Anchorages Iona/West Mull?

[bikedaft]

Only for you rich people with big boats! The west side is fine even at springs for keels <~2m, though the depth sounder may cause concern to those more used to double figures.

never (yet) touched bottom in sound of iona.

however going from sound of erraid at LW to tinker's hole was another matter;

(with thanks to the CCC from whom we blantantly nicked this chartlet)

made for a frosty foredeck/steerer relationship until the next whisky - did you not see that rock? - yes - but i thought we would miss it! etc

 

[Redfox226]

Tee hee ! But if you just dander down the middle, as we have seen some innocents do, there are quite a few 1.3m and a 0.1m at datum. And even if keep close to the west side to avoid these looks like a 1.6m. Keeping hard east at Eilean nam Ban is doable with 2m keel, but even there we had just 2.5m depth in places and visibly just a smidgen under the keel for quite a while.
But as noted we have coincidentally been through recently mostly at low spring tides with nothing above datum.
And clearly our racy fin keels are more sensitive souls than yours ;-)

I should just about squeeze in with 8in draft then....

Seriously though, I had no idea my innocent question would generate such a long thread - plenty for me to think about here - Thanks a Lot!!

 

[aquaplane]

8' draught? That doesn't sound much like a Redfox, I had visions of a wee lift keel boat sneaking into little hidey holes or being parked on a beach.

What are you sailing?

 

[ctva]

I hear often that Tinker's Hole is a great anchorage but can be crowded. I'd like to visit when I'm cruising round Mull this summer, but I'm not sure how likely it is that there just won't be space.

If I turned up at Tinker's Hole in a 40-footer on a Sunday evening at the beginning of August this year, should I expect to find space? Or should I make sure to get there in good time so as to have plenty of light to go on to Bunessan?

I always go on the premis of looking to arrive at 'popular' anchorages by lunchtime / early pm. This usually means leaving the preceding place around 6/7am but we're up at that time anyway and the place is much nicer to sail at that early hour before the masses wake up!! I'd rather get there and with the time to explore the coast or relax and enjoy the great spectator sport of watching everyone else come in and curse under their breath that someone else has their preferred spot. If you find no room, there are plenty of other options depending on the conditions but Bunessan rount the corner on the north of the Ross of Mull is big and sound to all but notherlies.

 

[Malo37]

The last time I was in Tinkers Hole, a couple of years ago, in July, it was totally deserted. Lots of heavy moorings there now for fishing boats in what used to be an open anchorage. However the fishing boats use these moorings mainly in bad weather and in settled conditions you can generally pick one up for an overnight stay.
Whilst you are in the area pop over to Coll where you can stay on an HIDB mooring and get a great meal at the hotel. On the way you can also pass by Staffa for a peep into the cave.

Apologies - I've Tinkered with my Bull. Above should read Bulls Hole. Below ( I hope) is a nice picture of sunset taken from the boat.
View attachment 49748

 

[aquaplane]

OOpss, I missread that 8" as 8', that will be a Red Fox then

 

[Kelpie]

I always go on the premis of looking to arrive at 'popular' anchorages by lunchtime / early pm. This usually means leaving the preceding place around 6/7am but we're up at that time anyway and the place is much nicer to sail at that early hour before the masses wake up!! I'd rather get there and with the time to explore the coast or relax and enjoy the great spectator sport of watching everyone else come in and curse under their breath that someone else has their preferred spot. If you find no room, there are plenty of other options depending on the conditions but Bunessan rount the corner on the north of the Ross of Mull is big and sound to all but notherlies.

The problem with leaving first thing is that there might not be any wind!
North of Ardnamurchan everybody operates on Hebridean Mean Time, none of this rushing around to claim a spot.

 

[ctva]

The problem with leaving first thing is that there might not be any wind!
North of Ardnamurchan everybody operates on Hebridean Mean Time, none of this rushing around to claim a spot.

Yes I am a sinner, if the boat speed goes below 1.5-2kts, the engine may go on depending on the situation, forgive me.

No one said anything about rushing around and 'claim a spot', we just like that time of the morning and enjoying the places we arive at when we get there. I think you will find that HMT applies everywhere north and west of the Mull of Kintyre!

 

[Redfox226]

8' draught? That doesn't sound much like a Redfox, I had visions of a wee lift keel boat sneaking into little hidey holes or being parked on a beach.

What are you sailing?

As I wrote in my post - Eight inches draft. So the second part of your post is correct - asymmetric lifting bilge boards.

 

[claymore]

Remember, if all that you want to do is visit Iona, you can get the bus from Tobermory.

Ye'll need tae pack yer jimjams - that's an awfy lang bus ride leaving about 6.5 mins on Iona if you want to be back the same day!

 

[JumbleDuck]

Ye'll need tae pack yer jimjams - that's an awfy lang bus ride leaving about 6.5 mins on Iona if you want to be back the same day!

A few years back I went to Fionnphort by car for work (that book). On the way back there was a hold up - a car had gone half into a ditch on the single track road, between passing places, and was balanced on its underside. No danger, a tow vehicle was on its way from Tobermory and all the cars in that direction had pulled off the road into passing places to let it through when it came.

Until the two Bowman's Coaches arrived, on their way from Tobermory to Iona. Despite being told what was happening, they drove past all the waiting cars, right up to the stranded one, and stopped on the road, sounding horns and growling. It took over an hour to muster enough people, find a big 4x4, get some rope and lift/pull the car out the ditch ... we'd have been done in half the time, and the coach customers would have had longer on Iona, if the coaches had behaved sensibly and let the tow truck through.

Sorry, no boating relevance, just wanted to vent.

 

[bikedaft]

A few years back I went to Fionnphort by car for work (that book). On the way back there was a hold up - a car had gone half into a ditch on the single track road, between passing places, and was balanced on its underside. No danger, a tow vehicle was on its way from Tobermory and all the cars in that direction had pulled off the road into passing places to let it through when it came.

Until the two Bowman's Coaches arrived, on their way from Tobermory to Iona. Despite being told what was happening, they drove past all the waiting cars, right up to the stranded one, and stopped on the road, sounding horns and growling. It took over an hour to muster enough people, find a big 4x4, get some rope and lift/pull the car out the ditch ... we'd have been done in half the time, and the coach customers would have had longer on Iona, if the coaches had behaved sensibly and let the tow truck through.

Sorry, no boating relevance, just wanted to vent.

ross of mull is a great spot - on land there are plenty of beaches that you can find shelter from the prevailing wind. by boat, many wee nooks and corners away from the regular anchorages. close to staffa/treshnish/colonsay etc

buses, eh? think they are all much the same...