Best route for a charter week sailing cruise to Islay?

toad_oftoadhall said:
+1.
Click to expand...

I think you're a bit harsh about C'town. I've been in there several times to/from west of Kintyre. It has good shelter almost 360, and apart from rafting up at the pontoon, there are no real drawbacks. There's a good Indian and a newly refurbished hotel just across the road.. sports centre/swimming pool/ showers about 200m away? And a hospital with a casualty dept (don't ask!) Much more than Sanda offers these days. (as an aside - are the moorings to remain? anybody know? there were still two when we came back from Donegal last summer)
I've done Gigha-Ardrossan in one hop, perfectly doable but quite a fair haul. For new sailor, I think MOK and the canal pose almost equal challenges (of different kinds admittedly). If you charter from Troon / Ardrossan / Largs, crew can get there by train pretty easily (ditto Dunstafnage) . Getting to Craobh/Kilmelford/Ardfern etc by public transport is quite hard work.
It's possible to get west of Kintyre from the Clyde and back in a week. Very weather/tide dependent, with the risk of being perpetually on the move , timing tide gates and available wind. You could always nip over to Ballycastle/Glenarm/Bangor, come back via Loch Ryan / Girvan? Get some good open sea miles, tide timing experience and alternative new places?
It is likely you will turn up at the boat and you find the wind for the next week is no use for plan A -or even B!
That's sailing for you...

Graeme
 
OK, think I have enough advice to make a plan. I'm the OP by the way and I'm very grateful for all the advice, flavour, sentiment and humour and I'm not put off!! It’s going to take me a while to sift through all the great info – thanks. I called a couple of charters up the West Coast and it does seem that they are more relaxed with Coastal Skipper experience so I'm going to sign up for the week in July on my lonesome this year to do the course and get familiarised, at least to some extent and do the trip with my mates next year. So without inviting a further 80 posts dare I ask if anyone recommends anywhere? W/c 7th July? Coastal Skipper course?
 
Pickletillum said:
so I'm going to sign up for the week in July on my lonesome this year to do the course and get familiarised, at least to some extent and do the trip with my mates next year. So without inviting a further 80 posts dare I ask if anyone recommends anywhere? W/c 7th July? Coastal Skipper course?
Click to expand...

So that's an easy one then - Scottish National Sailing Centre at Cumbrae near Largs. Then you can also learn more about the area with a local skipper
 
We are so lucky to have the internet and forums like this nowadays. Twenty five years or so ago I did my first one week charter as skipper. I was a bit of a novice. We sailed from Largs. We had no internet to warn us about the horrors of the Mull of Kintyre, and the fierce seas of the West Coast. In my innocence we went to Northern Ireland (Portrush) and to Port Ellen in Islay, and back in the week. Strangely, we survived, and had a fantastic time.

I've done MoK many times since, always choosing my weather and tides with some care, and never had any problems. I am sure the OP will have a great time, if he reads the books and takes all the scare stories with a pinch of salt. I would however heartily endorse the advice not to have too rigid plans, and to be prepared to be flexible in the light of changing circumstances.
 
iain789 said:
We are so lucky to have the internet and forums like this nowadays. Twenty five years or so ago I did my first one week charter as skipper. I was a bit of a novice. We sailed from Largs. We had no internet to warn us about the horrors of the Mull of Kintyre, and the fierce seas of the West Coast. In my innocence we went to Northern Ireland (Portrush) and to Port Ellen in Islay, and back in the week. Strangely, we survived, and had a fantastic time.
Click to expand...

The first proper trip I did in my first boat, 21' long, after a few weekends on the Clyde, was Clynder - Ardrishaig - Crinan - Coirebhreacan - Colonsay - Bull Hole - Easdale - Crinan - Ardrishaig - Clynder. It was very enjoyable and we didn't sink or drown, even slightly.
 
Quote "We had no internet to warn us about the horrors of the Mull of Kintyre, "
I did on my six month voyage.
Left Jura and the rest is history ....
See http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2009/09/04/lucky-black-cat-saved-from-storm-force-seas-1765/

MAP.JPG


Route at foot of chart is wrong. Overnight in Jura.
 
Note to OP.When we were all new Day Skippers(a good few years ago) and started doing a few charters on the Clyde most of the well known charter companies imposed cruising limits that excluded going round The Mull.If going through the Crinan this had to be discussed with them prior to going through and extra deposit paid as often the boats got damaged or fenders/warps lost or damaged.Best phone them to check what they will let you do with a DS. Try www.yachtcharterclyde.co.uk,owners a pal of mine and might be a bit more flexable than the big boys.
 
A very sensible decision to delay bareboating in my view.
If you're wanting to sail West of Kintyre then I would recommend Oban Sea School with Robert Kincaid for a coastal skipper course.
Sails out of Oban on a 35' Bruce Roberts.
The best sailor I've ever sailed with.

Get to know the places to go in the area you want to sail in the future.
Of course if you want to sail in the Clyde then the sailing School on Cumbrae comes highly recommended.

Good luck. You won't regret it.
 
That seems an eminently sensible suggestion CFarr. I know nothing of Robert Kincaid, but a CS course in the area of the OP's intended cruise next year seems ideal. Might the same yacht be available for subsequent charter?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top