Perfect spring weather provided an ideal backdrop as Royal Highland Yacht Club members launched their 2026 sailing season with two popular gatherings on Scotland's west coast. The season opened with a Social Sailing Network cruise to the annual Mull Music Festival in Tobermory.
Yachts arrived on 24 April and took advantage of the harbour facilities provided by Tobermory Harbour Association. The three-day festival, held across venues throughout the Isle of Mull, featured a wide range of Scottish music from folk to contemporary rock and dance. Three days of uninterrupted sunshine helped make the event a memorable start to the season both afloat and ashore.
Just two weeks later, members gathered again for the club's annual opening muster in Loch Spelve. Yachts began arriving on 8 May for a pre-muster barbecue ahead of the main weekend event. While strong katabatic winds tested crews at anchor, sunny conditions continued and numbers steadily built throughout the weekend.
By Saturday evening, 50 RHYC yachts were anchored in Loch Spelve.
A highlight of the muster was the traditional gathering ashore at Inverlussa Mussel Farm, hosted by Douglas and Helen Wilson. Members enjoyed locally produced mussels from the Grade A waters of Loch Spelve while renewing friendships and discussing plans for the season ahead.
The club's next muster will take place at Lochaline on the Morvern Peninsula on 11 July. A fundraising collection during the gathering raised £1,107 for the Tobermory RNLI Station.
