Sir Chay Blyth Opens New Port Ellen Pontoons

Port Ellen, Islay Thursday 25th July 2002

Several hundred people from Port Ellen, visiting yachts and fishing boats turned out to celebrate the opening of the new pontoons The quayside in the quiet village of Port Ellen on the Island of Islay was packed with smiling faces yesterday evening (Weds. 24th July), to celebrate the opening of the harbour's new yacht pontoons. Sir Chay Blyth, Executive Chairman of Challenge Business was the guest of honour at the opening ceremony, and cut the ribbon to officially open the pontoons, after a blessing by the local minister.

The pontoons, with room for twenty-four visiting yachts, have water and electricity and are a welcome improvement to facilities in the little harbour on the south coast of Islay. The newly dredged harbour can now accommodate yachts right in the centre of the village, with access to all the amenities of the village. Argyle and Islands Enterprise who have funded the pontoons, are already delighted with the response, having had almost 40 visiting yachts in the harbour in the two weeks since the new marina has been operating, giving a big boost to the local economy.

Twenty-two yachts were on the pontoons for the Opening Ceremony, including crews from Germany, Sweden, France, Norway and the UK. Many of the yachts are participating in the annual Classic Malts Cruise, which finishes at Lagavulin on Friday.

Sir Chay Blyth with Kay Fleming, Senior Manager, Islay Group and Donald Renwick, Lagavulin Distillery Manager, beside the commemorative plaque at the new Port Ellen pontoons. Each yacht on the pontoon received a bottle of 16-year-old Lagavulin single malt whisky, with a special prize of a hunter flask awarded to the Swedish yacht Cu@Sea judged best dressed overall.

After the Opening Ceremony, the party really got underway with a ceilidh band playing music and songs on the quayside, until late into the night. Much fine Lagavulin malt was drunk as the happy crowd toasted the new pontoons, and raised a cheer to thank the evening's hosts, the Port Ellen Harbour Association and the support of the Lagavulin Distillery.

ENDS

Picture Captions:

Chay and Plaque.jpg
Sir Chay Blyth with Kay Fleming, Senior Manager, Islay Group and Donald Renwick, Lagavulin Distillery Manager, beside the commemorative plaque at the new Port Ellen pontoons.

Crowds on pontoon.jpg
Several hundred people from Port Ellen, visiting yachts and fishing boats turned out to celebrate the opening of the new pontoons.

World Cruising Club, 120 High Street, Cowes, PO31 7AX, England

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