Tobermory Harbour Association sails with West Highland Yachting Week

Tobermory Harbour Association is the latest company to pledge its support to help run West Highland Yachting Week (WHYW). The famous regatta, running from 30th July to 6th August 2010 is delighted to welcome its new supporter onboard.

Joint Regatta Chair, Dave Waltho, says: ‘This is excellent news, since the event has two days based in Tobermory during the Regatta. We already have a close bond with Tobermory Harbour Association so this strengthens our base in this iconic port.’

As well as offering free anchorage in Tobermory Bay and moorings for hire, Tobermory Harbour Association operate the pontoon berths at Ledaig which offer fuel, power and water plus the new all facilities building ashore in Taigh Solais. (Taigh Solas is seen in the photograph above and was a finalist in the New Public Buildings category in the 2009 Argyll and Bute Sustainable Dsign awards.)

The ethos of THA is to provide ‘facilities for all’. It encourage visitors afloat to bring benefit throughout the Island.
Brian Swinbanks, chairman of THA says: ‘We are very happy to support West Highland Yachting Week. It brings enormous benefit to all our community on Mull.

‘Like the Mull Rally, WHYW, is a major event bringing not only the yachts and competing crews to Tobermory but many visitors who are attracted by the spectacle of the regatta and the great atmosphere. We look forward to seeing our many old friends and meeting new ones this year’.

2010 WHYC on the water and ashore at Tobermory

The West Highland Yachting Week fleet of up to 160 boats races up to Tobermory from Oban on Wednesday 4th August 2010, arriving in the late afternoon, offering to shop and re-fuel at the port.

On Thursday 5th August, the fleet splits into two to race off Tobermory. The Tunnock’s Spinnaker Fleet does a race round the buoys off Mingary Bay; and the Argyll Fleet for restricted sail (no spinnakers) races out to Quinish Point then back down the Sound of Mull.

The regatta’s racing is varied, with eleven classes available for yachts to compete in – including options for white sail on both IRC and CYCA handicaps.

The après sail social scene in Tobermory is excellent – of historic note – with ceilidhs and pub entertainment on the agenda as well as the best of Scottish fare offered by the wide range of restaurants and cafes.

This year Tobermory Distillery team up with West Highland Yachting Week offering a  whisky tasting of their Tobermory Single Malt Scotch Whisky while the fleet is in town – both at the Skipper’s Reception in Oban and in Tobermory itself, the home of the distillery.

West Highland Yachting Week also receives sponsorship from Tunnock’s, the Oban Common Good Fund, Tobermory Whisky and The Crown Estate. Caledonian MacBrayne hosts a Skipper’s Reception when the fleet is in Oban and West Coast Motors provides transport during the event. BP Marine also helps with fuel for the committee boats.

Further information and the Notice of Race is available on the West HIghland Yachting Week website.

The photograph above, of Tobermory Marina and Taigh Solas, where Tobermory Harbour Association is based,  was supplied by Alison Chadwick, Press Officer for West Highland Yachting Week – and sailor.