2009 Round Mull Yacht Race sponsored by Owen Sails of Beijing fame

Owen Sails, the Benderloch-based sailmaker – the largest in Scotland, is to sponsor the three-day 2009 Round Mull Yacht Race from 3rd-5th July. The first leg is from Oban to Tobermory on Friday 3rd July; the second from Tobermory to Bunessan on Saturday 4th; and the final leg is back to Oban on Sunday 5th.

Forty-two yachts competed in the event this year and a significant number of enquiries about entry to the 2009 race are coming from sailors who have not previously competed in it.

While Owen Sails, maker of the sails for the Gold Medal winning boat in the Yngling class at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 (and canopies for some Olympic venues) is the lead sponsor, others supporting the event include Dimension Polyant, Forteith Foods, Gleaner Oils and BP and North West Marine.

Stage prizes for the race are donated by the legendary Bilgewater Gin. This is the yachties secret, originally distilled for his personal use by a sailor from Aberdeen, using his own selection of botanicals, The lucky friends he shared it with in various ports asked him to make some for them too. And so it grew to formal production.

It’s very good indeed, belying its name. The one place For Argyll knows it can reliably be found for sale is in the Ironmongers’ Shop and Off Licence in Tobermory. Don’t say you’ve not been told.