HMS Scimitar escorts charity yacht race

HMS Scimitar, one of Gibraltar Squadron’s two fast patrol boats, has been stretching her legs outside of her normal patrols around British Gibraltar Territorial Waters on a visit to the Moroccan port of Smir.

Not to be outdone by their First Patrol Boat Squadron counterparts at the America’s World Cup in Portsmouth HMS Scimitar, in company with forty-eight yachts, sailed as the official escort to the 2016 Ocean Village/Boatshed Gibraltar Morocco Yacht Rally.

The yachts, a record number since the rally was first held in 2000, took part in the charity race from ‘the Rock’ to the north-African port to raise money for the Gibraltar Red Cross, successfully raising £10,591.33 in total.

Scimitar was the first Royal Navy warship ever to visit Smir, along with the flotilla of yachts, and was welcomed alongside by the Naval Regional Commander. 

The twenty-eight nautical mile race was complete within a few hours before Scimitar’s Ship’s Company were headed ashore to see the souks and souvenirs available in Tetouan.

HMS Scimitar's Commanding Officer said “This was my first foreign deployment in Scimitar and it was great to be part of an event that raised a significant amount for charity.

"My ship’s company enjoyed the welcome change of pace from providing security to the Gibraltar forward mounting base, and from operations to demonstrate UK sovereignty of Gibraltar.”

HMS Scimitar and her sister ship HMS Sabre are the Royal Navy’s only overseas maritime force-protection assets, based in HMNB Gibraltar.