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The Malts Cruise 2012 has set sail, and the international fleet of 28 boats from 10 nations are now enjoying their first free cruising period around Mull and the Small Isles.
 The Cruise started in Oban with a welcome supper and ceilidh dancing, talks on cruising the isles and a visit to the Oban Distillery, the first of 3 visited on the Cruise route this year. The Cruise set off with a parade of sail around Oban Bay before heading off to Tobermory on the island of Mull, the first of 5 planned get togethers on this year’s route.
Tobermory was a “pit-stop” – a chance to visit the Tobermory Distillery, top up on provisions and preview this delightful harbourside village, before the real cruising begins. A fish ‘n’ chip supper that evening offered a chance for crews to get to know each other in a relaxed gathering at MacGochan’s waterside pub after the short sail north from Oban.
Several crews, including the Icelanders on Highland Sealord and the Swiss sailors on Pemva have chartered boats for the Cruise. Others have sailed across the North Sea from Scandinavia, or up from France and England’s south coast. However, this year’s most travelled cruiser is Iain White on Scot Free, visiting Scotland as part of his circumnavigation that began in Australia 3 year ago.
The yachts are now independently exploring the islands and lochs of Mull and the Small Isles before meeting again for a rendezvous on the isle of Rum. Nosings (tastings) of Classic Malts Selection whiskies will be held in various anchorages so the participants can learn about the links between the landscape and the whisky.
There's a lot more to the Malts Cruise than just whisky; Callum and Sally Leslie, sailing Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40.3 Nicole with their children Angus and Rosalind, said "The Cruise is a good balance between sailing, exploring and discovering whisky".
There are 11 children and young people taking part in the Cruise this year, out of 90 participants in total, and there is lots to keep them amused while their elders are enjoying a dram!
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