Findhorn Scotland

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Def. not me!!

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Sunsets galore

Crackin' sunsets.

One of one favourite pictures.

Looking across the bay with the tide nearly out.

... now with the tide in..

Keen racing - usually divided into three fleets.

Evening on the beach

Why you should not sail at the Findhorn Regatta.

I went to the RFYC Regetta Week for a period of at least 10 years and I would like to keep it as a big secret. Firstly, Findhorn is 500 miles away (slightly to starboard of Inverness) towing a boat there and back is no mean feat. The sailing is very tide orientated (and I mean VERY). It runs at 5 knots and if the wind is less than that in any direction you are either standing still or being propelled backwards out into the North Sea at a great rate of knots. Royal Findhorn Yacht Club is situated overlooking a tidal sea bay with a very narrow entrance out on to the Moray Firth. During racing, thankfully, a rescue boat is permanently placed at the entrance to catch the unwary or unprepared (you are advised to carry an anchor). The week long regatta has three races a day at about 1 hour each. The middle race is timed to be at the slack period so they start one hour later each day. Another reason for not coming is that the area is a bit sparse and the beach for instance is 11 miles long. Anyone walking along the soft silvery sand will find it can be a bit lonely. I would recommend you don’t go there until they have built an amusement park or a heritage centre. There are the seals and the dolphins to keep you company– but see one and you have seen them all! While out sailing the seals in particular can be a nuisance as they follow the boats around the course.

On the village outskirts is the 'Findhorn Foundation' famous for its ‘eco/co-operative veggie/bakery, talk to the plants, type commune’. The food from there is just about adequate (especially the bread) – and it is to be avoided at all costs as it’s not the standard you are used at your local Spar Store. As at March 2024 the 'Foundation' was in serious financial trouble.

The nearest town, Forres is also on the famous whisky trail with several distilleries in the area. However, they are Speyside whiskies and you may prefer to go to the west coast for the more peaty flavour (see the area can’t even get the whisky right).

The Clubhouse serves meals with a view over the bay that is simply to die for (especially at sunset) -so don’t go there or you might pass away. The sight of ospreys diving into the water often interrupts the meal. The clubhouse needs to fit blinds to the windows or something. It is generally agreed that the view is only bettered at the RYA at Cowes, so again don’t put up with second best!

The racing itself is quite good with 45 boats ( my last year), of the usual mixture– see the Scots do get something right, occasionally. There are usually three separate starts with the marks sometimes up to half a mile apart. Those with Wayfarers are often seen cooking up a 3-course meal between beats and usually with the freshly caught salmon that is in the bay (you often see them jumping). Just another distraction from the racing, I think. I paid £10 for a fishing licence for two weeks and I did not catch one AND they would not give me my money back.

As for the social life during the regatta week- well they do get a reluctant 10 out of 10 for effort. At the ‘End of Regatta Party’ last year some lads from the club filled a pigs bladder full of air and blew into an orifice at the side of it. I think the pig was still alive! – The noise I am sure you would have heard 500 miles away at Hollowell.

Oh, and just don’t mention the weather. Three seasons in one day! Don’t forget you are further north than Moscow in latitude. Nearly 24hrs daylight is the compensation though and I reckon that makes better holiday value.

The sailing, the scenery, the company is just fine as it is. If you want an active holiday with a bit a sailing thrown in then don’t go to Findhorn – You will want to go back every year and it becomes addictive. Then there would be no room for ME!

The regatta is runs with the tide and is usually within the first week of July and for further reasons of why you should not go there have a look at The Royal Findhorn Yacht Club web site.

About Findhorn

One Time a Major seaport

In the seventeenth century Findhorn wаs the principal seaport оf Moray аnd vessels regularly sailed tо аnd frоm аll parts оf the North Sea аnd аs far аs the Baltic Ports. Changes tо the narrow аnd shallow entrance tо the Bay created obstacles tо navigation аnd аs the size оf trading vessels increased sо the volume оf trade tо the village declined.
Findhorn Bay witnessed а brief episode іn the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Іn March 1746 the French brigantine Le Bien Trouvé entered the tidal waters wіth dispatches fоr Bonnie Prince Charlie but her departure, wіth the Prince’s aide-de-camp оn board, wаs delayed by the arrival оf twо British men-o’-war. Unable tо enter the shallow bay, the twо warships lay іn wait іn the Firth. Somehow Le Bien Trouvé slipped оut аnd away tо safety оn а dark night. The name іs recalled іn the modern-day training gig оf the same name whіch іs based аt Findhorn.

Fishing village

During the nineteenth century fishing predominated. During the 1829 floods known аs "The Muckle Spate" five Findhorn fishing boats rescued Forres residents. Fоr а few years (1860-9) there wаs а branch railway line tо the village tо tаke advantage оf the herring fleet.

Modern times

The early twentieth century saw а decline іn fishing аs the traditional two-masted zulus were іn theіr turn being replaced by larger vessels. Sоme оf the craft, 'temporarily' beached оn the western shore оf the Bay whilst theіr crews fought іn the Fіrst World War, were never used again. The wreckage іs still visible аt low tide. The shore-based salmon fisheries lasted until the 1980s but they too аre nо more. Today the village іs а dormitory suburb аnd leisure craft dominate the moorings. The Crown аnd Anchor Inn, dating frоm 1739, іs the oldest surviving structure іn the village. Оther prominent buildings оf note include Findhorn House built іn 1775, whіch іs the home оf the Royal Findhorn Yacht Club, The Kimberley Inn, the James Milne Institute, The Universal Hall аt the Findhorn Foundation аnd the ice house Heritage Centre.

The Findhorn Disaster

Saturday November 1900, the coasting ketch Alert, master William Wright, was appraching the Bar loaded with coal. When she was seen, a yawl was sent to pilot her in. As a line was being thrown from the yawl to the ketch, the yawl's mast fouled the ketch's bowsprit and the yawl capsized, drowning all six of the crew. (Excerps from Findhorn, a Scottish Village)

James McQueen, 'The Minstral of Moray'.

The tide was full, the wind was light-
Out of the west it blew,
While from the shore the pilot boat
Sailed with her gallant crew.

Six was the number that she bore,
All Findhorn men were they;
But ah! Tis sad that such should be,
She floundered midst the spray.

The ship Alerthove off the Bay,
For Findhorn-bound was she,
And Wright signed to the pilot crew
To guide her from the sea.

At once they hailed him and set sail,
And soon they were at the Bar;
But, sad, Oh! sad by some mishap
Their mast had struck a spar

Which overturned their little craft
And plunged them in the deep;
Oh! Woe's me for their clouded homes,
And those who mourn and weep.

Brave Captain Wright sparang to his post
And quickly threw a line;
'Comelaunch the boats, my lads, he cried,
'And save them from the brine.'

But when he found that could not be
He headed for the Quay
And as he landed on the shore
A sadder man was he.

The wives and children of the lost
In haste came to his side,
And with his tale their swelling tears
Ran like the ebbing tide

And everywhere throughout the land
Both high and low were swayed,
With feeling heartsand willing hands
Each one and all gave aid

Oh! May the light that brightly shone
On Bethel's hallowed plain
Lead on, and comfort those berefit
Until they meet again