A tricky race and a well deserved First on the podium to SWE54 who led pretty much all the way and finished with seconds in hand. The fight for 2nd and 3rd however really came down to the wire. Well done guys! You will lead SOL's squad in this year's parade (virtually speaking)!!

CLARIFICATION 28 January: Gruney may be approached from any direction but must be passed for rounding purposes as indicated on the SOL chart.

The Shetland Isles are a group of about 100 islands off the NE coast of the British mainland, as close to Norway as they are to Aberdeen in Scotland. They have been inhabited for about 5000 years and have to this day retained many of the traditions and customs of those who lived there. Little is known about the original Pictish people as they appear to have been displaced when the Vikings arrived in the 700s. Over many years the Viking and Scandinavian influence was strengthened and it was only in the 15th century that rule over the islands was handed to Scotland by the King of Norway as part of his daughter's dowry.

The modern fire festivals are intended to recapture a little of that Viking influence but are actually a relatively new tradition, first being celebrated in Lerwick in the 19th century. These days Up Helly Aa is a fairly riotous and colourful fire festival and the streets of Lerwick fill with "guizers" - groups of people in themed disguise - and the Jarl Squad (the Vikings)!! Up Helly Aa Beginners Guide.

So starting from Aberdeen and routing via the Moray Firth, SOLers will race through several of the Shetland Islands with the intention of arriving in Lerwick for 31 January where a warm and fire-y Shetland welcome awaits us!

SOL is delighted to be partnered with www.shetland.org for this event! The live webcast of the festival will be broadcast here.

For more information about sailing to Shetland go to Shetland Marinas.