Crinan Classic Boat Festival
Thu, 1 Jul 2010 - Sun, 4 Jul 2010
Crinan Classic Boat Festival Logo
The 1st-4th of July 2010 will see the fourth Crinan Classic Boat Festival. The festival is a feast of many things Scottish all to be sampled in the wee west coast fishing village of Crinan in Argyll on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland. Not to be confused with an ‘anorak’ classic boat meet, this is much, much more. It is a festival showing off the natural beauty, heritage, wealth and talents of Mid Argyll including classic boats, whisky tasting, haggis hurling, live local music, ceilidh dancing, art exhibitions, boat building, a boat jumble, one handed bagpipers, ancient castles, the worlds third largest whirlpool, pipe band, local produce, and……….lots more whisky, all at the end of the most ‘beautiful short cut in Britain’, the nine mile long Crinan Canal. Since the start in 2007 the festival has averaged more than fifty boats and quickly become a popular and unmissable date in the west coast sailing calendar.
The majority of the boats are from Scotland although each year we have played host to some visitors from farther afield. Various boats have come from Ireland and the south of England. Within the festival some of the McGruer owners have now set up a McGruer Association, attracting 6 or 7 McGruers each year, various Fife’s regularly attend, ex Prime Minister Edward Heath’s old Morning Cloud is now a regular along side various Bristol Pilot Cutters, Mascotte and Mischief (replica of Tilman’s Mischief) being just two from last year. In 2008 we have the pleasure of hosting Adix the three masted schooner and her crew sailing the restored fife, Ayrshire Lass.
2010 will see the successful programme having a tweak here and there but largely everything will follow along the same lines as it has in years past. Additional to the above the organisers are starting a Crinan-Tobermory Classic Race, this was an old race that was a staple of the west coast summer but has died away somewhat. Now open to all wooden boats setting sail from Crinan to Tobermory on Saturday 10th July.
One of the great success story’s from 2009 which proved extremely popular with all who stepped aboard were the free trips aboard the Puffer VIC 32, this will be available again to all, enabling spectators to get up close and personal with the boats racing around Loch Crinan. Pivotal to the whole event is the Crinan Hotel, hosting BBQ’s through out the event and a fine water hole for the thirsty sailors.
Please see the web site for more details and contact information, www.crinanclassic.com
- Location:
- Crinan
- Web site:
- www.crinanclassic.com
