2 A float - Weir Wood Sailing Club

Afloat Autumn/Winter 2009
22
G The skiff H
Westray Sailing Regatta
Jean and John Chisnall
We both agreed that Hayling Island didn’t have the charm
and ambience of other Laser 2000 National venues so
instead of getting blown to bits and rather wet we escaped to
the most northerly island of the Orkneys where we enjoyed
a week of hot and sunny weather. We timed our arrival to
coincide with Westray’s sailing regatta which took part in
the Pierowall Bay on the north east of the island.
The first Westray regatta took place in 1925 and they raced
the traditional Westray skiffs. This boat developed as many
traditional boats did in response to the needs of local people
to suit local conditions. The skiff is a clinker built double
ended open boat which ranges in size from about 15 foot
long with a 5 foot 7 inch beam to 20 foot long with a 6 foot
4 inch beam. It can have a variety of rigs including gaff,
dipping and standing lug and gunther. There are only about
30 boats in existence today and they are much sought after.
The fleets for the regatta include two fleets for the skiffs
where they appeared to be grouped by size, a couple of
mixed fleets which included Snipes, Wayfarers, various
other unrecognised classes and a single laser. There was then
a fleet of yachts. They sailed one race in the morning and
one in the afternoon.
Whist we were boarding the ferry from Kirkwall to Westray
we were intrigued to see a large canoe being taken on board.
It turned out that a group of native Sasquatch Indians from
British Columbia were touring Orkney and paddling the
canoe around just about every island. They were going to
support the Westray regatta. And there we saw one of the
most bizarre sights we have seen for a long while. The canoe
was launched and the crew got on board. And then they
were joined by four pipers and a drummer in full highland
regalia minus shoes and stockings who stood amidships and
piped the canoe across the bay serenading the fleets as they
went. Lord knows what would have happened if they had
The Westray skiff
capsized. Presumably they would have gone down piping
leaving Neptune wondering if it was the end of the world.
We went to watch the prize giving. Now given the relatively
small number of boats taking part we were amazed to see
a huge bench covered with all manner of trophies. The
Prizegiving took almost as long as one of the races and we
didn’t understand a word that was said. Everyone got a prize
except the visiting canoeists.
J
J
With a hundred pipers an' all an' all
Westray skiffs