Big Skiff Excursion 2023

In early June this year we aim to sail a restored traditional Westray Skiff around the Mainland of Orkney accompanied by a small escort fleet to raise the profile of our traditional sailing heritage while raising funds for the RNLI.

The Skiff we are using was built in Westray around 1899 and has a varied history until it was recently extensively restored and rigged similarly to a very few still in existence and raced by the Westray Sailing Club.

Weather dependent we intend to leave Kirkwall on the Friday night (June 9th) on a suitable tide and sail around the Orkney Mainland, around 90NM, arriving back in Kirkwall on the Saturday afternoon. The event will finish with local music in the Kirkwall Sailing Club, overlooking the Kirkwall Lifeboat Station.

All funds raised will be distributed equally among the 3 Orkney Lifeboat Stations, Kirkwall, Stromness and Longhope.