Sail Caledonia - The Scottish Raid
The 7th annual Scottish Raid - Sail Caledonia - is coming up between 23rd - 30th of May this year. It's an event for boats powered by sail and oars, and runs up the Caledonian Canal from Fort William to Loch Ness, passing through some spectacular scenery along the way. It will pass through Banavie north of Fort William, along the canal to Gairlochy, then up Loch Lochy to Laggan Locks, and along the cnala again to the Laggan Swing Bridge. Then the boats enter the waters of Loch Oich, before 
rejoining the canal up to Fort Augustus. They then make there way through the locks there to the famous Loch Ness, and eventually up to Inverness. The event is a combination of racing and cruising - there is at least one racing leg per day, and a feature is the opportunity to "cruise in company" motoring with others between the competitive sailing legs. Sail Caledonia is much more than just a sailing challenge. You'll get the opportunity to partake in shore activities, as well as a full social program, including traditional music and a prize giving ceilidh at the end of the Raid.
The term "raid" derives from the Viking raiders - who travelled in longboats that were fast under both sail and oar, could navigate both the open sea and shallow inland waters, and could even be hauled over land where necessary. The modern version of the Raid originated in the late 1990s, and doesn't involve plundering coastla villages, but having a good time aboard traditional and sometimes unique boats, with a competitive element too. Even if you're not going to compete, the presence of dozens of small boats on the lochs and canal is very spectacular, and watching them go through one of the locks into the canal is amazing.
Accommodation is varied during the event - you can stay on board one of the accompanying boats such as the luxurious former barge Fingal of Caledonia , or you can camp on some of the lochside beaches, or stay in some of the Hotels and B&B's along the way. Located near to the Caledonian Canal at South Laggan, the Great Glen Hostel makes and ideal stop off whether you're competing or spectating. Details about the sort of craft that compete in a Raid can be found here (pdf file) and the official site of Sail Caledonia is here.
rejoining the canal up to Fort Augustus. They then make there way through the locks there to the famous Loch Ness, and eventually up to Inverness. The event is a combination of racing and cruising - there is at least one racing leg per day, and a feature is the opportunity to "cruise in company" motoring with others between the competitive sailing legs. Sail Caledonia is much more than just a sailing challenge. You'll get the opportunity to partake in shore activities, as well as a full social program, including traditional music and a prize giving ceilidh at the end of the Raid.The term "raid" derives from the Viking raiders - who travelled in longboats that were fast under both sail and oar, could navigate both the open sea and shallow inland waters, and could even be hauled over land where necessary. The modern version of the Raid originated in the late 1990s, and doesn't involve plundering coastla villages, but having a good time aboard traditional and sometimes unique boats, with a competitive element too. Even if you're not going to compete, the presence of dozens of small boats on the lochs and canal is very spectacular, and watching them go through one of the locks into the canal is amazing.
Accommodation is varied during the event - you can stay on board one of the accompanying boats such as the luxurious former barge Fingal of Caledonia , or you can camp on some of the lochside beaches, or stay in some of the Hotels and B&B's along the way. Located near to the Caledonian Canal at South Laggan, the Great Glen Hostel makes and ideal stop off whether you're competing or spectating. Details about the sort of craft that compete in a Raid can be found here (pdf file) and the official site of Sail Caledonia is here.
posted by Admin at
09:36
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