Oban bids the Clipper Race a fond farewell after first Scottish stopover

The weather didn’t dampen spirits as crowds lined the streets of Oban for the Clipper Race’s departure from its inaugural Scottish stopover.

Image: Crowds line the walls of North Pier Pontoon

Oban High School’s Pipe Band led the Race Crew in a parade along the waterfront, highland dancers from Laura Monroe School of Dance entertained the crowds, and a guard of honour from the Sea Cadets marked the entrance to North Pier to guide the teams back on board. And the final farewell came from local Guides, Brownies and Rainbow groups as they delivered handmade bouquets to wish good luck to the eleven teams as they embarked on the final race of the circumnavigation.

As final preparations were being made, Lottie Wade, First Mate on board PSP Logistics couldn’t speak highly enough of the stopover and had definitely made the most of the time spent in Oban. She said: “I've enjoyed the hiking, I've enjoyed the whiskey, and I've enjoyed our accommodation. It's been a nice place to relax because I know the culture and how to amble around it. The ceilidh was fantastic. We really got stuck into the Scottish culture and enjoyed it. There was a lot of energy in the room, with loads of supporters and crew having a really good time. We couldn't have asked for more in terms of the support from the town itself. The Oban welcome was fantastic. The town is stunning, an incredible place to come to. Great sailing and just a beautiful backdrop. I've done the Isle of Mull and Glencoe, and enjoyed running in the town and being with the people. Talking to guys from the Argyll and Bute Council has been great. We look forward to coming back here for the next race edition!”

Mike Davies, First Mate on board Zhuhai said: “Oban has been amazing, the people are so kind and friendly and there has been so many events put on. It’s such a beautiful place to come to, surrounded by islands and the hills and so much history. It’s filled with things to do.”

And Max Rivers, Skipper on board Our Isles and Oceans, the home boat for this stopover added: “We’ve had a fantastic time here in Oban, what a beautiful town. It’s very exciting to be setting off on the final race - you can feel the nervous energy all through the town!”

Image: Our Isles and Oceans leads Parade of Sail

Oban pulled out all the stops for the penultimate stopover of the 2023-24 edition. Over 200 Race Crew, from 55 nations descended on the seaside town for the week, with hundreds of their family, friends and supporters joining to not only celebrate but to explore and immerse themselves in Scottish culture.

Image: Thank you Oban, from the Clipper Race crew

The schedule was packed with activities for crew and visitors to experience the ancient landscapes, taste culinary delights and engage with the locals. From offroading across the island of Lismore where Race Crew got to grips with shepherding, warmed up their vocal cords whilst learning to sing in Gaelic and tasted the produce of local crofters. To food villages, concerts, beach cleans, shinty taster sessions, walking tours, castle explorations and so much more.

Locals also had the opportunity to engage with the race, with over 1,400 people stepping on board a Clipper 70 yacht to see where the Race Crew had been racing and living for the past eleven months, and hearing from them about their experiences or sailing across oceans.

And of course no visit to Scotland would be complete without a wee dram, as Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, legendary adventurer and the events founder, joined Clipper Race crew in enjoying an exclusive tour and tasting at Oban Distillery, exploring the rich heritage and craftsmanship behind the Oban Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Image: Sampling the local goods

Sustainability was a key theme of the stopover, and inspired by the values shared with the Clipper Race, crew also took a deep dive into this topic with scientists and engineers from the Scottish Association for Marine Science, and other inspiring environmental champions from the neighbouring businesses on Oban’s European Marine Science Park. Exploring everything from pollution to robotics, food to fashion. Discussions surrounding sustainable marine tourism continued at the Clipper Connect Business series event.

On its first time partnering with the Clipper Race, Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch said: “It has been a great honour for Oban to host this fantastic sporting event. Our communities and businesses have given international Clipper Race crews such a warm welcome. Tourism is a key industry for Argyll and Bute and the race has provided a welcomed boost to the local economy with many businesses reporting increased footfall.

“We thank everyone involved for showcasing the best Argyll and the Isles has to offer, including marine tourism opportunities, wonderful local produce and a rich Gaelic culture. We wish all the Clipper Race adventurers the best of luck with their Grand Finale.”

Andrew Spence, Chief Executive of Bid4Oban (the Oban Business Improvement District) added: “The community of Oban really pulled out all the stops to give the Clipper Race an exemplary west coast welcome. It was brilliant to see the crews from all over the globe embrace the numerous opportunities to enjoy our incredible pontoons, independent shops, restaurants, cafes and attractions. They were wowed by all that we had to offer and it provided a fantastic economic boost to our town. We wish the crews a safe and successful Grand Finale. Haste ye back!”

And finally, Cathy Craig, CEO of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative (Wild About Argyll) said: “It’s been thrilling to hear Clipper Race crew say that their Oban stopover was a real highlight of their round the word adventure. The wonderful experience that they have had on this historic visit truly reinforces Oban and Argyll and the Isles as Scotland's premier sailing destination. It has been a fantastic showcase for the huge array of year-round world-class sailing experiences available within our unique and enviable location, set amongst a large breath-taking cluster of island and coastal retreats.”

A Parade of Sail across Oban Bay was the final spectacle for all on shore to enjoy before the fleet headed to the start line for the final race start in Ardmucknish Bay.

Race 14, from Oban to Portsmouth, the final 850nm of ocean racing, will see the teams sail down the west coast of the UK, before crossing the ultimate finish line behind the Isle of Wight. It’ll then be one last fight for the top spot as a final sprint will see bonus points up for grabs – potentially deciding the overall race champion. With just seven points separating the first and third placed yachts, the overall win is still very much all to play for.

On 27 July, the overall winner of the Clipper 2023-24 Race will be decided and the team will lift the Clipper Race trophy at the Grand Finale celebrations in Gunwharf Quays.