Every year the Hebridean Challenge brings people the length of these islands for a week. Annually we are hamstrung by Calmac's intransigence. We have stayed quiet through numerous examples of the ferry company's unhelpfulness.
We no longer start on Barra, to the economic loss of the people there, because Calmac raised objections to our taking vehicles across the Sound of Barra in July. This year we plan a day trip for foot passengers and bikes only.
Last year I asked to take circa 60-70 bikes and riders across the small Sound of Barra ferry and back the next day. I was refused this number, which was eventually cut by half. When we boarded we found the ferry empty except for our competitors and my car: something that Calmac later said they could not have guaranteed. I was not informed about it in advance, when I could have made use of the space.
Every year we are grateful for the helpful, hospitable attitude of Calmac ferry staff and crew at booking offices and on 'Sound' ferries - but in many years we have faced rudeness from management who we have supplied with considerable amounts of business over the years.
A recent HIE Impact Study, done for CNES, demonstrated how many of our competitors have never visited the islands before they come to take part in our event. Many return afterwards, bringing their family and friends for holidays.
Calmac state, that by holding our event in July we are deliberately imposing unwanted traffic in the busiest time of their year. I would remind readers that this time slot was imposed on us by SNH, concerned about nesting birds. Our original preferred period was early May.
In a difficult time for the Adventure Racing (AR) fraternity, with funds scarce and many minor events springing up in the more accessible South of England, we have managed to carve out a slot in July in a very competitive market. We have attracted many people over the years and in c.15 years of AR on the islands considerable sums of money have gone into Calmac's coffers.
We regularly attract beneficial publicity in the form of television coverage (including the first-ever AR slot on Grandstand and the first slot on BBC Scotland's Adventure Show) and annual newspaper and magazine coverage. Many times, Calmac have acquired free publicity and advertising via us!
CNES regularly ask: "why don't you ask Calmac for sponsorship?" Over the years, all Calmac have given us is a few hundred pounds on one or two occasions and the odd free ticket, but not for want of asking! Since we moved to July a few years ago, we have had: not a penny from them, not a prize, trophy, nor free ticket. We are told if we want concessionary rates we have to handle all bookings ourselves and pay for them all in advance. As a non-profit Community Trust, this is beyond us.
This year we will bring circa 40 vehicles to the islands. They will use three ferries: Oban to Lochboisdale; Berneray to Leverburgh and then Stornoway to Ullapool. Competitors stay for a week – many in local hotels and B&Bs, many return later in the year for holidays. Over the years of the 'Heb' we have attracted a range of corporate sponsorship – not least bringing up some of Centrica and One.Tel's Directors when they were our title sponsors.
We are annually indebted to helpful individuals and organisations the length of these islands. Every year we benefit Calmac financially but get, little in return.
SRAC are correct: this company and its actions are detrimental to the islands and to island groups and inhabitants. Small wonder that, a few years ago, the hauliers took it upon themselves to prove a point by hiring their own vessel and driving – literally more than metaphorically - Calmac into a corner. Would that more of us were able to exercise such autonomy!

STEPHANIE SARGENT
Event Organiser, Hebridean Challenge
3 Leurbost, Isle of Lewis