A fleet of 30 yachts arrived at the North Uist village of Lochmaddy last night in advance of the inaugural St Kilda Challenge.
Featuring both a race and a cruise in company, the event is organised by North Uist’s Comann Na Mara and is the first of its kind to set its sights on the UK’s remotest archipelago.
Of the 30 yachts, 15 will race and 15 will cruise as a flotilla. Both fleets will use the islands as the turning point on the course, which will take in a distance of some 100 nautical miles return.
Participants have travelled from far and wide, including Shetland, Cornwall, Ireland and the Clyde to assemble at North Uist.
The race will begin in the Sound of Harris today immediately preceded by a parade of sail as the boats make the short journey from Lochmaddy to the start line.
It is likely that the faster yachts will complete the race in some 24 hours, with the cruise in company yachts taking a little longer.
Ashore in Lochmaddy, a three-day festival will be in full swing, with a variety of cultural events, including the Hebridean Premiere of Heisgeir with internationally-renowned Julie Fowlis, who originally hails from North Uist.
