News / Yachts galore
THE YACHTING world’s eyes will be on Shetland over the next few days as three international racing events arrive in Lerwick.
Later in the month a group of up to a dozen “gaffer” vessels are expected to visit the harbour as part of their sailing association’s 50th anniversary.
Lerwick Port Authority said on Monday that a total of 80 yachts from seven countries with more than 300 crew would berth near the town centre at Victoria Pier.
Chief executive Sandra Laurenson said: “The return of three events and a first time for the fourth underlines the popularity of Lerwick as a port-of call-providing a great welcome for UK and international crews from around Europe.”
Lining up for Lerwick are entrants in:
- The biennial North Sea Triangle Challenge which left Den Helder, in the Netherlands, on Sunday 16 June, with 20 yachts and around 60 crew, scheduled to arrive in Lerwick from around 19 June and depart on 21 June for Farsund in Norway.
- The overlapping annual Bergen-Shetland Race, with the first entrants due to arrive from Bergen on Thursday 20 June, having left Norway the previous day, and departing Lerwick on the return leg on 23 June.
- The biennial 1000-mile Doublehanded Race – described as the most challenging in the northern North Sea – which left Ijmuiden, in the Netherlands, on 13 June and again will join the Bergen-Shetland Race at the start in Norway.
Meanwhile, on a first time visit to Lerwick from 25-27 June, up to 12 gaffers, with four-sided sails and a wooden pole, the “gaff”, across the top, will be in Lerwick as part of their round Britain race.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
