Yesterday's West Ardnamurchan's Regatta is the last in a series of annual events which crowd into the two weeks around the end of July and the beginning of August - the Stock Judging, the Show and Sports, the Pram Race, and Sonafest preceding it. As the Regatta ceilidh ends, it's as if summer has begun to fade.
With Thursday's sailing events spoiled by one of summer's deadest calms, everyone's hopes were that the Friday races would be run in fair weather - and they were, with the best conditions we've seen in three years. So there was a good turnout of over 300 spectators, including this otter, who seemed more interested in a crab snack than the activity around it.
A number of races attracted disappointing entries: the ladies' rowing and the ladies' "canoeing" doubles - when is the Committee going to accept that the machines used are "kayaks", not "canoes"? - both had only one entry, and relatively few events managed more than four. One of these was the raft race which, being run close inshore, is also the most visible - and most fun.
Full credit to the Committee, who run the Regatta with commendable efficiency, and it's good, at the prize-giving, to see so many competitors walking away with worthwhile trophies - The Diary's family, who came away with silver tankards and a cheerful china mug, with thrilled with theirs.
But the joy of the day is that it's such fun for all the family, from grandfathers who have been coming here for decades through to the youngest tots who were enjoying the first regatta of their lives.
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