TV crime show '˜Shetland' boosts islands' yachting season

Yacht crews in the North Sea are following a '˜crime wave' to Lerwick Harbour and the many attractions of Shetland.
Yachting in Lerwick Harbour, Shetland. Picture: SuppliedYachting in Lerwick Harbour, Shetland. Picture: Supplied
Yachting in Lerwick Harbour, Shetland. Picture: Supplied

The success of the series ‘Shetland’ in Europe has helped generate extra interest in the islands from the yachtine world, with some sailors even asking to see the “home” of fictional detective, Jimmy Perez.

Lerwick Port Authority Chief Executive Sandra Laurenson said: “It’s great news for yachting at the harbour that another series of ‘Shetland’ is being produced, especially as it has locations in Norway.

Read More
Harbour upgrade helps Lerwick attract record cruise visitors
Yachts at Lerwick Harbour. Picture: SuppliedYachts at Lerwick Harbour. Picture: Supplied
Yachts at Lerwick Harbour. Picture: Supplied
Hide Ad

“We look forward to welcoming more fans in the future as arriving yachts continue to increase at Lerwick.”

The growth in longer-distance sailing, including Lerwick as a stop-over to-and-from Arctic waters, and an increase of around 5% in larger yachts at the port in recent years, are also contributing to activity.

The average size of yachts calling has increased to 12.66 metres, with yachts over 20 metres doubling in a decade.

The port welcomed more than 500 yachts last year, up 12.6% on 2015, with 41% from Norway, followed by 19% from the UK and the rest from various countries, including The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and many others.

Yachts at Lerwick Harbour. Picture: SuppliedYachts at Lerwick Harbour. Picture: Supplied
Yachts at Lerwick Harbour. Picture: Supplied

By end-May, the 2017 season had seen a 12% increase on the same period last year to 89 yachts visiting Lerwick where pontoons were re-installed in the town centre Victoria Pier area last month following refurbishment over winter.

International visitors will include around 48 entrants in the annual Bergen-Shetland Race, which will be in port from Thursday 22 June, leaving for Bergen on Saturday 24 June.

Hide Ad

One of the entrants is from Shetland, along with six yachts which are also taking part in the 1000-Mile Double-handed Race which started from Ijmuiden in The Netherlands on Wednesday and joins in from Bergen.

Upcoming events include: second Shetland Boat Week (7-13 August); Inter-Club Sailing Regatta (9-12 August); and Lerwick Regatta (25-27 August).

Hide Ad

The four-yearly Round-Britain & Ireland Race will return to Lerwick in 2018.

Located at 60 degrees north and where the North Sea and Atlantic meet, Lerwick is Britain’s ‘Top Port’ – the most northerly commercial harbour in the country – and a base for sailing Shetland’s stunning 1,700 miles of coastline or visiting the many and varied onshore attractions.