Colour photograph of the Tiree pipe band playing outside the Scarinish Hotel in the 1980s.
The Tiree pipe band playing outside the Scarinish Hotel after a regatta in the 1980s. L-R: John Currie, Balinoe; Willie MacLean, Balinoe; Mairi Brown, Balevullin; Iain MacDonald, Balemartine; Gordon Connell, Crossapol; Lachie Campbell, Cornaigbeg; Morag MacArthur, Caoles; Stuart Langley, Kirkapol.
Colour photograph of prize-giving at a Tiree regatta in 1984.
The prize-giving at Tiree regatta outside the Scarinish Hotel in 1984. L-R: unknown; unknown; unknown; Alasdair MacInnes, Ruaig; Duncan MacInnes, Ruaig; Sharon MacKinnon née MacAllister; Kevin Boyd, Ruaig; Donald Farquhar, Balemartine; Regatta Queen Lorna MacDonald, Crossapol/Balevullin; May Margaret MacDonald, Balephuil; Johnny Johnson, Milton; unknown (in window); Donald MacKinnon, Sandaig; four children unknown.
Colour photograph of a Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
Tiree regatta in the 1980s. R: Donald MacIntyre of Gott in the `Isabella`. L: Donald MacKinnon of Sandaig in the `Heatherbell`.
Colour photograph taken down by Scarinish harbour after a regatta in the 1980s.
Down by Scarinish harbour after a regatta in 1987. L-R: visitor; Donald MacDonald, Heanish; Tommy Monaghan, Heanish; Charlie MacLean, Salum; Murdoch MacDonald, Kilmoluaig; Iain Aonghais MacKinnon, Kilmoluaig; Mike Stanfield, Heanish; Willie Bunting, Crossapol; Simon Latham, Baugh; Donald Farquhar, Balemartine; Donald MacKinnon, Sandaig; Iain Whyte, Crossapol.
Colour photograph of Neil MacDonald of Skipinnish in 1984.
Neil MacDonald of Skipinnish with the cup he won at a Tiree regatta in 1984.
Colour photograph of a Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
Tiree regatta in the 1980s. R: Donald MacIntyre of Gott in the `Isabella`. L: Donald MacKinnon of Sandaig in the `Heatherbell`.
Tiree regatta in the 1980s
Photograph of a Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
Courtesy of Mr Gavin MacIntyre
The Tiree regatta was started by Peter MacNeill, a travelling salesman from Colonsay, who visited Tiree before World War I. Fishermen on Tiree had always raced back from the fishing banks and the regatta grew out of this rivalry.
The classic Tiree skiff was between 20 and 26 feet long and pointed at both ends. Some of the larger boats were half-decked but all were rigged as dipping lugs. As outboard engines came into use in the 1930s and 1940s, flat transom sterns became popular.
In the early regattas, up to thirty boats would take part in sailing and rowing races. The mid-1990s saw as many as ten Tiree boats competing regularly. Sadly in 2003 there was only one regatta with two boats and in 2004 no regatta at all.
Colour photograph of a regatta in the 1980s.
Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
Colour photograph of Iain MacDonald of Skipinnish, Neil MacDonald of Ruaig and Iain MacKinnon of Ruaig in 1984.
L-R: Iain MacDonald of Skipinnish, Neil MacDonald of Ruaig and Iain MacKinnon of Ruaig, winners at a Tiree regatta, standing in front of Scarinish harbour in 1984.
Colour photograph of a Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
Donald MacIntyre of Gott in the stern of the `Isabella` competing in a Tiree regatta in the 1980s.
Colour photograph of Duncan MacInnes and Donald MacKinnon in the 1980s.
Duncan MacInnes of Ruaig and Donald MacKinnon of Sandaig at a regatta in the 1980s.
