting Week 2020 – Notice of Cancellation

Laura Uncategorised 2 Comments

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

Laura Uncategorised 2 Comments

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

A message from the new Chairman

Laura Uncategorised 0 Comment

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

Pressgang – Wednesday Oban-Tobermory- Polly Quaile

enigma Uncategorised 0 Comment

Today our challenge was to race Sola from Oban to Tobermory. Tessa was our timekeeper and counted us down to the start. We crossed the line in a good position and headed up wind toward the Lady Rock trying not to be intimidated by Glenafton charging up behind us.  Before reaching the lighthouse we were badly headed and almost the entire fleet sailed by to our dismay. However we made a good track through unfavourable tide where others seemed to be sailing backwards.

 The wind picked up in the Sound of Mull and we had a fun upwind sail, vying for position with the Wallace family on Gumdrop. Mum and I made a good team tacking the genoa, especially when the wind rose over 24 knots and Sola hummed with delight at such a good sail. We don’t know where we finished in the class but we all had a great day, with a friendly hoot from Chico as we crossed the line in Tobermory Bay.  

We are now rafted up on a mooring with Murray Caldwell from Owen Sails (today’s race sponsor) and his crew on Oyster Catcher.

Polly Quaile
Sola

West Highland Yachting Week Experience from Hot Toddy by Calum Warnock

enigma 2019 0 Comment
West Highland Yachting Week Experience from Hot Toddy by Calum Warnock
 

The only way the first day of west highland yachting week could be described was “interesting”. Light winds and a bit of drizzle meant that the racing was very tactical with decisions making or breaking a boats chances of winning depending on weather they found wind or fell into a hole. The start for class 8 Was very close with many boats almost over the line with seconds to spare but the gun went and they were off. As the fleet powered to the Island “Popcorn” steamed ahead finding a pace the rest of her class could not keep up with and the first few spinnakers were being flown on the reach to the island.

 
Rounding the tip of Eilean Gamhna Island the fleet split with the faster boats heading round extra marks to keep the fleet even, that gave us breathing room to see “Popcorn” put more distance between us and we began our slow beat up to Kilchoan Bay. After some of the faster boats began to pass us we rounded the mark and hoisted the rainbow spinnaker and set off for the tip of Shuna. A few more boats passed us and we began to round the tip but not before a few larger boats had muscled their way through and caused some commotion and it was a miracle that no one was rammed.

We gybed the spinnaker just as the rain started and proceeded to make way towards the finish line at an agonising pace. we held our spinnaker for as long as we could but in the end we had to pack it to point upwind toward the finish line. We crossed the line after two and a half hours of sailing and we motored back in to some tea in the cabin. We found out that Popcorn had gone on to claim overall victory on handicaps while we had come 6th in class.

Report from the “tequila (too much)” Sunrise on Sundays Croabh Races

enigma 2019 1 Comment
The day started dry which was great considering the forecast. The race officer made a wise decision to combine the fleets into a passage race because windward leeward would have been hopeless in the absence of wind. A passage race gave us the opportunity to exploit the possibilities of tidal sailing. It was lovely to have the boat converted into race mode, stripping luxuries out such as one of the televisions. However we kept the cupboards full of alcohol. The collie dog, Mia, made a good job of the start tactics, crossing the start line second last.
Sunrise
However, this did provide the benefit of being able to see the holes that the other boats sailed into. The crew managed to rouse themself out of their drunken slumber and sheeted the sails in with fine style. A tight reach from the start line soon turned into a beat after the first mark. Rory called a good shout with a lightening tack up to the shore. From ducking and diving, weaving through some moody 336’s saw us down at the next mark and ready to put the spinnaker up.
 
Storm, Kirsten and Alex made a great job of getting the spinnaker sheeted. Max and Hamish trimmed the main, the point of Shuna was fast approaching. Finn and Nicola executed a perfect jibe, controlled beautifully by the crew. Kim made a star cameo for one day only producing great lunch. The sound of guns ahead welcomed a shortened course – an excellent call from the race officer as the rain started right away. Back to Croabh, boom tent back on and a few small refreshments.
Well done to the Whole crew. 

WHYW Social programme launched

enigma 2019 0 Comment

As we enter the last week before WHYW 2019 its been a hectic and busy time in the office. The last entries are coming in, the race team have finalised the sailing instructions and our social committee have put the finishing touches on the programme ashore for the week ahead.  Last year we surveyed the fleet at the end of the event and hope that whilst we have not been able to enact all suggestions we have been able to include many of them in this years event.

Whilst the general gist of the week remains the same with a couple of nights in Croabh , a couple in Oban and a couple in Tobermory we have tried to address the suggestions of more fleet activities ashore. To this extent the week will kick off with registration at Croabh and a skippers briefing in the WHYW Marquee- adjacent to the Lord of the Isles at 18.45 on Saturday. The briefing will be followed at 19.00 by a new event which will allow all to meet and catch up at the welcoming reception. We are delighted that this reception will be supported by Nerabus Gin.

Nerabus is made by The Islay Gin Company and takes its character from its surroundings.Caressed by the Atlantic winds, Nerabus is a hamlet by the shores of Loch Indaal on the Scottish Hebridean Isle of Islay. Nerabus, often known by the ancient name Nereabolls, is a hamlet in the Rhinns area on the south west side of the Isle of Islay. Nerabus is known for its wild heather and deer. The deer at Nerabus roam wild and are often seen at sunset grazing on the lower grounds. These beautiful creatures were the inspiration for our logo. So why not come along on Saturday and kick the week off in style. After this reception the marquee will become the centrepeice for the “Food from Argyll” food and drink event , Hog Roast and BBQ with music from the Mid Argyll Pipe Band and dancing with the Democrats

Monday sees the  the fleet move north to Oban and on Tuesday we will be holding the 1st midsweek prizegiving at Dunstaffange Marina at 19.30  followed by Big Daves Beach Party in the shed- fancy dress remains optional but with food from Dolce Vita of Oban and a late bar it is sure to be  highlight. Music suggestions and playlist additions can be added through facebook! Then its off to Tobermory on Wednesday and after racing on Thursday we have reintroduceed the Mull prizegiving and have kindly been allowed to use the Tobermory Distillery Courtyard for this  at 18.30- as we have an early strart on Friday back to Oban and in a change to previuos years we will be holding the final prizegiving outside Oban Sailing Club at Gallanach park an hour after the final race allowing all to collect their trophies and head off for the weekend. 

So for more information please click on this link

Social Programme 2019 Social Prog 2

Notice of Race WHYW 2019 Launched

enigma 2019, Uncategorised 0 Comment

 

As we enter 2019 we are delighted to announce the plans for West Highland Yachting Week 2019 and have posted the Notice of Race with an added price advantage to those boats that commit early.

2019 will make the 72nd year the event has been running and plans to be a wonderful week both on the water and ashore. As before the week starts at Croabh Haven and moves north to Oban where it sees another year with of the Firth of Lorn races on the Tuesday and then heads out to the west to Tobermory before returning to Oban.

We are delighted that Johnnie Readman has volunteered to lead the Race Team as the Principle Race Officer  and as a long term participant and experienced sailor he promises us all a hectic, competitive but above all fun and enjoyable week on the water.

In a slight change there will be two midweek prize givings each with more social events the first  will take place at Dunstaffanage on the Tuesday and the second will see the return of a Tobermory prize giving and dance on the Thursday Evening –  leaving the final prize giving to be on Friday Afternoon at Oban Sailing Club before the fleet disperses.

Yachting Images pictures of West Highland Yachting Week

enigma 2018 0 Comment

West Highland Yachting Week 2018.

The Joint Committee has arranged with Ron and Graeme Cowan of www.yachtingimages.co.uk that jpegs of the photographs taken during WHYW18 can be downloaded free of charge for personal use by WHYW officials, helpers and participating yacht owners and crews until 28th. September 2018.

The copyright of all images remains with Yachting Images but owners and crews may download images of their own yachts and general views for their own personal, non commercial, use.   A ‘Restricted Use’ licence will be included with the download and this will allow each file to be posted on the downloader’s own personal social media site(s).  The images must not be shared with any other person, commercial firm or organisation, or used on the internet except as mentioned above.

As usual high quality prints can be ordered through www.yachtingimages.co.uk  and any enquiries regarding any commercial use, including yacht sales & brokerage, press, publication in print and on the internet , etc. should be addressed to ron@yachtingimages.co.uk . A charge may be made for such use.

For access to the link to download your own files please contact – office@whyw.co.uk

This link may be privately shared with those who crewed with you during WHYW18 but must not be shared with others, or published anywhere.

Kind regards

Joint Regatta Committee
West Highland Yachting Week