ianwoods
New member
Hi, Pleased to receive informed advice as to pilots, charts and general info for a three week cruise in this area. Will be arriving from East coast via Caledonian Canal.
Best source of info for cruising Mull area.
- Thread starter ianwoods
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Divemaster1
Well-known member
Now Sir, that makes two of us.
Leaving NE Scotland on Sat 14th to leave boat in Muirtown Basin for a week, then set off Westwards following Sat. Have been across a couple of times, so have some knowledge and information. Please let me know about your boat configuration/size and what you consider acceptable .... mooring at your own anchor, or do you prefer pontoon mooring?
Aim to be covering West of Mull, Jura, Isla and Gigha this year our self.... but we may have a sligtly different configuration to you with two rather large Detroit Diesels...
Leaving NE Scotland on Sat 14th to leave boat in Muirtown Basin for a week, then set off Westwards following Sat. Have been across a couple of times, so have some knowledge and information. Please let me know about your boat configuration/size and what you consider acceptable .... mooring at your own anchor, or do you prefer pontoon mooring?
Aim to be covering West of Mull, Jura, Isla and Gigha this year our self.... but we may have a sligtly different configuration to you with two rather large Detroit Diesels...
billgray
Member
Hi,
I like Martin Lawrence Pilots which can be used in conjunction with the Imray chart for the area. Makes cruise planning easy and entertaining. Clyde Cruising Club pilot book is also very good. However, large scale Admiralty charts are really essential for exploration of the many interesting anchorages.
We also keep the chart plotter on at all times!
A good web site is West Coast Boating.
Happy Cruising. When are you coming?
Bill Gray
I like Martin Lawrence Pilots which can be used in conjunction with the Imray chart for the area. Makes cruise planning easy and entertaining. Clyde Cruising Club pilot book is also very good. However, large scale Admiralty charts are really essential for exploration of the many interesting anchorages.
We also keep the chart plotter on at all times!
A good web site is West Coast Boating.
Happy Cruising. When are you coming?
Bill Gray
ianwoods
New member
Hello Bill, Thanks for the leads. Sailing a 26ft yacht single handed and hoping to arrive Inverness around 27 July.
I have Nauticpath UK on my Lowrance Chartplotter and a large Imray C chart up to now. Any further advice would be welcome.
I have Nauticpath UK on my Lowrance Chartplotter and a large Imray C chart up to now. Any further advice would be welcome.
Sgeir
Well-known member
I carry the full Amiralty charts, because that was what was was available when we started sailing there. If starting now. I'd save myself a couple of hundred pounds by buying the new Admiralty yacht folio - http://www.admiraltyleisure.co.uk/sc_folios_sc5611.asp.
Divemaster1
Well-known member
http://sail.visitscotland.com/
The Yachtsman's Pilot to the Isle of Mull and Adjacent Coasts
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yachtsmans-Pilot...7441869-5132463
Skye and Northwest Scotland: The Yachtsman's Pilot
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skye-Northwest-S...7441869-5132463
Dunstaffenage Marine usually have these books available, but is great reading when plodding through the canal... also do pick up some of the brochures which Copach Sea Lock have on cruising West Scotland.
Happy sailing!
The Yachtsman's Pilot to the Isle of Mull and Adjacent Coasts
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yachtsmans-Pilot...7441869-5132463
Skye and Northwest Scotland: The Yachtsman's Pilot
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Skye-Northwest-S...7441869-5132463
Dunstaffenage Marine usually have these books available, but is great reading when plodding through the canal... also do pick up some of the brochures which Copach Sea Lock have on cruising West Scotland.
Happy sailing!
cpedw
Well-known member
Ian,
A word of caution about the Nauticpath chart. It stops around the middle of Lismore as you go NE up Loch Linnhe. It also misses out the whole of Loch Etive and Dunstaffnage marina and its approaches. Loch Sunart is similarly truncated about 2/3 of the way east.
But don't let that put you off. I am based there and use the Nauticpath on a Lowrance plotter. It works well and helps me a lot everywhere else I've been so far.
Enjoy your visit.
Derek.
A word of caution about the Nauticpath chart. It stops around the middle of Lismore as you go NE up Loch Linnhe. It also misses out the whole of Loch Etive and Dunstaffnage marina and its approaches. Loch Sunart is similarly truncated about 2/3 of the way east.
But don't let that put you off. I am based there and use the Nauticpath on a Lowrance plotter. It works well and helps me a lot everywhere else I've been so far.
Enjoy your visit.
Derek.
Sgeir
Well-known member
Cannot comment on plotter stuff as we don't have one, but the shortcomings in Loch Etive are shared by UKHO - AFAIR the only chart for the upper reaches (which we have) is an obsolete chart, complete with line drawings and depths in fathoms.
There is also an electric cable across the loch with, from memory, only 12 or 14m clearance at high water - although the clearance would be greater at the edge of the loch, and at low tide. There was a thread about this on Scuttlebutt some time ago.
Both Martin Lawrence and the CCC's Sailing Directions are good value, although I think the CCC SDs may cover a larger area (it also lists some "occasional" anchorages not covered in the Lawrence book).
There is also an electric cable across the loch with, from memory, only 12 or 14m clearance at high water - although the clearance would be greater at the edge of the loch, and at low tide. There was a thread about this on Scuttlebutt some time ago.
Both Martin Lawrence and the CCC's Sailing Directions are good value, although I think the CCC SDs may cover a larger area (it also lists some "occasional" anchorages not covered in the Lawrence book).
Tamarisk1
New member
Gentleman - that now makes 3 of us!
Start at Kip, and then who knows. 2 weeks and I'm praying for good weather.
Fair wind for all.
Start at Kip, and then who knows. 2 weeks and I'm praying for good weather.
Fair wind for all.
jimbaerselman
New member
For a very broad brush introduction to the area, check my website. It also has some links for further information.
To get the best out of the area, a good pilot guide is necessary. I used Lawrence, and was very happy with that.
To get the best out of the area, a good pilot guide is necessary. I used Lawrence, and was very happy with that.