‘Slipping the Lines’

Last Leg of the Clipper Race Underway – Oban to Portsmouth

Sunday 19 July saw the race teams’ parade through Oban.

Led by the Oban Pipe Band, the procession of the 11 teams and a large crowd of supporters set off from Station Square through the town to the Pier, where the yachts were waiting for their crews.

Watching from the balcony of the Corran Hall, GreenPower CEO Rob Forrest joined other dignitaries to watch the Parade of Sails as the yachts made their way to Dunstaffnage where the race was to start.

“The sight of the boats sailing across the harbour in full sail was fantastic. It seemed like the whole of Oban, visiting tourists and team supporters were all out lining the quay side to wave them off” said Rob Forrest.

“It’s been a fantastic week of events, and we are delighted to have been part of it.”

One thing that caught Julie Forrest’s attention was the work of local artist Fiona Campbell.  Fiona was ‘Artist in Residence’ for the Oban event and she created some beautiful paintings of yachts, crews and the local area.  Paintings were for sale with 30% of the sale price donated to RNLI.  Fiona also created a painting that captured all 11 yachts sailing into Oban.  A nautical map that had been used by the lifeboat was used as the backdrop on which she painted the yachts.  This work of art was auctioned off with the proceeds going to Oban’s RNLI.

Julie explained “ Rob and I are not involved with sailing but we both love maps and Fiona’s beautiful combination of the yachts coming into Oban and the detail of the boats captivated us.  When our bid turned out to be the winning one, we were delighted.  The map will get pride of place in our office in Alloa.”

Artist in Residence, Fiona Campbell puts the finishing touches to the map

Rob and Julie Forrest being presented with the Clipper map