Charter or BYOY to join Scottish Coast Rally

by Peta Stuart-Hunt/Sail-World Cruising on 22 Feb 2008 You can charter a local yacht, or take your own, but sailing the west coast of Scotland in a rally of yachts from a wide range of countries is an experience not to be missed, especially when it is combined with sampling the locally made classic malt!

Entries are now being accepted for the annual Classic Malts Cruise – a unique two week sailing voyage along the spectacular coastline of north-west Scotland in July. The UK’s biggest non-competitive sailing event, the annual Classic Malts Cruise is sponsored by Diageo’s Classic Malts Selection™, and was launched in 1994 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the distillery at Oban.

The participating crews sign up for the outstanding cruising on offer, and the chance to explore the bays, islands and mountains on the west coast of Scotland. They also enjoy visits to the famous malt whisky distilleries that punctuate the sailing route, starting from the busy coastal town of Oban on 12 July, then northwards to one of the world’s most isolated malt whisky distilleries, Talisker on the Isle of Skye, before concluding at Lagavulin on Islay at the southern end of the Hebridean island chain on 25 July.

Special distillery visits and tastings are arranged for the participants, with each distillery throwing open their doors and hosting a dinner and ceilidh – a typical Scottish party with music, dancing and of course fine single malts to enjoy. Along the way, crews are also treated to informal malt whisky tastings organised in some truly spectacular locations by the Classic Malts Selection “roving noses” sailing with the yachts.

The popularity of the Classic Malts Cruise has now gone global, attracting crews from Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Baltic States as well as the United Kingdom. With easy access to this special sailing region from charter locations along the west coast, crews come from as far away as the USA and New Zealand, chartering a yacht locally to join in the fun.

The Event’s organisers, World Cruising Club, offer advice and assistance, particularly for those sailors who have not sailed in Scotland before, or who are looking to charter a yacht locally.

Information and entry details are available by going to World Cruising Club's website