Rathlin Island Welcomes Yacht for Start of 2021 St.Kilda Challenge

9th June 2021

The scene at Rathlin Island as yachts moor at the island marina for the start of the 2021 St.Kilda Challenge organised by Ocean Sailing Scotland

Rathlin is Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island. It has a population of about 150 and lies opposite Ballycastle on the world-famous North Antrim Coast.

Today (9th June) the marina in Church Bay is buzzing with yachts raring to start tomorrow (10th) in the 2021 St.Kilda Challenge organised by Ocean Sailing Scotland, Comann na Mara (Society of the Sea) and the Clyde Cruising Club.

This passage race of almost 200 miles will start five miles off Rathlin, renowned for its strong tides, and finish at the entrance to Village Bay on St.Kilda. The fleet will head out into the Atlantic, keeping the Scottish west coast Islands to starboard, with an option to divert inside if weather requires it. Keeping the UNESCO World Heritage site also to starboard, the passage race will round the archipelago and finish in Village Bay.

St.Kilda lies 40 miles west-northwest of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

The fleet is Golden Fox, Contender, InTuition, Polished Manx, Shenavall, Chorus and Clockwork. After the race, they will move on to Loch Maddy North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.

Published in Northern Ireland Waters

Tagged under

Rathlin Island

About The Author

Betty Armstrong

Email The Author

Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven’t put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full–time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.