Scotland's Marine Tourism Conference Goes Digital

Delegates learn about making the most of digital for their marine tourism business.

Sail Scotland Chairman Gavin McDonagh opens the day.

As the national marine tourism event on the program of Scottish Tourism Week the Sail Scotland Marine Tourism Conference; held in Greenock on March 23rd firmly put Scotland's booming Marine Tourism sector on the digital map. Themed around the benefits of digital engagement for businesses of all sizes delegates heard from a wide range of world class speakers on everything from tips and tricks to save you time online, making websites shine across the Google platform and why you should make time to write a blog!

Speakers for the day included

Stuart McMillan MSP - As Convener of the Cross Party Group on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism delivered the opening address to delegates.  

Marc Crothall - CEO of Scottish Tourism Alliance and Chair of the Scottish Marine Tourism Development Group outlined the importance of the tourism economy to Scotland and shared some of the new technologies being used to market different businesses including Virtual Reality tours

Stephen Whitelaw - Digital Tourism Scotland delivered a very engaging presentation on the future of the web. During the afternoon session Stephen also lead one of the workshops providing an insight into the importance of Search Engine Optimisation.

Mark Johnstone - Google Digital Garage highlighted the services provided by the Digital Garage service and the importance of telling your story online.

Thea Newcombe - Delivered the second of the afternoon workshops 'Blogging for Business' providing an insight into the importance of blogging and tips on how to make sure time is used effectively.

Conrad Colman - Vendee Globe Skipper.

Conrad Colman tells his tale of the 2016/17 Vendee Globe

Arguably the speaker who stole the show however was the 'Crazy Kiwi' Conrad Colman, just freshly back from an epic Vendee Globe campaign. At just 33 years old Conrad Colman only crossed the finish line of his first Vendee Globe at the end of February in a very respectable 16th place. His race wasn't your standard ocean race and he kept delegates enthralled with his tales of finding himself overboard while racing solo, battling an onboard fire, loosing a mast, making a jury rig and completing the race under his lashed together rig while surviving on the ration packs from his liferaft.

Delegates left the conference thanking Daniel Steel of Sail Scotland for a great conference which provided valuable insights for all on how to maximise the benefits of digital this coming season. With 2020 recently announced as Scotland's Year of Coast & Water's there is a lot to look forward to.

Marc Crothall announces 2020 Year of Scotland's Coast & Waters

Round Mull Race 2017 - Open For Entries

RMR16 - Class 1 Fleet Leaving Oban Bay

Entries are now invited for this years Oban Sailing Club Round Mull Race. This long established event is one of the highlights of the sailing calendar on the west coast with the perfect mix of great sailing, stunning scenery and a fantastic social program. The 2017 event runs over the weekend of Friday July 7th - Sunday July 9th, visit the Oban Sailing Club website or down load the Race Instructions for more details.

As one of the events making up the Skye Sailing Clubs newly established, season long West Highland Offshore Series you automatically enter this unique event with great prizes including our very own 'Esprit de Parcour' trophy.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 2017

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 2017



Tales of the Corryvreckan
(www.craignish.org.uk)



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.  

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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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!

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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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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. 

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.
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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

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.



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.

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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.

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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!

Festive Opening Hours 2016

We would like to take this oppurtunity to thank you all for your custom during 2016 and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. During the festive period the Chandlery and Marina office will be open as detailed below. Our workshops shut on Friday December 23rd, re-opening on Monday January 9th. 

We look forward to seeing you all in 2017.

Ardfern Mid Winter Night Market

Ardfern Mid Winter Night Market

If your in Ardfern this coming weekend make sure not to miss the Mid Winter Night Market being held in the Craignish Village Hall. Our very own Bea is cooking up a storm in the kitchen. 

Thistle Award for Sail Scotland

Congratulations to Sail Scotland's CEO Daniel Steel on winning the West Region Ambassador award at this years Thistle Awards Regional Finals.

The Scottish Thistle Awards have been recognised as the tourism industries equivalent to the Oscars for more than 20 years. The awards acknowledge those hard working businesses and individuals who dedicate their working lives to this vibrant Scottish industry employing more than 200,000 people across the country. 

Thistle Awards West Region Winners

Sail Scotland CEO, Daniel Steel has become the face of Scotlands Marine Tourism industry around the world since assuming the role 2013. This year in recognition of his efforts Daniel won the West Region Ambassador award amidst stiff competition from other nominees, James Danway of Biggar & Upper Clydeside Museum and Karen Donnelly of Love Loch Lomond. 

Following the award ceremony Daniel commented:

"I am honoured and hubled to receive the Ambassador Award. I spend a lot of time talking directly to potential visitors across the world and their passion for exploring our coasts and waterways reminds me regularly why Scotland is so very special.... they are our real ambassadors. This is thanks to the dedication of our industry Board who volunteer their time and to our members who are constantly innovating and making Scotland a world class destination for sailing and boating"

West Regional Ambassador Winner - Daniel Steel, Sail Scotland

Daniel now progresses to the national finals held in Edinburgh in March 2017 and we wish him the best of luck. However before then he will be taking Sail Scotland on the road attending shows around Europe, visiting countries including Sweden and Holland; promoting what Scotland has to offer.

Shopping for a new boat this autumn?

Now the Scottish sailing season is over, Southampton Boatshow has passed and Scotland's Boatshow 2016 is on the horizon many boat owners minds have switched into shopping mode. Mark will be on the ABYA stand at Scotland's Boatshow during Friday, answering all manner of brokerage related questions to assist those looking for a new boat in time for the 2017 sailing season.

Yacht brokerage activity within the UK has seen something of a boom in the middle quarters of 2016 with correctly priced boats attracting plenty of interested buyers within both the domestic and international markets. We have been busy this year on the brokerage front with a good selection of boats across the size range moving on to new owners around the UK and Scandinavia. As we enter a traditionally busy period with the brokerage we have an interesting fleet of listings ranging across the full budget spectrum, with something for every kind of sailor to consider.........

At the premium end of the budget range we have the fantastic Najad 460 centre cockpit cruiser 'Morning Star'. With the same owners since new and based for that time in Ardfern she is a lightly used example of this much admired design, capable of making quick passages she is the ideal boat to sail of over the horizon on your own blue water adventure.

Hallberg-Rassy 342 'Etoile' (UNDER OFFER)

If your looking for something smaller and capable of some good fast fun cruising or even a quick blast round the cans at the occasional club race we have a couple of great Scandinavian built boats ideally suited to this type of sailing. The 2008 Hallberg-Rassy 342 'Etoile' has been based at Ardfern since arriving in the UK with her current owners from Holland. With tiller steering and a relatively sporty rig she delivers a great sailing experience; capable of out performing many 'performance cruising' yachts, while still offering the iconic Hallberg-Rassy build quality and comfort below decks.

Finngulf 33 - 'Flying Finn'

In recent years a brace of the Finngulf 33's have passed though our brokerage and 'Flying Finn' is the latest of those. Still at the performance end of the cruising boat range she offers dinghy like responsive handling, exhilarating up wind performance again complimented by a very high quality traditional finish below decks.

Dreaming of blue water adventures at a more sedate pace, in a boat you know was built to do the job and has a proven track record of crossing oceans and looking after her crews? We have a unique trio of blue water adventure veterans lying at Ardfern, all ready to set sail with new owners.

Pocock 45 - 'Brown Bear'

A fully custom designed and built boat from the board of the greatly admired blue water yacht designer Michael Pocock 'Brown Bear' was commissioned by the current owners to be: 'Capable of sailing to windward properly, making safe & comfortable long distance passages while being self sufficient cruising in remote areas'. With more than 50,000 miles under her keel in waters ranging from Alaska to the Pitcairn Islands and everywhere in between we can safely say she has satisfied that original brief and its with a heavy heart she is now looking for new owners.

Rustler 36 - 'Penny Blue'

More suited to single handed sailing, commissioned and built for her original owner to compete in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) the Rustler 36 'Penny Blue' has now got two ARC's under her belt and has extensively explored the waters of the Caribbean. With her intended use in mind from the outset the boat is full of practical additions to optimize her for offshore passage making short handed and makes the ideal starting point for those looking to head off on their own adventures.

Tradewind 35 - 'Knotts Maid'

The bench mark blue water cruiser for many decades the Tradewind 35 is highly regarded as the original long keeled blue water cruising design and examples of the design are to be found in harbours around the world. 'Knotts Maid' is a particularly nice example of the design having been finished below in oak joinery giving the living accommodation a much lighter finish than those finished with traditional darker hardwoods. Having completed a transatlantic circuit with her original owners during the current ownership she has explored the waters on Northern Europe extensively and is ideally equipped to be cruised by a couple.

These are just a small sample of the fleet we have listed on our brokerage this autumn, you can find full details of all listings on the dedicated brokerage page of our website. The listings include some great value smaller yachts from the likes of Moody and Westerly ideal for those looking for a first boat on a smaller budget or maybe downsizing. You can also sign up to mailing list to stay abreast of the latest listings.