No, you don’t have to sail alone around the world in an Open 60 racing yacht at 68 years of age as Sir Robin did last year. His advice for longevity is thankfully something more achievable for the rest of us. His tip is a tipple – or rather a dram of whisky everyday as he explained on the Dufour Yachts stand (N015B) when it was announced that once again Old Pulteney will be sponsoring the Scottish IRC Sailing Championships.

Old Pulteney is a single malt Scotch whisky. “It’s apparently a fact that when twenty people who reached the age of 100 were asked the reason, 16 of them responded that they had a dram every evening,” said Sir Robin. “My aunt is 101 and always has a dram every evening before she goes to bed. Armed with those statistics I am a keen whisky drinker.”

At the sponsorship announcement, Sir Robin said he was not only grateful for the sponsorship he had received from Old Pulteney on the Velux 5 Oceans Race, he also liked the product: “It helped me get around the world and gave me a relaxed time on board. I think is so important to settle down and take time out and think about what you’re going to be doing next, what your problems are and what problems might come up so that when they do occur you’re ready for them.” He was the only British competitor to finish the race but as you would expect from a man of Sir Robin’s knowledge and experience, moderation is called for and just a glass between 5 and 6 in the evening did the trick. (Although he didn’t say how big the glass was …)

The IRC Sailing Championships is set to take place on the 7th and 8th June out of Kip Marina. Old Pulteney is also sponsoring the Classic Boat Feature in the North Hall, stand NO63. On the Dufour stand among the exciting new craft on display is the new 485 which is making her UK debut.

(l-r) Admiral Peter Fairley of the Mudhook Yacht Club, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and David Reid from Old Pulteney as Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky renew their sponsorship of the IRC Sailing Championships.