Best route for a charter week sailing cruise to Islay?

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Pickletillum

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Hi, wonder if I can ask for help at this early stage. Am newish sailor, just getting my DaySkip and want to start planning a sailing trip to Islay for 4-6 people over a week for next year. So many Qs at this stage but what is the best place to charter from that will not give too punishing a schedule for a bunch of amateurs who want to enjoy the journey as much as getting there and also perhaps a couple days sailing round Islay? i.e stops for lunch and stop sailing by tea time and be tucked up with a glass in hand early evening. I've had a fair bit of rough weather sailing so the sun doesn't need to shine all day, but don't want to be rained out either. Is Easter, or October a mistake? should we stick to early July? Any suggestions of a route with stops would be great.
Thanks
 
No doubt someone will be along soon to recommend chartering from Troon, but I've had an unsuccessful google.

There are a few charter companies in Largs who would be able to provide a suitable vessel for your voyage. If you do depart Largs I'd suggest: Portavadie (great marina) or Tarbert (great sea food), Crinan Canal, Craighouse (Jura - distillery), a couple of nights on Islay, (careful selection of distillery required), Campbeltown (distillery and very good curry house (Bangladesh - BYOB)), Lochranza (distillery) and back to Largs. If I've included one too many nights go straight for the Crinan Canal from Largs.

Hopefully you'll enjoy a dram or two.

There are loads of secluded anchorages for lunch stops or overnights - consult the CCC cruising guides.

You'll have a great (if not stress-free) transit of the canal. Plenty of drouth-enducing effort wih the lock gates.

Statistically (but I'm no statistician) May tends to be the most reliable weather month and the midges are not too prolific.

I'm sure you'll not enjoy yourself too much and tell loads of people about the West Coast waters, as we like it being quiet up here.
 
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I wouldn't go from the Clyde as the Mull weather/ tide can knacker your week...
If you take a boat from Crinan/ Ardfern/ Craobh then you have a much better choice of destinations. In bad weather a lot of Islay is reachable from the Sound of Jura in not to long a time with shelter along the way in Loch Sween, Gigha and Craighouse.
If the weather is really awful then there is always the well worn furrow up to Tobermory..
 
Unless there is an overriding reason you need to get to Islay, I would recommend planning a number of options and at most considering heading "towards" that area (per seaman like tradition)

Lots of good options for charter start points

Largs etc on the Clyde - if weather suits can be a lovely trip round via Arran, Sanda, Rathlin to Islay, perhaps back via Gigha or the Crinan Canal. If weather doesn't suit lots of great places within the Clyde itself.

Ditto Ardfern / Dunstaffnage etc on the west. Need to look at tide times for heading down the Sound of Jura before choosing your start date. Again if the weather doesn't suit masses of good sheltered locations around - and if you miss Islay completely and end up in Tobermory because the wind suits better then that should be great.

Fixed destinations can ruin holidays, flexible routing and considering options can make the best cruises.
Our summer cruise destination this year - "well somewhere west-ish, we'll let you know when we get back"!
 
If you are determined to go to Islay, you'd be better going by ferry. If however you fancy cruising in the general area of the West Coast near Islay, Jura etc, there are several options for chartering, between Dunstaffnage in the north and the Clyde to the South.

Having a fixed destination can spoil a trip.
 
If you get the weather and the time to make it to West Loch Tarbert on Jura, I can recommend it as a scenic, remote place to anchor.

have a good trip. There are so many beautiful places around there, that you can't go wrong.

Just make sure that you don't get rammed by the Islay RNLI lifeboat!
 
imho if you are a newish sailor just getting your Day Skipper, a trip to/around Islay might be a tad ambitious. In settled weather and with careful planning it is certainly possible, but if chartering for a week I suggest you don't leave from the Clyde. If you do, no matter what route you go, it will take a couple of days to get to "the Sound of Jura" and the same to get back - leaving only three days in the vicinity of Islay. Better, as others have said, to charter from somewhere like Crinan, Craobh, Ardfern or perhaps even Oban/Dunstaffnage. That way you'll have shorter distances to sail, and have five or even six days in/around Islay. If you want to cover greater distances you can, but you'll have more flexibility and I think enjoy the week more.
Do make sure that you have a good knowledge of tides, particularly tidal streams, which in areas such as the Sound of Islay and near Crinan can be quite strong.

Good Luck. :encouragement:

EDIT: Lots of info at http://www.sailscotland.co.uk/content/page.php?page_id=70&sub_id=64
 
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A1Sailor said:
imho if you are a newish sailor just getting your Day Skipper, a trip to/around Islay might be a tad ambitious.
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How patronising! A DS laureat from the Solent is surely more than adequately skilled to deal with the minor irritations of the MoK, Sound of Islay, uncharted rocks, Calmac ferries et al. A week on Islay may be a tad too exciting though - even the "Malts Cruise" doesn't go there any more.
 
I would say this was a little ambitious for a new DS. I have been sailing in the area for years and still get caught out with some tidal gates. My most memorable was coming through the nice calm cuan sound at 7 knots of tide in calm weather, into 3m steep waves on the other side due to high winds the day before coming in from the Atlantic. It was a little scary, even on an ocean rated 31 footer.
The tides around here are fierce, and the seas high. I would only recommend it for you if it was quite calm. Charter from the Oban area. Ardfern, Craobh are your best bet.
 
awol said:
How patronising! A DS laureat from the Solent is surely more than adequately skilled to deal with the minor irritations of the MoK, Sound of Islay, uncharted rocks, Calmac ferries et al. A week on Islay may be a tad too exciting though - even the "Malts Cruise" doesn't go there any more.
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Apologies if it seems patronising, but it's simply my opinion.
 
For a moment I though I was on an American forum by mistake. They always have someone to tell you don’t know enough and it is to much for you.
This forum usually gives use full advice.

Having said this I would wait till after Easter and go before October. While the weather might be Ok at those times. The laws of probability suggest its more likely to really suck.
Islay and back from the Clyde is certainly possible, the other locations also possible.

Preferably I would charter on the Clyde to sail in the Clyde. Or charter on the West Coast To sail on the West Coast.
I would look for a boat available which I was familiar with perhaps similar type to the one I did my Day Skipper on. Or had sailed on before.

Next I would be hoping to get recommendations for charter outfit’s
I don’t know any.
If in the area I sail with my sister on her boat.

For some strange reason although I’ve sailed through the sound, I’ve never stopped in Islay. Love the whiskey though.

Which ever way you go I'm sure it will be a great trip.
 
if chartering from the Clyde, I wouldn't consider using the Crinan canal. From Largs or further south, it would be quicker to go via the Mull of Kintyre
stopping at Campbelltown or Sanda. That's two days from the charter base to Islay. Via the Crinan canal, you're looking at a minimum of three days - Largs - Ardrishaig, Ardrishaig - Crinan, Crinan - Islay.
 
Pickletillum said:
Hi, wonder if I can ask for help at this early stage. Am newish sailor, just getting my DaySkip and want to start planning a sailing trip to Islay for 4-6 people over a week for next year. So many Qs at this stage but what is the best place to charter from that will not give too punishing a schedule for a bunch of amateurs who want to enjoy the journey as much as getting there and also perhaps a couple days sailing round Islay? i.e stops for lunch and stop sailing by tea time and be tucked up with a glass in hand early evening. I've had a fair bit of rough weather sailing so the sun doesn't need to shine all day, but don't want to be rained out either. Is Easter, or October a mistake? should we stick to early July? Any suggestions of a route with stops would be great.
Thanks
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Craobh (or Ardfern / Oban area) A week is too short to go from the Clyde.

The South and East of Islay should be more than challenging enough, I'd avoid the north and west.

I've some photos of anchorages here that may help: http://sailing.agurney.com

I'll also be putting tidal information here: http://www.agurney.com/oban-tides (but haven't got round to doing 2014 yet)

Easter:OK; October: short days; July: be aware of West Highland Week
 
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