Caledonian Canal warning!

[Quandary]

We were on the North Pier pontoons in Oban yesterday, a neighbour in a small yacht had just come back down from Corpach. He explained that he was returning to Yorkshire via the Cally but was refused entry because he was single handed, they advised that while the Covid emergency lasts they will not handle lines or assist boats through locks, so no single handers. His means of navigation seemed to be Navionics on a phone. He was faced with the prospect of going round the top with little knowledge of Cape Wrath or the Pentland Firth. I gave him some booklets and scanty advice about where to seek shelter, but thinking of it since, I should have given him a chart and my CCC pilot. The weather is set to deteriorate and I realize I should have helped more but think Scottish Canals were acting unreasonably in sending him away, his boat was small enough to be walked through the locks and surely a pair of gloves would give protection if it even is possible to catch covid from a rope.
In the past many single handed sailors made the transit with help and advice from the lockkeepers but apparently not this year, so if you know of anyone in a similar position worth warning them. The Canal people could do a lot more too, most yachts approach via Oban. The lobby at the Oban pontoons is full of free bumpf, Welcome Anchorages, Royal Highland YC journals, a warning notice there would have saved this guy and I am sure others at least two wasted light weather days when the passage might have been easier and safer.

 

[[2574]]

Park in Kerrera and come back later? We’re all going to have to learn to be more flexible in a dynamic COVID-19 environment?

 

[srm]

Just a suggestion for anyone having to make the passage west to east around the top of Scotland. To avoid the Pentland Firth go in through Hoy Mouth for Stromness (with the tide), through Scapa Flow and cross the east end of the Pentland Firth around slack water and the start of the east going stream. The tidal stream atlas makes planning easier.

I used to be based in Stromness so never had a need to go through the Firth, other than a couple of times as a passenger when the Scrabster ferry used it rather than the western crossing in bad weather.

 

[Mark-1]

We were on the North Pier pontoons in Oban yesterday, a neighbour in a small yacht had just come back down from Corpach. He explained that he was returning to Yorkshire via the Cally but was refused entry because he was single handed, they advised that while the Covid emergency lasts they will not handle lines or assist boats through locks, so no single handers. His means of navigation seemed to be Navionics on a phone. He was faced with the prospect of going round the top with little knowledge of Cape Wrath or the Pentland Firth. I gave him some booklets and scanty advice about where to seek shelter, but thinking of it since, I should have given him a chart and my CCC pilot. The weather is set to deteriorate and I realize I should have helped more but think Scottish Canals were acting unreasonably in sending him away, his boat was small enough to be walked through the locks and surely a pair of gloves would give protection if it even is possible to catch covid from a rope.
In the past many single handed sailors made the transit with help and advice from the lockkeepers but apparently not this year, so if you know of anyone in a similar position worth warning them. The Canal people could do a lot more too, most yachts approach via Oban. The lobby at the Oban pontoons is full of free bumpf, Welcome Anchorages, Royal Highland YC journals, a warning notice there would have saved this guy and I am sure others at least two wasted light weather days when the passage might have been easier and safer.

I hope he thinks it through and finds a local crew for the trip. A bit of social media effort should find someone in hours.

 

[TernVI]

I hope he thinks it through and finds a local crew for the trip. A bit of social media effort should find someone in hours.

Far more sensible.

 

[ProDave]

If he was posting on here, he could have probably found a crew member to get him through the canal.

 

[pvb]

We were on the North Pier pontoons in Oban yesterday, a neighbour in a small yacht had just come back down from Corpach. He explained that he was returning to Yorkshire via the Cally but was refused entry because he was single handed, they advised that while the Covid emergency lasts they will not handle lines or assist boats through locks, so no single handers. His means of navigation seemed to be Navionics on a phone. He was faced with the prospect of going round the top with little knowledge of Cape Wrath or the Pentland Firth. I gave him some booklets and scanty advice about where to seek shelter, but thinking of it since, I should have given him a chart and my CCC pilot. The weather is set to deteriorate and I realize I should have helped more but think Scottish Canals were acting unreasonably in sending him away, his boat was small enough to be walked through the locks and surely a pair of gloves would give protection if it even is possible to catch covid from a rope.
In the past many single handed sailors made the transit with help and advice from the lockkeepers but apparently not this year, so if you know of anyone in a similar position worth warning them. The Canal people could do a lot more too, most yachts approach via Oban. The lobby at the Oban pontoons is full of free bumpf, Welcome Anchorages, Royal Highland YC journals, a warning notice there would have saved this guy and I am sure others at least two wasted light weather days when the passage might have been easier and safer.

Typical of the coronavirus madness which has killed our economy.

 

[steveeasy]

This seams utter madness. ive looked on the website and no mention of such a restriction for single handed sailors.
Steveeasy

 

[Hadenough]

Typical of the coronavirus madness which has killed our economy.

And typical of single handlers who always seem to think that because they can handle their boat out at sea with plenty of room about them that the same applies in close quarters in a marina, lock, canal or wherever. Speaking bitterly of a number of incidents of damage caused by single handlers while I have been parked up. What realy bugs me is that they are usually the ones who refuse any proffered help? Awaiting incoming ?.

 

[steveeasy]

And typical of single handlers who always seem to think that because they can handle their boat out at sea with plenty of room about them that the same applies in close quarters in a marina, lock, canal or wherever. Speaking bitterly of a number of incidents of damage caused by single handlers while I have been parked up. What realy bugs me is that they are usually the ones who refuse any proffered help? Awaiting incoming ?.

That's one big chip on your shoulder, id say.
Happy Days
Steveeasy

 

[srm]

Awaiting incoming ?.

Which tells us so much more about you . . . .

 

[ryanroberts]

Had my single hand pennant up the other day coming into Portland marina on a slightly fiddlly pontoon I had to crab into between 2 lines of boats and as it was raining a bit people seemed to prefer to wait in their cabins taking bets on when I was going to screw up. Thankfully I didn't but had their been much wind it might have been a bit more crunchy. Few days later some young chaps on a wooden gaffer helped me out so it's a mixed bag really.

MDL staff can't handle lines either, would love to know the source of that advice.

 

[Lucky Duck]

I am told that one marina requires three days to pass from when the owner was last on board before they will launch or lift it, madness!

 

[cherod]

I am told that one marina requires three days to pass from when the owner was last on board before they will launch or lift it, madness!

3 days berthing fees ??

 

[Lucky Duck]

Applies to annual berth holders as well, I assume it originates from the reports in the early days of being able to catch the virus gates, fences and the like.

The mystery to me is why some places appear to be able to manage rafting safely while others have places a total ban on it.

 

[jamie N]

In the spirit of post 09, could it be that they didn't want him because he's a Yorkie?

 

[cherod]

yorkshire guy passed throo here other day , from Mallaig right round the top in a 25 ft Hunter ,, single handed .

 

[Sharky34]

Typical of the coronavirus madness which has killed our economy.

Why, has sensible safety, suddenly become madness?
People, run our economy, so would more victims dying, help?

 

[pvb]

Why, has sensible safety, suddenly become madness?
People, run our economy, so would more victims dying, help?

But it isn't "sensible safety", it's uncontrolled panic. The median age of people who died from coronavirus is 80+, the virus poses little threat to most of the population. More people died in the last month from common flu than from coronavirus, but nobody panics about that.

 

[cherod]

Why, has sensible safety, suddenly become madness?
People, run our economy, so would more victims dying, help?

but what , after all these months and endless discussion , do you not understand ? ,, what some people see as " sensible safety " others see as paranoid hysteria which seems to be causing more problems than it is solving .