any advice on route and timings from ballycastle to islay ?

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steve yates

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From those who have done it.
Rounding fair head tomorrow from glenarm to Bally castle, tho could go to rathlin if it makes it easier?



Thx. It's my wee 18footer so races and over falls are bad places! No real choice of course, but looking for advice on how to get through at easiest times, and still carry tides for the crossing on Wednesday, as wind looks pretty light and flukey.

West or east of rathlin?

Leave ballycastle at hw?
 
steve yates said:
From those who have done it.
Rounding fair head tomorrow from glenarm to Bally castle, tho could go to rathlin if it makes it easier?



Thx. It's my wee 18footer so races and over falls are bad places! No real choice of course, but looking for advice on how to get through at easiest times, and still carry tides for the crossing on Wednesday, as wind looks pretty light and flukey.

West or east of rathlin?

Leave ballycastle at hw?
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Last time I did this passage I passed East of Rathlin. I just looked at the tide tables and caught the best tide north. Didn't encounter any over falls at all despite the massed curly symbols on the charts and tidal stream atlas.
 
I start from Church Bay & go round the west end of Rathlin. That means that you can avoid the TSS. It also means that if you time it right the tide wooshes you sideways then wooshes you back, so can be ignored. The overfalls are fine as long as the weather is quiet.
 
Is there actually any benefit in going to Ballycastle? If the weather/forecast and tidal conditions are right, why not go into Rathlin instead? Just a thought. That way on departure for Port Ellen you can stay close inshore, potentially avoiding the worst of the overfalls.
I've motored all the way from Carrickfergus to Lagavulin (no wind!:( ) and we skirted the western edge of the TSS east of Rathlin then crossed it just after where it changes direction. We even saw a south going tanker! I don't remember there being much in the way of overfalls, but we were pretty far out. I've also sailed to Rathlin from Sanda then to Ballycastle, in pretty benign conditions, and don't remember it being particularly rough. I'm sure in the wrong kind of weather it would be, though - like everywhere...
 
All the scary races are to the east in the triangle Torr Head, Fair Head, Church Bay and off Rathlin's NE corner. The ICC Sailing Directions have detailed tide maps. They show almost slack water in the sound at HW Dover then a set to the NW which ties in with Angus's advice. The slackest water in the Sound is at HW Dover +6 but after then you are faced with a SE going stream. Worth passing close to the Bull Light, it is spectacular for nesting seabirds but watch out for pot buoys which can be in pairs and almost submerged when the tide is strong. The Lighthouse at Port Ellen which you head for is a disconcerting landmark being the wrong shape entirely, (rectangular) they should have got the Stephensons to do it.
At HW Dover plus 1 the tide is following the Rathlin W shore around clockwise taking you east for a bit which is no harm as when you clear the land it is then going WNW.
A boat based In Ballycastle will have an ICC pilot, worth a look if someone offers but then those guys are back and forward to Islay all the time and will give better advice than most of us.
 
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This week end Port Ellen hosts the Scottish (or British, if you prefer) round of the beach rugby championships, may not seem significant but some of the ferries will be running in to Port Ellen instead of Port Askaig. It is a big event with lots of visiting teams so transport onward may be enhanced as well, or you could sign on for a team from where you want to get to.
 
Rathlin is one of those funny places like the corryvrekan. It is a pussy when conditions are good and you wonder what everyone was worried about. I normally go close in round the west side when heading north from ballycastle or, from Glenarm, I keep well east. I was at the 'eat sand' rugby last year at port Ellen. It was great fun and the drink flowed freely/cheaply! The hotel was bunged but fitted us in for a very good meal. The pub serves good beer and a wide variety of whisky/ey. A fun place all round and a short onward journey to craighouse.
 
I would caution against going too close to the west end if leaving Rathlin to starboard. I have no idea of the tides as it was 25 years ago when we did it and that log book is on the boat (other that they must have been in our favour). We motored out of Rathlin and when we got to the western tip and started to turn north we were confronted by huge overfalls. We were in a 31' bilge keeler and in company with a bilge keeled Fulmar. The overfalls did not go on for more than half a mile or so but both boats were literally airborne at times. With the exception of some onshore rollers coming out of Port St Mary in the IOM once they are the largest seas we have ever been through.
 
That's good to know, left rathlin in fog, again, went round so close in to bull point I could have tossed something into it, was very atmospheric in the mist, with a calm sea. Fog didn't clear till half way across, and was drinking your namesake in the islay hotel, ( Angus og) and a few Malts. Ferry and bus back to Glasgow today and home now, going back on the to carry on.
 
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