In its 41st year, Oban Sailing Club's much anticipated annual Ardfern Yachts and Owen Sails sponsored Round Mull Yacht Race took place over the last weekend in June.
The race is run from Friday to Sunday over three legs around the stunning island of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland, covering around 94 nautical miles, taking in overnight stops in Tobermory and Bunessan, and racing up the sound of Mull, past Staffa, through the Sound of Iona and on through the Torran rocks. A bucket list event for sure!
30 yachts arrived in Oban on Friday after a welcome seafood buffet from Oban Sailing club and the famous Green shack on the Thursday night. The fleet was split into 4 classes.
The fist gun went off at Midday and a gentle spinnaker run proceeded to the mouth of Oban Bay, as each class followed. As the fleet headed out into the firth of Lorn kites were dropped and the yachts fetched off to Lismore with few place changes. But the fleet knew what was coming with the infamous Sound of Mull always ready to shake up the pack.
Once at Lismore Espirit the Elan 410 had slightly gapped the fleet with the rest chasing hard. As the fleet entered the Sound of Mull the wind went on the nose and a beat into 8/12knots of breeze ensued. As the fleet headed North Bragar the 33.7 and Celtic Spirit X332 began to pull ahead reading the shifts well, hotly chased by Class 1. In Class 3 a battle was going on with a number of boats cross tacking from Maggie may to Misty and Storm Free. With the wind forecast to drop the race team shortened the course at the 2nd time gate at Fuinary rock bouy. With the wind dropping and Bragar now leading the fleet nicely the Sound of Mull played its hand and shut down the breeze, leaving Bragar and Roxanne becalmed on the shore just shy of the finish. Tata II the J92 and Shadowfax II First 35 spotted the shut down and headed into the middle of the sound to take advantage of what breeze was left. Tata II took the gun for Line honours and did enough to take the leg out on overall corrected time and claimed the Mishnish bucket.
Rooster Cogburn was second and Shadowfax II third. The wind completely shut down, the heavens opened and it was quite some time for the rest of the fleet to make in to the finish. Bragar took out Class 2, Misty Sadler 34 took out Class 3 and Espirit Class 4.
Saturday dawned with big breeze in the forecast and on the nose for the majority of leg 2. 22/30 knots was the chat on the Tobermory pontoon as yachts started heading out to the start line laid of the entrance to Tobermory bay. First gun off at 0900 and Murray Caldwell's Sea Pickle showed Class 3 a clean pair of heels with a swift kite hoist and cutting the corner under the cliffs. The rest of the classes followed in sequence. Early on, Alision Chadwick's Moody 336 showed its potential in the ever increasing breeze as kites were dropped under Glengorm castle and yachts hardened up onto a fetch towards Caliach point with the Moddy holding its own at the front.
It did not take much longer for Lux the Pogo 12.50 to start motoring on this point of sail and she reached Caliach first and rounded onto a solid beat to Bunessan for the next 20 miles. Shadowfax II, Wookie II the Dufor 40 and Maximoose Maxi1300 were trying to hang on as best they could. At this point the author would like to point out the two J92's who by now probably wished they were wearing wetsuits, sailing a fantastic leg, despite some pretty big offshore conditions. As the race progressed down past Staffa the breeze went up a notch with some teams reporting 30 plus knots. This was clearly suiting the slick team on Ceilidh the Westerly Regatta as they led the charge in Class 2.
As the boats crossed the finish in Bunessan the Maxi1300 Maximoose stormed home to take the Bunessan hall trophy on fasted corrected time overall with chuffed Cameron Still declaring this as the best race of his life. John Fraser's Wookie II took a well sailed second overall on corrected with Shadowfax II remaining consistent with another third Overall. Sadly the conditions on this leg took its toll on Murray Macdonald's Impala 28 Autism on the Water, having sailed a great leg doublehanded and within a mile of Bunessan the mast came down. Quick actions by the race team had the committee boat on the scene promptly and the boat was secured and made safe. We looking forward to seeing AOTW back racing soon.
Sunday dawned with more wind in the forecast, but with a hint of sunshine a classic Ross of Mull surf home was on the cards. The fleet started at 0830 with Class 3 leading the charge out of Bunessan bay under spinnaker. Another fetch quickly followed for a short spell then the boats rounded into the Jewel of the race and the Sound of Iona. The sight of 30 yachts beating in 20knots of breeze, sun out, through this narrow shallow channel is quite a sight to see. Even better if you are on one of the yachts!! As the tricky Torran rocks loomed it was decision time, short tack though the narrow gap rock dodging or take the longer safer route.
The fleet split 50/50 and rejoined on the other side of the rocks with decent swell and a decision as to when to hoist kites with the wind starting to come abeam. Nick Marshall J92 Satisfaction is no stranger to sending it down the Ross of Mull, and was first to pull the trigger closely followed by Shadowfax II. From slightly further back this forced Tata II into a decision also, as by this point there were only a few minutes separating them and Shadowfax II for the race to overall victory. At this point Lux Pogo 12.50 had taken a course offshore in search of optimum send it conditions which paid off with over 19 knots boat speed recorded at one point. As the leg went on more and more boats braved the wind and swell to pop kites and a stunning sail back to Oban ensued.
In Class 3 Hot Toddy was leading the charge, and Class 2 the ever reliable Celtic Spirit was showing the way. As the race entered the sound of Kerrera, a short run followed up the finish. Lux the Pogo had stormed the leg to finish around 40 minutes ahead of the fleet but this would not be enough to stop Satisfaction J92 from taking out the Glencoe Trophy for the overall corrected time leg win. In the battle for the overall honours Shadowfax II had put the hammer down to take second overall on the leg, but it would not be enough to stop Griogair MacFarlane's well sailed J92 Tata II from taking the overall honours by coming third on this leg and claiming the Torran rocks trophy as overall winners of the event. After 3 legs and nearly 100nm the margin would be 117 seconds.
The event does not happen without our sponsors so huge thanks to Owen Sails, Ardfern Yacht Centre, Forteith RHPS, Tobermory Distillery, The Green Shack, Certas Energy and the Majestic line for the stunning committee boat.
Looking for a bucket list race in 2027? Sound of Mull, Staffa, Iona and the Torran rocks, what are you waiting for!
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