Diageo has announced that its Classic Malts Cruise will not go ahead in 2010 to avoid a clash with the Clyde Cruising Club’s 100th Anniversary Celebrations.

Nick Morgan, responsible for Diageo’s Scotch Knowledge and Heritage activities commented in the announcement: “It does not make sense for us to be holding the Classic Malts Cruise at the same time as the Centenary Cruise, which is why we have decided to postpone the Classic Malts Cruise until 2011. We know this will come as a disappointment to some. However, we hope that those who were planning to join our cruise will be able to take part in the Classic Malts Cruise another year.”

World Cruising Club organise the Classic Malts Cruise on behalf of Diageo, the event’s owner.

A previous visitor to Talisker Distillery today on Prince Edward Island, a whisky buyer in Holland, an explorer in a tent on the Greenland Icecap, and the officer on duty on HMS Belfast in central London were just some of the 200+ people listening into and speaking with Hilton Willott on his yacht Ocean Freedom during his special event broadcast to the ham radio community using single side-band radio (SSB) from his yacht Ocean Freedom participating in this year’s Classic Malts Cruise.

Over the course of the last two weeks crews from yachts participating in the 2008 Classic Malts Cruise have been hosted to some true Scottish hospitality at each of the three coastal Classic Malts distilleries – Oban, Talisker and Lagavulin. Each evening had its own tone, reflecting perhaps the different characteristics of these fine single malts.

Spray of Wight arrives in Canna Harbour, puts out an invitation on VHF Ch72 and some 40 minutes later crew from Scandinavian yachts Carisma, Ran and Suzanne join crew from Green Flash and Sayonara aboard Spray for a Classic Malts nosing and tasting led by Malt Advocate and ‘roving nose’ Andrew Kirk.

The 87 yachts taking part in this years Classic Malts Cruise set off from Oban bay at 1200 on Sunday in perfect conditions. Led by Andrew Bishop’s classic yacht Spray of Wight in bright sunshine with a...

Special guest at this year’s Talisker ceilidh with be ocean adventurer Pete Goss, presenting some of his “Talisker Tales” in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Pete will be joined by the Coxswain of the Portree Lifeboat to tell tales of his seafaring adventures over a glass of Talisker single malt.

Last year Steve Adams from online TV channel - YachtingTV.co.uk took part in the Classic Malts Cruise. Click link below to see how he got on and experince the amazing scenery and great sailing on offer.

http://www.yachtingtv.co.uk/cmc.html