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The Campbeltown Berthing Company’s pontoons will be filled with classic yachts next summer. |
CAMPBELTOWN’S sales pitch to try and win the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series did not go unnoticed.
Another company has jumped at the opportunity to include Campbeltown in its yachting regatta next year and could see investment in more pontoons at Campbeltown Harbour.
The commodore of Clyde Cruising Club was so impressed by what he saw and heard at the presentation from David McAllister of Campbeltown Berthing Co that he told Alfred Mylne & Co.
The classic yacht designers were equally impressed and are including Campbeltown Harbour in their inaugural Mylne Regatta 2009.
The event next summer is open to any yacht designed or built by the company and will begin in Glasgow on July 10. It will see up to 20 yachts staying in Campbeltown overnight, with a social event being planned as well.
Each yacht, depending on the size of the boat will have a full crew on board and the possibility of family and friends visiting at various stages of the regatta so it is anticipated there will be a large number of visitors during the Campbeltown stopover.
This could provide a spectacle for all concerned with a few hundred people, possibly more bombarding Campbeltown during the race.
The event will consist of a week-long series of cruises and races between Glasgow, Ardrishaig, Crinan and Campbeltown as well as a few other places with the yachts finishing up in Oban in time for the Classic Malts Cruise.
Large yachts will cruise from Rothesay to Campbeltown during the second race of the event, via the Kyles of Bute, with an evening reception in Campbeltown.
The next day the yachts will be leaving Campbeltown for Ardfern.
These yachts will be large in length, anything up to 100 feet long, and will use the main pier as well as the current pontoons.
A Mylne & Co has said that they are not releasing full details of the event yet but information will be made public in due course. There are two main reasons why Campbeltown has been chosen for a stopover point for the Mylne Regatta 2009. David Gray from A Mylne & Co said: ‘The choice of Campbeltown was made for two reasons. Firstly we needed a stopover at a convenient location for rounding the Mull of Kintyre.
‘But secondly, and what swung it for us, was the presentation made to the Clyde Cruising Club last year. We heard from their Commodore that Campbeltown made a very impressive bid to host the Scottish Series.
‘Their energy and enthusiasm to have a fleet of yachts visit the town was a big incentive for us to take the Classic fleet of Mylne yachts there, knowing we would receive a warm welcome.
‘Discussions with the Harbour and Marina operators are ongoing, and we look forward to a special time in Campbeltown.’
Harbour master Willie McDonald said: ‘Obviously David McAllister and the harbour authority are delighted with this news, and it is a step in the right direction.’
Mr McAllister, pontoons manager for Campbeltown Berthing Company said: ‘We are very grateful and glad to receive such interest and it should be an excellent time for Campbeltown.
‘Although we first applied for the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series, the Mylne Regatta 2009 will bring up to 20 yachts which will look brilliant in the harbour.
‘Some of the boats will be big, so they will use the main pier as berthing points overnight, as well as the pontoons.’
One yacht which has been confirmed for entry is the Eileen II which was built in Glasgow in 1934, and is a 92 ft large yacht.
It is hoped that this event will spark interest and emphasise a need for more pontoons and waterfront development in Campbeltown to encourage more events of this sort to use the harbour. Mr McAllister said: ‘We are hopeful that it will encourage more pontoon development. This will hopefully also encourage larger yachts to come into the area in the future and use our harbour facilities, and create the possibility of more regattas. We will work with the harbour authority on that.’
