As a new year has begun and thoughts will be turning to the cruising itinerary for 2017, 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 2017.
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| The Mendelssohn on Mull Concert (www.crowdfunder.co.uk/The-Mendelssohn-on-Mull-Music-Festival) |
Mull Music Festival
Start: Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd 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!
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FIND OUT MORE
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| Piping the runners ashore. (www.facebook.com/sipeaksrace/photos/) |
Scottish Islands Peak Race
Start: Friday 19th 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).
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| Scottish Series 2016 Winners: Dara O'Malley and Seaward from Port Edgar Yacht Club. (www.clyde.org/scottish-series) |
Scottish Series
Start: Friday 26th – Monday 29th 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!
FyneFest Festival
Start: Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th June
Over the past few years Fynefest's reputation as one of the most popular beer festivals in Scotland 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.
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FIND OUT MORE
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| Round Mull Race 2016 |
Round Mull Race
Start: Friday 7th - Sunday 9th 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.
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| Sun, Sand & Sea at the Tiree Music Festival (www.facebook.com/TireeMusicFestival) |
Tiree Music Festival
Start: Friday 14th - Sunday 16th July
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’.
This is the unique location of Tiree Music Festival, or TMF as it is known by many who have been part of the incredible journey of this small event….
For years, Tiree local and musician with the band Skerryvore Daniel Gillespie found himself performing at festivals around the world thinking how great it would be to have a similar event back home. Until one day, he and fellow Tiree local Stewart MacLennan decided to create exactly that.Their early vision was one of a music festival capable of sharing the magic and beauty of Tiree with visitors from far and wide, and in doing so delivering a welcome boost to the economy and community of this remote island.
This is the unique location of Tiree Music Festival, or TMF as it is known by many who have been part of the incredible journey of this small event….
For years, Tiree local and musician with the band Skerryvore Daniel Gillespie found himself performing at festivals around the world thinking how great it would be to have a similar event back home. Until one day, he and fellow Tiree local Stewart MacLennan decided to create exactly that.Their early vision was one of a music festival capable of sharing the magic and beauty of Tiree with visitors from far and wide, and in doing so delivering a welcome boost to the economy and community of this remote island.
Since its formation TMF has also gone on to win 9 national awards including Best Small Event at the Scottish Event Awards (2012, 2013 & 2016), Best Cultural Event at both the Highland & Island Tourism Awards (2013 & 2015) & Scottish Thistle Awards (2013). Event of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards (2013) and also thenits first UK award by being crowned the Best Small Event at the UK Event Awards in 2014. Evidence, if ever it was needed, that small can indeed be beautiful!
So whether you’re joining us from the mainland, are island hopping from somewhere nearby or are local to Tiree, we look forward to welcoming you to TMF and the ‘Hawaii of the North’
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| WHYW Fleet running under spinnakers (www.whyw.co.uk) |
West Highland Week
Start: Saturday 29th July - Friday 4th August
The historic and unique sailing regatta is now in its 70th anniversary 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
FIND OUT MORE
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| Winners in the 2015 Round Shuna Race collect their trophies (Picture - Tom Allen) |
Round Shuna Race & Feeder Races
Dates to be announced
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
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| Craignish Arts Festival - People sculptures by Claire McNiven (www.craignish.info) |
Craignish Arts Festival
Dates to be announced (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.
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| The Time Frequency at Mull of Kintyre Music Festival 2016 (http://www.mokfest.com) |
Mull of Kintyre Music Festival
Start: Wednesday 17th - Sunday 21rd 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
Start: Saturday 9th- Sunday 10th September
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.
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| Live music in the Isle of Jura Cooperage (www.islayjura.com) |
Jura Music Festival
Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th September
The Jura Music Festival 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 cooperage, 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 2017. If your looking for more information on events to be enjoyed afloat the CYCA 2017 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 and the Craignish Info website have details of events going on within the hall.
We look forward to seeing you all in 2017!
We look forward to seeing you all in 2017!
