West Highland Yachting Week takes the water to the whisky (Tobermory)

63 years old this year, Argyll’s West Highland Yachting Week (WHYW) is raising a glass to welcome its newest sponsor – Tobermory Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

It’s a perfect partnership, with Tobermory one of the three centres that sees this famous regatta on a unique annual trajectory from Craobh Haven on Loch Melfort to Oban on Loch Linnhe and to Tobermory in the Sound of Mull.

This second largest regatta in Scotland attracts upwards of 150 yachts each August to the west coast of Scotland, with feeder races from the Clyde, the Isle of Gigha and Oban bringing yachts to muster at Craobh for the start of the event that runs from 30th July to 6th August 2010.

There are eleven classes for racing across CYCA and IRC handicap ratings including four restricted sail classes using the CYCA handicap system.

The Regatta’s ethos is a mix of top quality racing for the spinnaker fleet with the restricted sail classes (non-spinnaker racing) allowing a range of family participation.

The après sail social scene includes a Skipper’s Reception, family swimming and cinema nights, tag rugby, five-a-side football competitions and barbecues. Each night there is a headline event for competitors and the final prize-giving on Friday evening is followed by a ceilidh dance.

For this flagship Argyll event, there is is also sponsorship from Tunnocks – Boyd Tunnock is a keen sailor and has often competed in the event; from Argyll and Bute Council’s Leisure and Recreation Fund; the Oban Common Good Fund; and Caledonian MacBrayne. West Coast Motors help with transport between venues  when the fleet is in Oban.

Putting the bottle down to welcome its distiller on board, WHYW Joint Regatta Committee chairman, David Waltho, says: ‘‘Whisky distilling and sailing go back centuries on the west coast. It’s great to have a good West Highland whisky brand in partnership with our unique West Highland event.

‘It is also particularly appropriate to have Tobermory Single Scotch Whisky aboard West Highland Yachting Week given Tobermory is one of our regatta’s most popular venues.  We are looking forward to a close association between the brand and our regatta.’

Tobermory and its distillery create a sailor’s dream haven. Cruising yachts come in to moor in the bay with a bunch of heather on the bow, signalling that they’ve just rounded the awesome Ardnamurchan Point. This is the most westerly point on the UK mainland, crowned with a 35 metre high Stevenson (Alan) lighthouse.

Their opposite numbers, going north, leave Tobermory Bay for the challenge of the point, stiffening their nerve with a departing dram from the local distillery.

The distillery itself is down to host some of the social events which will take place during the 2010 regatta. Already a pretty legendary stopover on the Round Mull Race as well as a centre of WHYH, Tobermory will enchant the regatta participants this year when these two brands seamlessly carry the party the wrong way around – from the water to the dram.

Katherine Crisp, Tobermory Brand Manager says:  ‘We are delighted to be involved with such a respected event in the sailing calendar. There is a strong association between whisky and sailing, in particular with Tobermory whose history is steeped in stories of adventures at sea.

‘There is even a Spanish Armada Galleon, whose treasure is reportedly still sitting at the bottom of the bay – with successive Dukes of Argyll (who own the rights to the ship) sending a diving team into the murky depths to chance their luck.

‘The distillery looks forward to welcoming both competitors and spectators to enjoy a dram or two.

Further information and the Notice of Race is available at West Highand Yachting Week.