Tiree Maritime Trust is a registered charity based on the Isle of Tiree. It was founded in 2005 and its main aims are:
“(1) To advance education, training and pass on skills in traditional boat building and boat maintenance,
(2) To encourage the preservation of the traditional wooden working boats of Tiree and the maritime heritage that surrounds them,
(3) To encourage local interest in the maritime heritage of Tiree as a recreational activity in the interest of social welfare”
Due to the adverse weather conditions forecast for Saturday 29th we have unfortunately had to take the decision to cancel the Tiree Regatta on safety grounds. Hopefully we’ll have better luck next year.
This year the Tiree Regatta returns to Scarinish harbour.
As well as races for the two dipping lugsails boats that are currently in the water, there will be races for scaffies and dinghies.
The new Appin skiff the Nellie G is coming over for the weekend, giving Tiree its first sight of a St Ayles skiff race. There will be kayaks, paddleboards and a rowing race and a first outing for Alasdair MacLachlan’s beautiful new clinker-built pram dinghy.
On shore there will be a sandcastle building and a fishermen’s wellie throwing contests.
The Maritime Trust have been kindly gifted the Isabella by Margaret MacIntyre of Gott. The Isabella was built by her late husband Donald and is the last clinker dipping lug sail boat to be built on Tiree.
The boat is an important part of Tiree’s maritime heritage and also a very competitive racing boat in many Tiree regattas. Tiree Maritime Trust hope is to renovate the Isabella to sea worthy condition and to use her to help share the unique experience of sailing in a dipping lug sail boat in the waters around Tiree.
Please give generously to help us raise the funds to get the Isabella back on the water again. Donations can be made easily via PayPal link on our website.
The day of the 2019 Tiree Regatta dawned overcast with light winds, however this didn’t deter a group of sailors determined to pit their skills against each other and the elements.
In the Dinghy race Tim and Ann Esson in their Foxer class dinghy beat Jonathon Marks single handing his laser with Dorinda Johnson and crew leading the way for the club Topaz fleet. Special mention should also go to Kris and Aidan Hynes competing in their first Regatta having only started sailing this year through Tiree Maritime Trusts Community Sailing Program.
In the Lug Boat race the pace and slick tacking of the Cathadh Mara skippered by Dr John Holliday and crewed by Bruce Kemp and Jack Lockhart managed to narrowly beat Tony Batchelor, Sandy McIntosh and Tim Esson in the Maritime Trust boat the Daisy to win the Traditional Lug Sail Boat class. The smaller sailed boats; Maritime Trust boat the Morag-Ann sailed by Martin Finnigan and William-Angus Maclean and the standing lug-sailed skaffie Malin sailed John Patience and Jeremy Armitage put in a creditable show in spite of being hampered by the light conditions.
The day also saw a little bit of Tiree history made with Tiree first Skiff race. With three skiff crews racing each other using only one boat the Gille-Brìghde. A time trial was set up with the teams being timed over a course parallel to the beach. Robert Trythall acted as impartial timekeeper – until he was called away to star in the last and winning crew. This was Emma the medical student in bow, Niall MacDonald, Robert Trythall and Dorinda Johnson in stroke, ably orchestrated into a team by Alasdair MacLachlan.
On the shore there was plenty to keep the crowds entertained with a very competitive paddle board race, some truly inventive sandcastles and sand art as well as tests for strength and skill in throwing wellies and creels.
The cake stall and raffle also proved very popular and helped raise much needed funds. The day concluded in the traditional prizegiving including a new trophy this year awarded to the junior sailor of the year, Eddie Maclean. This specially commissioned award was donated in memory of long time Tiree Regatta supporter Roger Jarvis.
The Tiree Regatta relies on the kind and generous support of the community, without whose help the event simply would not be able to take place. We therefore have quite a long list of people to thank:
Louise Reid, Willie MacKinnon, Rhoda Meek, Catriona Smyth, Clare Jones and David Vale without whose efforts on the day we could have run the Regatta.
Thank you too, to the business that kindly donated prizes for the raffle including Tyree Gin, Dot Simm Jewelry, Maclennan Motors, the Farmhouse Café, The Cobbled Cow and Tiree Chocolates. Thanks also to the Lodge Hotel for their generous support for the Regatta. Special thanks to the Wild Diamond Watersports crew for organizing the SUP racing and keeping the sailors safe out on the water alongside Lochlan Morris and Steph Tanner.
Finally, a big thanks to everyone competitors, spectators and volunteers who all contributed to making the 2019 Tiree Regatta such a great success.
Sailing Results
Traditional Lug Sail Boats
1st Cathadh Mara – Doc John Holliday, Bruce Kemp and Jack Lockhart
2nd Daisy – Tony Batchelor, Sandy McIntosh and Tim Esson
3rd Morag–Ann Martin Finnigan and William-Angus Maclean
Open Lug Sail Boats
1st Malin – John Patience and Jeremy Armitage
Open Dinghy
1st Foxer Tim and Ann Esson 2nd Laser Jonathon Marks 3rd Topaz Dorinda Johnson and crew 4th Topaz Tony Batchelor and Anna 5th Topaz Kirsty MacLean, Eddie Maclean and Aidan Hynes 6th Topaz Jack Lockhart and Kris Hynes
Following last years successful Skiff build and launch, Tiree Maritime Trust are looking for people interested in rowing Gille-Brìghde, Tiree’s own coastal rowing skiff.
Coastal rowing is a growing sport throughout the UK and offers an opportunity for experienced rowers and novices to come together for healthy exercise and fun. Open to all ages 15-90!
We plan to run taster sessions at Loch Bhasapol during April. If you think this might be for you add your name to the list. or call Alasdair on 021
⛵️🚣 Tiree Maritime Trust AGM 🚣⛵️📆 Thursday 6th of June ‘24📌 The Noust, Scarinish ⏰ 1700Anyone interested in sailing , rowing or traditional boats would be welcome to the meeting and to become a member of TMT . As some of our office holders are retiring we are looking for some enthusiastic individuals to help with the Trust's work and take us forward into future. ... See MoreSee Less
We’re just in from our first row this season on Gott Bay! 🚣She s looking all shiny and fabulous 🤩There were 4 brand new rowers out today who were fantastic and got the hang of it really quickly 💪Dr John at the helm Again if anyone is keen to give this a go, please get in touch. No experience necessary 😊 ... See MoreSee Less
TIREE SKIFF ROWING 2024An Gille Brìghde has been painted and turned, painted and turned. The rowing season is upon us, and we will be back in the water at the end of April. If you want to come with us rowing on Gott Bay—whether you’ve been rowing for years or never put a foot in a boat—let me know.As you can see, it’s great exercise and good fun. Spoiler: it’s not always as sunny as this!Alasdair MacLachlan and Dr John Holliday | 07786 496 275 | ... See MoreSee Less
Tiree Regatta CancelledDue to the adverse weather conditions forecast for Saturday 29th we have unfortunately had to take the decision to postpone the Tiree Regatta on safety grounds.Hopefully we'll have better luck next year. ... See MoreSee Less
We’ve been making the most of the great weather and getting lots of rows in along Gott Bay. Wonderful to see many new rowers join us and of course our usuals ☺️If anyone would like to have a go- please get in touch 🚣♂️🌊☀️ ... See MoreSee Less
“(1) To advance education, training and pass on skills in traditional boat building and boat maintenance,
