2005 is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and events will be taking place all around the coastal fringes of the UK to celebrate Britain's proud maritime history, traditions and culture.For centuries, the Orkney Islands have been at the heart of the sea-going highways of the North Atlantic, and for generations the fastest routes from the south East of Britain to the North West was by sea, via the waters of the Pentland Firth, and Cape Wrath.

The Orkney Islands will be joining in the celebrations with a season of sea and shore based events - including regattas, races and musters, seafood cook-outs, exhibitions, a VE Day Anniversary celebration, and fund-raising events for Orkney's planned boat museum at the Hall of Clestrain, birthplace of John Rae, the Orcadian Arctic explorer. See our exciting schedule of events to the right!