The route for the 5th Fife Regatta plans to visit historic hidden gems along Scotland's Clyde coast, celebrating the local craftsman William Fife, whose yachts still compete around the world with a number returning to home waters this June.

The venues include the foreshore where many of the yachts were conceived in the Ayrshire village of Fairlie, with nearby Largs Yacht Haven hosting the start and finish of the regatta which runs from the 4th to the 11th of June 2020, part of the Year of Coasts and Waters celebrations.

The opening race will be around the Isle of Cumbrae on the 5th of June, an ideal time to follow the fleet around the island by bike and discover how fast and bonnie some of the enduring design’s are.

From Fairlie on the 6th of June, the fleet of classic yachts head north to the Upper Clyde, stopping in at Holy Loch on the Cowal peninsula. A start the following day off Hunters Quay holds a significant place in Clyde Yachting history as the boats head ‘doon the watter’ to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute on the 7th of June.

Rothesay is a place to relax as the Clyde riviera welcomes the fleet to do just that and a lay day on Bute is planned with many of the small boats in the inner harbour , with the larger boats sitting at anchor, not dissimilar to a summer scene in the 1920’s.

On Tuesday the 9th the yachts set course for Tighnabruaich and Kames in a parade of sail through the spectacular natural environment of the Kyles of Bute. The local hospitality is well known with the afternoon set aside to enjoy the sheltered anchorage with rowing races and shoreside social events planned.

With the sailors well rested, the longest passage race takes the fleet back to Largs on the 10th of June. The exact route will depend on the weather, with the photographers hoping they pass beneath the mountains of Arran if they go south around Bute.

The final race is to be on the 11th of June to the North of the Isle of Cumbrae on the Clyde, where the yachts will sail on the ‘King’s Course’, a traditional race area during the turn of last century.

Sailing in the waters they were designed for, the returning vessels will again experience our unique coasts, waters and hospitality, whilst celebrating the designs of William Fife. The enduring elegance of the classic yachts provide a moving insight into Scotland’s proud marine heritage and global legacy.

As Scotland celebrates its Coasts and Waters in 2020 with a year-long programme of events and activities which will shine a spotlight on these vital elements of our landscape and heritage.

#fife – The 2013 Fife Regatta, celebrating William Fife's Classic yacht design, set sail for their first race of their week tour along Scotland's Clyde coast. This is the fourthFiferegatta which will see some exciting racing from some of the best knownFifeyachts. Put these beautiful yachts against the stunning backdrop ofScotland's west coast and you have a recipe for one of the top, classic sailing events of the year.

Astor, Latifa, Kentra are some of Fife's finest along with smaller yachts such a mignon which was created as a scale model to create the famous Shamrock which completed in the Americas cup. Astor was built for the first Commodore of the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Sydney, and this is her first time back in the Atlantic since her delivery to Australia in 1923. She has competed in and won the America Schooner Cup five times in succession. She has also won the Newport Harbor Yacht Club's Opening Day Race eight times. She has been based in the Pacific for and has come back to the Clyde to celebrate her 90th birthday which is a great honour for the Fife Regatta Committee. The skipper kindly invited double gold medallist Shirley Robertson onboard as she is attending the regatta to compose a legacy film piece for CNN.

The race started in a south westerly with light, challenging conditions, and throughout the day local knowledge came into play. The Truant, skippered by Ross Ryan of Crinan Hotel, took the early advantage from the tide close to the shore. As the breeze built the 8 metre Saskia, moved out ahead and her crew of upper Clyde sailors applied their skill and experience of their home waters to their advantage. In class three, the smaller Fifes, were in close competition and at the end of the day Mignon, owned by renowned yachting journalist Bob Fisher, secured first place. Among the Mignon crew is Largs based sail maker John Highcock whose local knowledge of the Clyde waters would be invaluable.

With a great day's racing, circumnavigating Great Cumbrae was an excellent way to kick off the event. The results of the day represent the local input with Class 1 winner Saskia, Class 2 winner The Truant and Mignon leading Class 3. Tomorrow the yachts will cast off and race to Rothesay before venturing through the Kyles on Monday.

Website: www.fiferegatta.com

facebook: The Fife Regatta

The itinerary of the event is as follows:

Sunday 30 June Largs to Rothesay Race Rothesay

Monday 01 July Cruise Rothesay to Tighnabruaich Tighnabruaich

Tuesday 02 July Portavadie/Inchmarnock Race Portavadie Marina

Wednesday 03 July Lay Day Portavadie Marina

Thursday 04 July Portavadie to Largs Race Largs Yacht Haven

Friday 05 July Kings Course Race & Prize giving Largs Yacht Haven

Twenty yachts have confirmed their attendance at the prestigious Fife Regatta which is now less than four weeks away. Making passage from California to Scotland will be Fife's 1923 yacht Astor(86ft). She is a Schooner design, two masts, with a very attractive sail plan and will be a major attraction to enthusiasts and admirers.

The event will commence on the 28th June with the yachts congregating in Largs Yacht Haven and larger vessels anchoring in the Largs channel. This is only 2 miles north of the village of Fairlie where the Fife Boat Yard once stood. Racing and passage cruises will take place through to Friday 5th July with an itinerary offering great sailing, scenery and Scottish hospitality.

William Fife followed in the footsteps of his father who designed many yachts including Ayrshire Lass who dates back to 1887, making her 126 years old. She will be our most senior participant in the event and it is with great excitement that she will set sail after a few years of rest ashore. The event not only includes the oldest sailing Fife yacht but also the last yacht built by William Fife III at the Fairlie yard in 1938, Solway maid. She will be sailing with her sisters on the Clyde for the fourth time and together with Mignon they will be the only Fife yachts to have competed in all four Fife Regattas, hosted every five years since 1998.

After seven years ashore Kentra, a stunning 100ft Gaff- Ketch, was re-launched at Fairlie Quay on the 29th April. This was a very symbolic occasion given the close proximity to her place of build and launch in 1923. Fairlie and Fife are synonymous and it was a very special way to greet our first entrant of the 2013 Regatta. Kenta is now berthed in Largs Yacht Haven and will soon be joined by Astor,(sail number 88) who together shall celebrate their 90th birthdays this year.

Become familiar with the participants by visiting the Regatta website and chatting with us on facebook. This is where you will find news stories, galleries of images, full list of entrants, the event itinerary and the unique Fife Regatta merchandise. Celebrate the event and support this exceptional collection of vintage sailing vessels which display grace and power in equal proportions with their beauty.

Website: www.fiferegatta.com facebook: The Fife Regatta

The itinerary of the event is as follows:

Day Race details Overnight destination

Friday 28June No racing Largs Yacht Haven

Saturday 29 June Round Cumbraes Race Largs Yacht Haven

Sunday 30June Largs to Rothesay Race Rothesay

Monday 01 July Cruise Rothesay to Tighnabruaich Tighnabruaich

Tuesday 02 July Portavadie/Inchmarnock Race Portavadie Marina

Wednesday 03 July Lay Day Portavadie Marina

Thursday 04 July Portavadie to Largs Race Largs Yacht Haven

Friday 05 July Kings Course Race & Prize giving Largs Yacht Haven

#fife – Classic Yachts will grace the waters of the Clyde in Scotland this summer between 28th June to 5th July.

This will be the fourth gathering of the much admired William Fife designed yachts. His work was acclaimed in his lifetime and continues to be so, celebrated this year by the The Fife Regatta 2013. During the golden age of the Victorian era through to 1938 when his yard at Fairlie, North Ayrshire built his last yacht Solway Maid, Wm. Fife was a master of his craft. Twenty of these Classic Yachts are set to return to the Clyde again.

The inaugural Fife Regatta was held in 1998, and thereafter in 2003 and 2008. A number of owners with a shared passion and enthusiasm for Fife yachts have made this pilgrimage back to their home waters. The Dragon and Wheatsheaf emblem engraved in the bow of Fife's yachts is symbolic of the level of craftsmanship in each creation. Fife yachts continue to attract attention worldwide with exacting restoration projects and the sheer pleasure of sailing them.

Two fabulous boats, Kentra and Astor, celebrate their 90th birthdays this year. Kentra, a 100ft Gaff- Ketch has been in storage for nearly seven years, is being re-launched for the regatta. Astor, an 86ft Schooner, will be coming all the way from California for the occasion. Hatasoo, the 19ft Gaff sloop build in 1894 will be the oldest yacht. She will be the local Clyde entrant from McGruers yard, Clynder on the Gareloch. The larger yachts will include Moonbeam III (105ft), Aventuress (100ft) along with Kentra. Seabird and Oblio are more recent builds from William Fife drawings and confirm how these yachts have a place in modern times.

For some of their Owners and Crew this will be their first visit on the Clyde. For Mignon, it will be her fourth Fife Regatta and she will be the only yacht to have competed in all of these special events.

To be enchanted by these fine creations under sail keep your diary free from the end of June. The yachts will begin in Largs and will have passage races to Rothesay, Tighnabruaich and Portavadie before returning to Largs.

The itinerary of the event is as follows:

Friday 28 June No racing Largs Yacht Haven
Saturday 29 June Round Cumbraes Race Largs Yacht Haven
Sunday 30 June Largs to Rothesay Race Rothesay
Monday 01 July Cruise Rothesay to Tighnabruaich Tighnabruaich
Tuesday 02 July Portavadie/Inchmarnock Race Portavadie Marina
Wednesday 03 July Lay Day Portavadie Marina
Thursday 04 July Portavadie to Largs Race Largs Yacht Haven
Friday 05 July Kings Course Race & Prize giving Largs Yacht Haven

In conjunction with the Year of Natural Scotland this event embraces our natural environment through water, wind and scenic surroundings. It is a show case of Scotland's heritage and the sport of Sailing. This will be a classic seven-day event and one to enjoyed from many of the beautiful vantage points on land or sea.

William Fife III (1857 – 1944) was from a family of boat builders and designers. His yard was in the small village of Fairlie on the Firth of Clyde. After his death the yard was run for a short period by his nephew before being sold. The yard then became Fairlie Yacht Slip Ltd., where fishing vessels were built and yachts repaired. The yard was demolished in 1985 and little remains of the yard. A commemorative sculpture was erected in 2011 on Bay Street.

Wm. Fife designed and built, Shamrock I, was the yacht skippered by Sir Thomas Lipton which challenged for the Americas cup in 1899. It is fitting that 2013 is also an Americas Cup challenge year and the Louis Vuitton Challenge series for the Americas Cup starts in the USA during the Fife Regatta. Compare these two events and see how sailing design has developed over the last century.