It’s been a gorgeous warm afternoon up here at 60°N.

I’m in Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, which this weekend will be heaving with boats. Over 50 of them will be stopping as part of the Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race and there will another 37 crews arriving in the Bergen-Shetland Race.

For now, though, it’s still relatively quiet down in the harbour, just a few visiting yachts, mainly from Scandinavia. The lovely Norwegian ketch picture above is one.

These photos give a tiny taste of Lerwick. It’s a boaty place.

Looking north across the harbour

The town centre ‘en fete’ for the boating events and the concurrent Shetland Hamefarin festival

The replica Viking longship Dim Riv off Lerwick

 Spot the boat. They find many uses here…

 Including this garage roof!

 The famous Lerwick Boating Club, scene of many an RB&I party (and more than a few sore heads) over the decades

The historic RNLI shop right next to the small boat harbour

No rectangular packages for this harbourside house

And finally, don’t be deceived by the sun. This practical shop on the high street hints that it can get a wee bit cool here…