BLUEMOMENT

.
Some of you may have been puzzled to see the appearance of two new forums dedicated to West Highland Yachting Week.

Webcraft have just completed a new site for the event. The organisers wanted a forum but had not experienced much success when they tried a stand-alone forum on a previous occasion. I suggested that this might be a solution, as we have a lot of members who sail the waters the regatta takes place in and indeed one or two have probably taken part in previous years.

The WHYW forums will be moderated by two members of the WHYW committee. Any member is welcome to post - these are open fora - but the moderators have a free hand to pull posts, warn users etc. I am sure this won't be necessary however.

So - Welcome aboard West Highland Yachting Week.

The website can be seen HERE

.
What, no comments at all on the new WHYW site, the forum additions or even the event itself? That's not like you lot!

Oi!

WAKE UP!!!!

Time for your medication . . .

As it's the WEST Highland Yachting week, I don't have much to contribute!

Where's the glove matron?
.
. Sorry John
.
.
As for West Highland Week:
Good. Add the Malt trek and then we'll know when to avoid the advertised centres of activity.
Prices go up, nowhere to "park", infrastructure can't cope, lack of consideration for non-participants, need I add more?

Can't really think of anything to say on the WHYW site and, anyway, I'm a bit shy of being the first! WHYW is a great event and deserves support. Prices don't go up, if anything, the reverse - certainly, I would not normally park at Croabh. Infrastructure does cope and admirably and it must be worth someone's while to give discounts for marinas, and canals. As for consideration for non-participants, you're right - the bars and music do run late into the night, people do enjoy themselves and may not be in their bunks by 21.00hrs and some of the early starts are down-right anti-social (specially for the participants). However, this year the tides are kind and the earliest start is the last day from Tobermory at 08.30.
So if latish nights, music, people having fun are not your cup of tea, Sahona is right - avoid it. Or, on the other hand, join in!

I seem to keep getting caught up in it inadvertantly (see Yotblog). If I happen to be there I tend to vacate Craobh on the weekend of the invasion and find a quiet anchorage somewhere - a spare berth helps the marina, too. Last time I did so, the anchorage at the top end of Shuna was nearly stowed out by like minded souls - we almost had a party!

.
We're thinking of going in for it this year for a laugh . . .

"So, Mr Webcraft - if we give you this business - setting up our website, you'll agree to participating in the 2009 event?"

Webcraft, seeing the contract is almost landed "Oh indeed, I'd consider it a duty and a pleasure to do so"

"Very well then, thats all agreed - should we come to some arrangement over the race fees and your time...sort of quid pro quo arrangement...?"

Webcraft almost starts to think aloud, but remembers Lord Claymore's advice to him about stiffys and grimacing - which passes for a smile of sorts, hears himself mumble weakly "Oh...aye...that'll be fine" all the while wondering how he will break the news back at Webcrust Towers

.
A scenario that is all too recognisable but no, this was a cash job. The cost over-runs will hopefully cover the entry fee, although this news has yet to be broken to the committee.

marisca wrote: So if latish nights, music, people having fun are not your cup of tea, Sahona is right - avoid it. Or, on the other hand, join in!

Marisca , I couldn't agree more. I entered WHYW for the first time last year ( Tango Too same class as you). We could only race the first three days , but had a great time. The atmosphere and weather in Croabh on the saturday was fantastic. We didn't do particularly well results wise, but I really enjoyed timing a decent start on the sunday with 100 odd boats milling about. No-one shouted at me for water - what more could you ask for ( well I would have preffered not to see so much of Marisca's stern!). The becalmed fleet on the monday cans racing with pipers playing and people swimming as boats drifted on the tide was a magical moment.

On the website Nick, yes a top notch job. Clearer , nicer and soem good moving pictures. Do give it a go, it is an extermely friendly event. I plan on doing most of the week this year.


Steve

Marisca and Steve -

Would you mind if I copied your posts to the WHYW forum? (Leaving a copy on this thread)

I know an empty forum is an intimidating thing, the whole idea of incorporating the forum into BlueMoment was to make it easier to kick it off.

No problem - on you go Nick !

Steve

Nick - if you think it will help, go ahead.
The crew/boat finder forum could be good - certainly, I was short handed last year and could have done with it. The general WHYW forum seems a bit overkill and, yes, intimidating. From the lowly reaches of Class 7 what can I possibly say of interest to the gods of Class 1? - except it doesn't matter how fast you are coming up on me you ain't getting water if I'm in the "zone" (thus indicating I've read, if not understood, the new 2009-2012 rules - available at http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/ ... 950%5D.pdf)