Wick Yachties cruise from bay to bay in spectacular sailing exercise – 'There's no better sight than 10 boats out in the bay,' says the organiser of the Fun Day event
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Conditions were favourable on Sunday morning for a special Fun Day organised by Wick Yachties on its first official outing from the town's marina.
Setting off at 10am the group of local yacht enthusiasts were followed by Caithness Seacoast's rigid inflatable boat (RIB) the Geo Explorer on the first leg.
George Durrand, who skippers CD Venture, organised the Wick Yachties Fun Day event and spoke just before setting out from the harbour marina. "Conditions are looking very favourable at the moment.
"It's just a cruise and we'll time ourselves with a gentleman's agreement up to Sinclair's Bay, around a buoy and back to here. Hopefully people will come down later for the open day as well."
Visitors at the Wick Yachties Fun Day free event not only had the chance to witness the timed exercise from Wick Bay to Sinclair's Bay but could walk down the boardwalks of the marina and inspect some of the boats close up. Many locals could be seen taking snaps from either side of Wick Bay and a few ventured around the North Head to see the action in Sinclair's Bay as the yachts made their way around a marker buoy that had been specially placed for the exercise.
Megan Sutherland was one of the visitors on the day and came along with her mum to venture out on the Geo Explorer. "Last month I did my gold Duke of Edinburgh award and did sailing for it. I want to find out more about the boats here in Wick."
Willie Munro skippered the Geo Explorer and allowed the Groat to capture some images of the yachts in action. "There are light winds and possibly they might like a little more but otherwise it's perfect. The marker buoy is just off Ackergill Tower."
Willie continued: "We're here to promote the harbour for leisure use and to help George and the team out. It's a great thing they're doing so we've provided the boat as a platform for photography and help raise their profile a bit."
Darren More was one of the Wick Yachties who took his boat Northern Comfort out for the day. 'It was good to see so many yachts out and everyone had great fun. It was the taking part that counts,' he said.
All those who took part talked about how well it all went and there was even a model yacht display in the marina in the afternoon. "It went very well and everyone had a great day," said George Durrand after the event. "The wind was a wee bit light but it was good sailing. It wasn't a race but more of a fun cruise. It's the first time that so many boats have been out at once – there's no better sight than 10 boats out in the bay."
George was a fisherman in the 70s and 80s and said it was a "great way of life". "You sailed on a Sunday and spent Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with another three or four boys – it was just like a family. Today turned the clock back for me. Being at the sea is like being at home – it's in the blood. It was a fantastic day."
