Lerwick harbour is set to cast off for a summer of sailing with a series of local and international events attracting several hundred crew, beginning today with the arrival of entrants in the Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race.
With around 500 yachts visiting the port annually, Lerwick’s sailing calendar is already busy this year.
Sandra Laurenson, Lerwick port authority chief executive, said: “The harbour will again be playing host to sailing enthusiasts, many of them repeat visitors, meeting and competing in the established races and underlining the popularity of the port and Shetland with yachting crews.
“The return of competitions, whether annually or years apart, is always special – including, for example, the European fireball championships, back for the first time in more than a decade.”
The Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Race, operated by the Royal Western Yacht Club and held every four years, began in Plymouth on June 1 and the 13 remaining entries have been en route clockwise around Britain and Ireland.
Lerwick is again one of the 48-hour compulsory stops.
Competitors in the annual Bergen-Shetland race are also due to arrive in Lerwick on June 26 and depart on the return leg on June 29.
First held in 1987, around 40 yachts, in either fully-crewed or double-handed classes, are expected to participate this month.
The action continues next month on July 24 and 25 with the Shetland national fireball championships which will feature six races.
The event will be followed over the next week by the European fireball sailing championships – last held at Lerwick in 2003 – with the high-performance dinghy crews competing in up to 10 races in Brei Wick and the port’s south harbour.