This is one of the great west coast spectacles, on and off the water. The Crinan Classic Boat Festival annually sees about 50 classic yachts racing and sailing the waters of Argyll’s west coast, off the unimaginably picturesque Crinan Canal Basin, dominated by the well known Crinan Hotel .
The festival has the significant added attractions of:
- sponsorship (and more) from Islay’s Bruichladdich Distillery;
- visits from the Mid Argyll Pipe Band;
- a maritime art show;
- trips in one of the very few (two?) surviving west coast puffers, the Vic 32;
- haggis hurling – you’ve got to believe it – as part of an unusual highland games;
- rowing races;
- wine tasting from Inverarity Wine;
- live music;
- and the Big Ceilidh Bash.
The 2010 festival runs from the 1st – 4th July – so get it in the diary now. And if you have a classic boat, prepare to enter it now. A large audience of sailors and spectators will be delighted to see it.
There is further and periodically updated information on the Crinan Classic Boat Festival website.
why do they have this event on, on the same date as the established tarbert seafood festival (especially when the first traditional boat rally in the area was done as part of the seafood festival) each year surely they know it clashes with it or is that why? common sense would tell you you would get more people attending if they had a different date ??I can never understand why when orginisers know that certain big events have set dates each year they have to organize something else on the same date to try to spoil them .
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As part of the organising committee and number of volunteers involved in the Tarbert Seafood Festival I have to agree with Bob. There should be preferences for events that have been on the same dates for a significant number of years to maximise their attendence, by adjusting dates accordingly. Would it not be better for Tarbert to host a traditional boat rally once again as part of Tarbert Seafood Festival and then travel during the week up to Crinan for the Boat Festival the weekend after? Perhaps by doing so organisers of competing events might also be able to attend. I also understand the Mokrun clashes with the Scottish Series Yacht Race and I am sure there are many others which when adjusted as part of a flowing, clash free calendar, people will stay in Argyll longer and attend more.With the technology available, it shouldnt be difficult for Argyll to create a full season of brilliant events that dont clash and increase the potential for sustainability, attendance and revenue generation so that everyone has a fair crack of the whip. I believe the HIE and Argyll and Bute Council should help to ensure that this happens from 2011 onwards.
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