Resplendent sunshine and rampaging Vikings lured thousands of visitors to a north-east harbour at the weekend for Scotland’s largest nautical celebrations.
The two-day Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, held in the tiny fishing village of Portsoy, attracted nearly 20,000 tourists and boating enthusiasts to the Banffshire Coast.
Last year’s event was badly affected by weather, but, in this instance, visitors were treated to sunshine and high temperatures.
In another change from 2015, Portsoy was visited by a crew of Vikings from Shetland’s famous Up Helly Aa Jarl Squad.
Last night, festival chairman Roger Goodyear was struggling to express how successful the event had been.
He said: “To be perfectly honest, its hard to find the words to really sum it up – it has been fantastic.
“There’s no question of course that the weather has been hugely important.
“But there are a number of other elements – we’ve got a much wider range of things for children, a very strong music programme this year and a very strong food fair which has been packed both days.”
The Shetland Vikings proved to be one of the biggest attractions over the weekend, despite initial concerns that an ancient law would ban them from participating.
Dressed in full Viking regalia, the Up Helly Aa crew carried ceremonial swords and axes.
However, last week Mr Goodyear wrote to Prime Minister, David Cameron, after an ancient law banishing Vikings from the area was brought to his attention.
The piece of legislation followed a fierce battle between the Norsemen of King Malcolm II and natives of the north-east in the 11th Century. It has never been repealed.
Yet, even as visitors began arriving for the festival, Mr Goodyear received a response from Mr Cameron’s office.
He explained: “He thanked us for our letter but said that, due to ‘pressures’, he regretted that he was unable to attend. It was a very courteous letter and he wished us all the best for the festival.”
Mr Goodyear – who said he was delighted to see such a diverse mix of tourists from Scotland and overseas attend the festival – added that the model of Shetland’s Up Helly Aa event was one to follow.
He declared: “It is a model and a very good model, because it so strongly reflects the heritage of the area.
“That’s what we try to do with the music, the food and the historic boats in particular. We do admire them.
“Talking to the jarls, one of the things they particularly liked is that when they appear at home everybody knows them. What they enjoyed is that people here didn’t recognise them close up.
“It’s about cooperation – the more events and activities which can be organised to promote Scotland the better.”
Now in its 23rd year, and sponsored by the Press and Journal and Ace Winches, the festival was attended by more than 30 classic vessels who took part in displays and demonstrations.
Visitors received the chance to get close to the boats and were given opportunities to meet their crews before and after a series of races along the coastline.
Last night, local MSP Stewart Stevenson said: “Portsoy this weekend was a real antidote to the gloom elsewhere. The sun was out and people followed it to the boat festival.
“From humble beginnings involving a few hundred people 20 years ago, it’s now a major feature on many international tourists’ visit schedule. I was delighted to attend both days.”
