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Tiree Regatta Celebrates 100 Years

admin — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:11:45 +0000

The dawn of Sat 30th July, Regatta Day, was a stunner. Cloudless, sunny with a brisk S.SE wind. The forecast for the day was to cloud over, and the wind to drop. At 2 o’clock, on the start line, the sun still shone, the brisk S.SE had eased, and a glorious day unfolded.

The start line was impressive, with 16 boats jostling for position. The boats included 7 classic Tiree dipping lugs, a number which Tiree Regatta has not seen for many a year, and possibly a Scottish Record for the class. Even more impressive was the actual start, with most of the boats making a perfect start into what was to develop into a very competitive race.

After 2 hard fought rounds of the course, Angus MacKinnon’s “Mary Ann” swept the field winning both the lug class and the overall handicap. Being the Centenary regatta, the Centenary Cup, the original Skipinish Cup, was awarded to the ‘Mary Anne’ winner of the lug class. With this award went a presentation scroll of the earliest record of a Tiree Regatta found in the Oban Times April 1911, in a profound Gaelic poem “Oran do Reis a’Chuain bha an Eilean Thiriodh”.

Finn Macdonald aged 10, crewing his own Pico made a very strong statement as to his being a contender in future years.

The traditional shore events were well contested, with 2 new additions in the programme with the introduction of the new Hawaiian craze of stand up paddle boarding, and a Jet Ski race. The sand castle competition was the “ star “ shore event, with the judges having a very difficult time in their deliberations, having to make a separate award for “ Sand Art “.

The Tobermory lifeboat made a surprise visit, allowing many spectators to enjoy going aboard, to hear the life boat crew offer an insight into their very important work.

The Regatta drew to a close with the traditional Trawler race being fought out in its unique colourful way, after which the event adjourned to the Marquee for an evening of revelry, which lasted well into the wee sma’ hours.

TRC wishes to acknowledge the support of Argyll Estates, David Kerr, Andy Hayes and the Co-op, and many others who made the day such a success. TRC looks forward to seeing you all at Regatta 2012.

Looking Back At Tiree

admin — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:41:54 +0000

Continuing our series looking back at old photographs of people and places on Tiree. This week we have a photo of The ‘Mary Stuart’ beached in Scarinish harbour in 1938. The Scarinish Hotel is on the extreme left, with communication masts in the background to the right.

Image courtesy of An Iodhlann and Angus Maclean

Tiree Regatta 2010 Review

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:02:16 +0000

The morning of Sat 7th Aug, Regatta Day, was no different from most days this summer;
damp, grey and windy. Not very promising, but by noon, the skies had cleared with the wind easing back to a brisk northerly, giving Regatta Day glorious conditions for both sailing and shore events.

The start line was impressive with 13 boats jostling for position, the most Tiree Regatta has had for some years. The boats included the Tiree renovated lugs, Daisy and Morag Anne, and a stunning 26 ft gaff ketch Freya, which had sailed in from Iona the previous evening. Even more impressive was the actual start, with most of the boats making a perfect start. To the non sailors on the shore it was obvious that a very competitive race had begun.

At the 1st mark, a gybe, there was some very aggressive tactical sailing with Angus Maclean’s Catadh Mara taking the perfect inside line forcing Magnus Laird’s Soa to the outside. Spark, the catamaran, was revelling in the brisk conditions, and notwithstanding having to make an additional round of the course, won the Concise Cup.

The Lugs battled it out with Morag Anne taking the Skippinish Cup just nudging the “all-lady” crewed Passing Cloud on the line. Regrettably 2 of the lugs were forced to retire with jammed rudders which had been caught in creel lines.

Shore-side, Anna Macdonald and Christine Macarthur were having a marathon pillow fight contest. The referee had to call a time-out for everyone, including spectators, to get their breath back, after which Anna and Christine slugged it out to an epic conclusion.

For the Raft Race, the Airport Fire team entered the most radical raft design Tiree had seen for many a day. It was a light alloy monocoque hull with asymmetric outriggers. Alas the conditions on the day did not favour such advanced technology, as on the mark, the raft’s windage caused a capsize, upending the crew, who then had to battle to prevent their raft sailing off, unmanned, to Mull.

The Regatta drew to a close with the traditional Trawler race being fought out in its unique colourful way, viewed closely by many visitors, and Tirisdich, from Skippinish Tour’s Rib, on a high speed cruise around the bay in the warm afternoon sun.

For full results see www.tireeregatta.org.uk

Daisy & Morag Anne brought back to life

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:05:22 +0000

Three Tiree Maritime Boat Builder courses were successfully completed on Tiree during the winter of 2009/2010 and two traditional Tiree boats were renovated and a new boat was started.

The Maritime Trusts aims to preserve Tiree’s maritime heritage and part of this is to provide training in traditional boat building skills.
The recent courses were led by Adam Way of A R Way Boatbuilding in Lochgilphead and his cheerful assistants. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery fund, Leader, Tiree Regatta Club and Tiree Maritime Trust. Each course ran for two weeks and took place in the auction ring area at the mart – many hours of hammering and sanding were to be heard throughout the Rural Centre and hard working participants turned up day after day to learn new skills and work on the boats.

The two boats which were worked on, Morag-Anne and Daisy, are now fully renovated and measurements have been taken from the two boats and a new copy of Morag-Anne has been started. The boats are currently being painted and the boat builders will return in the spring to attach all the fittings.

These courses were just the beginning of recapturing these traditional skills on Tiree. It is intended to build upon the success of these first courses in order to keep skills and knowledge up-dated and to add new interest and maintain capacity. Tiree Maritime Trust is also working on a long-term project to build a Maritime Heritage Centre –‘The Boatshed’, at Gott Pier Head. Planning consent has been granted by Argyll & Bute Council and a funding application is being assessed by SRDP.

It is hoped that the new boat will be completed in the new Boat Shed next winter. On behalf of the Tiree Maritime Trust thank you to all of the community for supporting this project, to the participants for their hard work, to the Boat Builders for their expertise and encouragement, to TRD for a great venue and to Leader and Heritage Lottery Fund for the funds.

Boatbuilding Success

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:17:47 +0000

Moragann and Daisy Heading For 2010 Regatta

The first boat-builder course organised by the Tiree Maritime Trust has been successfully completed and the second is due to start on Friday 4th December with a third planned for January.

A fabulous work-shop has been set up in the auction ring at the Rural Centre and Adam Way and his assistant Mike Dryer of A R Way Boatbuilding, Lochgilphead, worked incredibly hard for a fortnight in November leading 23 members of the community from age 14 upwards, for day-time and evening sessions teaching boatbuilding and boat renovation skills.

The course started with scraping, dismantling, assessing condition, measuring, pattern making and selecting suitable timber, going on to machining, hand planning, marking out, shaping and fitting a transom, stern post and keel, repairing plank ends and making oars.
Tiree boats Moraganne and Daisy are being worked on; (sadly Ros has had to be abandoned as she is beyond repair) both boats have a new transom and stern post. Moraganne has a new keel and stem, and Daisy’s stem head has been repaired.

We will look forward to seeing both these boats sailing at the Regatta next summer. If you are passing and would like to come and see how the things are progressing you are very welcome. Work continues on the Boat Shed project with planning consent due any day and a funding application to SRDP being prepared for early January.

Tiree’s Event Filled Summer

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:46:15 +0000

Tiree Show – 31st July
The Isle of Tiree glistened in the sun as the ferry brought the mainland judges and many visitors to the Annual Show. Crowds gathered to watch the island’s quality livestock being judged. Cattle judge, Donald Campbell, Camaghael, Fort William, was impressed with the standard of stock on the island.
The Cross Bred Champion was Bullseye, a Limousin X bullock calf from Iain MacInnes, Ruaig. This February born calf by Grahams Volvo was out of a pure Charolais cow, Thrunton Voucher. Reserve was the Limousin X autumn born heifer, Hilary, from Tearlach MacDonald, Main Road, sired by his own stock bull and out of a British Blue X cow.
Overall Cattle Champion was the Crossbred winner and Reserve was the Pure Bred leader, Ruaig Diago, a British Blue bull calf by Elogieux and was shown by Iain’s sister, Morven.
Sheep judges were both from North Connel. Archie Cameron brought forward a Suffolk X ewe from Sandra Brown as his Crossbred Champion. Reserve was Iain MacInnes, Ruaig with a Mule gimmer.
Champion of the Pure Bred Sheep Section, judged by Donald MacCorquodale, Achnaba, was Fraser MacLean, Heylipol’s Suffolk shearling, Westcarse Islander by Cairness First Glance. ComingReserve after some fierce brotherly competition, was Alasdair MacLean’s Beltex ewe lamb, Tiree Nellie by Beechtree Maxi Muscles. This ewe lamb was 4th in her class at the Highland Show. The Overall Sheep Champion at the Show was the Suffolk shearling tup from Fraser MacLean who was then delighted when his tup went on to win the Champion of Champions award.
The Pony Champion was won, once again, by Janis MacArthur, Balephuil with her Highland Gelding Struan. Standing Reserve was Janet Bowler with Achnalarig Whiskey.
The afternoon programme saw crowds gather to hear Tiree Pipe Band and the popular Pet Show and Dog Agility competition. Judge Gail Cameron, North Connel, chose a young Golden Retriever shown by Alastair Kennedy from Stirling as Champion.
A new feature was Tiree has Talent competition. A huge success! The crowds were entertained to singing, dancing and piping tunes before the three judges chose young Ashley Watson and Niamh Wilson as the winners. With the Fun Fair, Bucking Bronco, Craft stalls and a fantastic amount of entries in the Home Industries marquee, there was certainly plenty for everyone to see and do at Tiree Show.
Tiree Regatta – 8th August
The Tiree Regatta was originally scheduled for 1st August but the weather was having none of it. With very strong winds and driving rain the committee took the decision to postpone the event. The 7 day weather forecast promised the return of Tiree’s glorious BBQ summer, so it was agreed to try again the following week.
Saturday 8th came not with the promised weather, but with more wind and rain. However with the conditions improving during the morning the 2009 Tiree Regatta was on.
At 2pm with the sailing boats leaving the sanctuary of Scarinish harbour for the start line, the sky darkened and the rain came down. Undaunted the fleet and safety boats gathered at the start gate and the race was underway.
This year the Regatta Club had adopted the Old Gaffers Association Handicap System. This meant all of the sailing boats competing against one another, in the same race. Classic Tiree Dipping Lugs were competing with modern boats, including a catamaran!
The sea conditions were unkind to all. The brisk southerly wind had kicked up a big chop. In one of the gusts, the Tiree Lug Boat Catadh Mara crested a wave, momentarily ‘took- off’ to land in the trough, taking water in over the gunwhale. The lug boats battled it out, exchanging typical Tiree pleasantries, as they keenly contested the marks. Similarly the Drascombes were in close contest. With a display of excellent seamanship the Tiree Dipping Lug boat, Catadh Mara, with Angus MacLean at the helm and Duncan MacLean as crew won the day. Not only were they the quickest in their class but their handicapped time was enough to secure them overall victory.
The shore events started with the pillow fight which proved to be a slug-fest in the rain. However, the rain passed through, the weather showed some improvement, and the shore events continued with a record entry Raft Race. The Airport Crew brought a hi-tech raft which was in stark contrast to the more traditional rafts which included a floating bedstead complete with fluffy head board. Inevitably there was some equipment failure, assisted by some very aggressive sabotage. The winning crew at one stage, abandoned their raft to attack, and de-power the Airport crew by dragging their power-rower, Andy Philips, into the water. Mission accomplished, they re-manned their own raft, to finish just ahead of the Airport Crew, who had fired up a 9 hp outboard, which they had somehow smuggled onto to their raft!! As the raft race finished, the racing fleet, lead in by the victorious Catadh Mara returned to harbour, to the start of the swimming race.
In a running start, 26 bodies of all ages hurtled into the water, and in a flurry of spray swam the 50 m to the turn. This proved somewhat illusory, as the mark was a crewed kayak which constantly moved station. Some very tired swimmers returned, collapsing exhausted on the finish line… 100 m had stretched to 150m!!
The regatta concluded with the traditional fishing Boat Race. Willy Grafton’s Silver Spray, fully dressed, looked stunning. The prizes were presented by Wendy Jupe outside a, by now, heaving pub.
The wind had died off, the sun had come out. Sailors, spectators, and Scarinish harbour, basked in an aura of calm contentment.
Tiree Regatta Club would like to thank everyone who contributed time, effort, cakes and bottles and all participants together making the day such as success. The Regatta could not happen without the support of its sponsors:- Tiree Services, Agrimarine, Andy Cameron, Ross MacLennan, Macleod Builders, Argyll Estates , Tiree Kayaks, David Kerr, MacKinnon Builders, Bernie Smith, Skipinnish Sea Tours, PaperWorks, Nan Maclean, and the CO-OP. Look forward to seeing you all at Tiree Regatta 2010.