Wednesday 31 December 2014

Events Calendar 2015

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 2015


(Round Mull Race fleet 2014 - H. Kilpatrick 'Sarah')

With the New year looming and thoughts turning to the cruising itineray for 2015 we thought it would be a good time to share just a wee glimpse of the events on offer to those enjoying the waters of Scotland's West Coast in 2015. Remember 2015 is Scotland's year of Food & Drink so in addition to the annual favorites below there will be lots of other smaller events to enjoy all over Scotland this year. 


Mull Music Festival

Start: Thursday 23rd April to Sunday 26th April
The Mull Music Festival is a weekend of Scottish music featuring folk-rock bands, traditional fiddle & accordion dance and ceilidh bands, and Gaelic singers. It takes place largely in Mull's public houses spread around the island, plenty of variety is offered within Tobermory which has excellent facilities for those arriving by sea.  The events aren't ticketed, and most are very crowded!
FIND OUT MORE

Scottish Islands Peak Race

Start: 12 noon Friday 15th May (Finish entirely down to weather and crew!)
This adventure race is for teams of Sailors and Fell Runners (both adult and teenage) and is held annually on and around the most beautiful parts of the West Coast of Bonny Scotland.
The Race starts in Oban with a short hill run, then a sail to Salen on Mull, run over Ben More, sail to Craighouse on Jura, run the Paps, sail to Arran, run Goat Fell, then sail to Troon. The Race takes 3 to 4 Days and caters for Multihulls, Racers and Cruisers.
Each team consists of 5 (usually 2 runners and 3 sailors), there is also an all-rounders class for sailors that can run and a class for young people (with the assistance of a few adults).
(Fyne Fest Festival- www.fynefest.com)

Fyne Fest Festival

Over the past few years Fynefest's reputation as one of the most popular beer festival has been spreading far and wide. From small beginnings in the brewery courtyard to a big marquee in one field, camping in another the festival has just got bigger & better. Filled with quality craft beer, locally sourced food and excellent music in beautiful Argyll. All this to enjoy at your leisure over the full weekend based around the Fyne Ales Brewery at the head of Loch Fyne, next to Loch Fyne Oysters.
FIND OUT MORE

Scottish Series

Start: Friday 22nd – Monday 25th May
Ever thought of taking part in Scotland’s biggest regatta?
It’s not all about the race boats with the black sails and experienced race crews. Many people take part just for craic of it. The event in Tarbert Loch Fyne is open to all and for some can just be a great weekend away with you friends relaxing with passage sailing in between the parties. Come and see what you are missing!

Round Mull Race 

Start: Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th July
We are proud to support this event as joint headline sponsors with Owen Sails of Benderloch. The Round Mull Race has acquired a loyal following over the last 25 years with many of the boats making up the fleet of approximately 50 boats having made the annual pilgrimage round the island of Mull many times. Every year the event stalwarts are joined by boats and crews from all over the UK who have come to experience this unique event; offering great sailing in some of the west coasts most picturesque waters around the coast of Mull.
The event see the fleet enjoying the hospitality of Oban Sailing Club on the Thursday evening with the opening buffet. Racing commences on the Friday morning with start line being positioned off Oban Sailing club, the fleet races from Oban to Tobermory on Mull via the Sound of Mull. Saturday see the fleet start at the entrance to Tobermory Bay before heading westward to the open waters of Mulls west coast before heading South for the finish line at Bunessan. Spending the night at anchor the local community offer a buffet and ceilidh on the Saturday evening in the village hall, a short walk along the road from the pier. The final leg of the race on the Sunday takes the fleet west again through the Sound of Iona before heading east along the south coast of Mull and toward the finish at Frank Lockwoods Island.
Described previously as competitive cruising rather than racing the event offers something for everyone with a white sail class and two handed class. 


(Tiree Music Festival - www.tireemusicfestival.co.uk)

Tiree Music Festival  

Start: Friday 17th - Sunday 19th July
The set list of local, national and international music acts is just one of the huge draws of TMF – come prepared for a true island adventure. Think picture-perfect white sands. World-famous surf. Deserted roads lined with lush greenery and wild flowers. Not forgetting more sunshine than practically anywhere else in the UK. It’s little wonder that the tiny Hebridean island of Tiree is nicknamed the ‘Hawaii of the North’.
Add to this three separate campsites – the main campsite, family campsite and campervan area – and the now famous Community Village with its many stalls and events, and TMF guarantees you an authentic flavour of Tiree. Which, in a nutshell, is the whole idea behind the festival.
TMF has gained wide spread acclaim since its inception in 2010 since when it has won Best Small Festival at the Scottish Event Awards (2012 & 2013) and Best Cultural Event at both the Highland & Island Tourism Awards (2013) and Scottish Thistle Awards (2013). Evidence, if ever it was needed, that small can indeed be beautiful.

(West Highland Week - www.yachtingimages.co.uk)

West Highland Week

Start: Saturday 1st - Friday 7th August
The historic and unique sailing regatta is now in its 67th year. It has evolved into the West Coast's biggest sailing event taking in 3 venues, Craobh, Oban and Tobermory. 1000+ competitors from around the world enjoy national and local media coverage. The event has evolved a distinctive blend of competitive racing combined with a varied and full programme of family social events.
FIND OUT MORE

Round Shuna Race & Feeder Races

Start: Saturday 22nd - Sunday 23rd August
Run by the Clyde Corithian Yacht Club the Shuna race weekend is a fun filled weekend after the Scottish Schools return from the summer break. The weekend starts with feeder races from Oban and Ardfern to Craobh where boats muster for the next days round Shuna race. Unusual in its format the race around Shuna is a pursuit race with a prolonged start sequence seeing the slowest boat setting off first and the fastest last; to add to the fun its entirely the skipper's (or perhaps willful crew) decision which way round the island is circumnavigated.
Keep an eye on the blog for further updates

         (Pirates Parade, Ardfern, our chandlery manager Guy Neville with his daughter Kay)

Craignish Arts Festival

Dates to be confirmed (normally mid August)
Primarily a visual arts festival in the West Highland community of Craignish, Ardfern, the festival also encompasses a variety of live music nights at our local pub The Galley of Lorne Inn and The Lords of the Isles in Craobh Haven, storytelling sessions, markets, sporting competitions, guided walks and family events, in particular a range of arts workshops and the incredibly popular Pirate Parade.

Mull of Kintyre Music Festival

Start: Wednesday 19th - Sunday 23rd August
Enjoy the best in traditional and contemporary Celtic music and this popular annual music festival held in the scenic area immortalised in Paul McCartney’s 1977 hit song Mull of Kintyre.
Established in 1992 in the west coast town of Campbeltown, the Mull of Kintyre Music Festival showcases the finest talent in Scottish and Irish traditional music with a fantastic programme of concerts, ceilidhs, jam sessions, workshops, free outdoor events. This is accompanied by other exciting events which range from children’s entertainment to heritage and cultural tours and parades. Watch excellent local ceilidh bands, Gaelic choirs, pipe bands, brass bands Highland dancers perform alongside acclaimed international acts which in recent years have included Altan, Davy Spillane, Four men and a Dog, the Tannahill Weavers, Jerry Holland and Dave McIsaac, Dougie McLean, the Micahel McGoldrick Band, the Full Moon Ensemble, Arty McGlynn and Nollaig Cassidy. This family-friendly event is held every August across a range of venues and is a must for all lovers of traditional and contemporary Celtic music.
        (Best of the West Festival, Inveraray)

Best of the West Festival

Dates to be confirmed
Set in the stunning venue of the ground of  Inveraray Castle, this family friendly festival highlights the best in food, drink, crafts, music and entertainments from the West of Scotland. From fine crafts to fine food and from local pipe bands to world famous headline music acts, the programme offers something for everyone, including a range of children's activities, horse riding, archery and survival skills to tire the kids out. 

(Craighouse, Isle of Jura - www.jurainfo.com)

Jura Music Festival 2015

Start: Friday 25th - Sunday 27th September
The Jura Music Festival, now in its 22nd year, is a firm favourite on the festival calendar. It's a fantastic weekend of traditional Scottish Music in a beautiful, remote island setting. 
As well as a great line-up of musicians, there are also workshops and sessions to encourage up-and-coming talent. From the Friday night ceilidh right through to the Sunday night concert in the distillery co-operage, this is a foot-stomping weekend for music lovers, easily reachable under sail from Ardfern.


These are only a highlight of the many events happening around Scotland's west coast during 2015. If your looking for more information on events to be enjoyed afloat the CYCA 2015 Event Calander is an vital resource, even if its only to avoid being in the same anchorage as a race fleet! Locally the Ardfern community is very active and during the year there are many events going on within the Craignish area open to all, the Craignish Village Hall website has details of events going on within the hall.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2015!




















Saturday 20 December 2014

Festive Opening Hours - 2014/15


24th December 9-3pm
25th - 26th December CLOSED
27th - 30th December 9-4pm
31st December 9-1pm
1st - 2nd January CLOSED
 
 The workshop and the boatyard are now closed until Monday 5th January
 
 We wish all our customers Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year 2015