Round the world, via Oban

Welcoming the crews

After ten months of intensive planning and preparations, the first of the racing yachts arrived in Oban at 00:01 on July 13^th. Perseverance had completed the crossing from Washington, DC in just over 15 days, and every crew member was delighted to be welcomed alongside by a piper and the offer of a dram of Oban single malt whisky.

By 08:00, four other boats were tied up at the North Pier pontoons: Zhuhai, Ha Long Bay Viet Nam, Yacht Club Punta del Este and UNICEF; and four more teams had manoeuvred into their berths by 22:00 - Qingdao, Our Isles and Oceans, Dare to Lead and Washington, DC.

PSP Logistics and Bekezela were completely becalmed and sailed in the following day to a warm Scottish welcome.

From the moment they arrived, the yacht crews enjoyed a week of celebrations and being reunited with their families and friends, over 400 of whom had made the trip to Oban to witness the end of the final ocean crossing of the race.

The packed programme included Gaelic lessons, shinty lessons, a spectacular prizegiving event and ceilidh; a visit to the Isle of Lismore, a tour of Oban Distillery, and ocean health and sustainable tourism sessions at the Scottish Association for Marine Science.

David (centre) welcoming the Ha Long Bay yacht crew with a well-deserved dram.

There were additional tours of Dunollie Castle, a quiz night in aid of UNICEF, a raft race and a members’ night at Oban Sailing Club. Over 1,400 members of the public went aboard the yachts to sample life aboard an ocean racer; and there were even opportunities to sail on them – crashing down the Firth of Lorn at 18 knots was an exhilarating experience, even in horizontal rain.

A week of celebrations, Oban hospitality and emergency supplies of beer

Oban came alive with a clamour of activity – celebrations of seamanship and sporting excellence, the vibrant colours of the yachts, flags, pennants and the Clipper Race hub right in the centre of town. Pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops were busy with racing crews, their supporters and visitors. One well-known hotel even had to arrange emergency supplies of beer.

The Clipper Race crews spread themselves across the town, and some of them made expeditions to places like the Isles of Mull and Iona, Kilmartin, Loch Melfort, Tarbert, Inveraray and Cairndow.

Spectators were treated to a Food & Drink Village supported by EventScotland, combining tasting sessions and opportunities to buy or order some of the best produce from across the region, and complemented by selling exhibitions of work by local artists and craftspeople.

A sell-out Skerryvore concert, a grand civic reception, and a colourful parade of sail entertained the crowds before the fleet set off again for the final leg to Portsmouth on Sunday July 21^st.

Oban Pipe Band led the crews on a march back to the boats, and hundreds of onlookers joined the parade as it made its way to the North Pier. It was a truly magnificent finale to an exciting and engaging week that will help cement Oban and Argyll & the Isles as centres of maritime leisure activity and as popular and capable venues for large-scale, international events. The immediate economic impact has been estimated to be in the region of £2 million, and the long-term value of global marketing exposure is expected to be measured in tens of millions.

Importance of sustainable marine and coastal tourism to Oban

There is significant emphasis on sustainable marine and coastal tourism development in Argyll & the Isles, and the success of the Clipper Race stopover has demonstrated the strategic importance of appropriate infrastructure and sustained investment in product development. Argyll & Bute Council’s Rural Growth Deal projects focus on maritime locations, local business communities and supply chains; and the introduction of a Transient Visitor Levy will provide outstanding opportunities for targeted capital and revenue support across all sectors of the regional visitor economy.

I chaired the panel discussion on sustainable marine tourism at the Clipper Connect Business Series event, which explored the key themes of environment, economy and social responsibility in some detail. The panellists – recognised academics and industry specialists – agreed that that there are incontrovertible links between keeping the sea clean and healthy, maintaining market advantage and supporting coastal communities and wider regions.

The principle of local first is becoming embedded in policy as the benefits of resident business ownership, regional personnel recruitment and training opportunities; and nearby suppliers of goods and services contribute to sustainable growth.

David speaking at the Clipper Connect Business Series event

The cultural dimension has emerged as a distinguishing feature of the maritime leisure experience too. Exposure to natural and built heritage has always been popular, and now consumers are seeking immersive complimentary experiences like Gaelic, Scots and Norse languages and their influence, traditional Scottish recipes, music, literature, arts and crafts. Spread, spend, sustainability, satisfaction.

It's not goodbye, it's see you soon!

Yacht crews and race officials unanimously declared Oban to be the most welcoming stopover port of the entire race; and the Oban partners (Argyll & Bute Council, BID4Oban, Argyll & Isles Tourism Co-operative and VisitScotland), townspeople, and the local business community stepped up to create and sustain a vibrant festival atmosphere. The town became a focus of outstanding collaborative enterprise and a prime example of positivity.

VisitScotland’s reputation as an enabling organisation has been upheld and enhanced by supporting multiple partners across public, private and third sectors; and managing stakeholder engagement in a fast-moving, pressurised environment. EventScotland’s support of the Food & Drink Village has reinforced a commitment to invest in new opportunities to encourage growth.

And the best bit is that the Clipper Race wants to return!

Watch the video to get a glimpse of what made Oban the perfect host port.