Clyde Coast Adventure.

Clyder

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 Sep 2004
Messages
287
Visit site
Following the current trend of photo-documentaries here are some pictures of my adventures last week on the Clyde Coast around Bute.

The adventure began on the Monday when I decided we (myself, swmbo and son) would pay a surprise visit to the in-laws, who were on a short break to Rothesay.

Off we set all kitted up across the "ocean" that is the Clyde Estuary on the lookout for sea-monsters, pirates and the cursed Davy Jones and his chest.

July2006071.jpg

Suitably flagged we were ready for anything....

Well almost. I'd forgotten to pack a tin opener..but thats another story.

July2006064.jpg

On the pontoons at Rothesay. For £10 a night with water and electricity we though it was a good deal....it even included a 2a.m alarm call by the locals shouting, fighting and biting with each other on their way home from the pub and a further 4a.m call by the ever so delicate rattle from twin Cummins engines on the trawler berthed on the wall. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

July2006063.jpg

The crew at breakfast time. At least they look happy!!!

July2006066.jpg

An RN Fuel supply ship leaving Kilfinnan.

July2006074.jpg

Up through the Kyles passed Caladh Harbour and on to Tighnabruich.

July2006076.jpg

Lunch time @ Tighnabruich..
July2006084.jpg

Me trying to row, with Waverly in the background.

f9904834.jpg

"Dad, this is how you do it!!"...out done by a 5yr old /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

76d4ce8c.jpg


Travelling down the East Kyle passing Inchmarnock on the port side.

July2006055.jpg

A wrecked trawler in Etterick Bay

July2006100.jpg

Round the bottom of little Cumbrae...The light House you can see is the first electric light house built in Scotland by the "Light House Stevensons"

5ff828ce.jpg

Little Cumbrae near to the castle, heading north up the Fairlie Roads towards Largs.

The trip ended there unfortunately as I had to return to Glasgow for a work "appointment" on the Wednesday..another waste of time and YOUR money that lasted five minutes. Oh well back to the boat...

After mustering the crew it was off to sea again....

This time we headed north up the Clyde towards Greenock...just passed Kip we watched the porpoises play in the wake...no photos I'm afraid.

49973fb5.jpg

The "Sugar Ship" off Helensburgh.

July2006116.jpg

And again...Then it was off to Rosneath for lunch.

July2006116.jpg

Jelly Bean on a mooring at Rosneath Bay.

After lunch and a play on the tender it was back to the hard graft, and a nice ride down to Millport.

Given the tide, and the hot weather we decided to tie up at the Cumbrae National Sailing Centre and get the bus into Millport. Good choice!!! the pier was full of drunk, overweight lobsters eating fish and chips who were jumping into the sea from the pier, leaving their spawn to climb in, over and under the dryed out boats in the inner harbour /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

After a quick look around, an ice-cream and a look at the Waverly it was off on the bus, collect the boat and back to Largs.

July2006150.jpg

Waverly

July2006149.jpg


All in all a great 4 days, and the most fun we've had on the boat to date.Oh, and SWMBO wants to go bigger but I'm not sure..I reconed I spent about £20 on diesel for the week and most of that was at planing speeds.

Will this help your cause Alistairr?? This is the abridged version LOADS more pics.. Hope I didnt bore too many people and sorry for the size of the pics.(it took me 3 goes to get this up!!)

Cheers

Clyde
 
Excellent stuff and I hope we encourage more of these epic stories.

Was the encounter with the Waverly intended or a near miss, if you look at your wake?

How do you transport your tender as you only have 19'3"?
 
Ah, the "Waverly Incident" as it will be here after known was actually camera trickery...It had just departed Millport Pier , on which I was stood. My boat was about 4 miles away /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I keep the tender de-flated in the cuddy or where one of the jump seats are (dependant on load etc). I have been experimenting with towing...no good, tying on to bow...no good. Back to good old huff and puff and deft passage planning.
 
Briliant stuff. Reminded me of a similar journey this time last year on my mates F33 berthed at Largs. Thanks for the story and the pics they were great.
Ian
 
I have a similar problem and end up leaving inflated tender in marina as I can't be bothered to deflate it, manhandle it aboard and then blow it up for five minutes of fun.

Solution is to buy a bigger boat, which is not going to happen whilst Gordon Brown still has free access to my hard earned cash.

So, the 'Waverley Incident' was an optical delusion and your boat has a good alibi.
 
Did you really only spend £20 /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif How many miles or hours do you reckon you did. Nice boat by the way.
Ian
 
Great piece - it bought back so many memeories - You even stayed on the same pontoons in Bute as my SWMBO slipped off one night. Don't ask how, but you might guess /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
My sentiments exactly. Bigger is better, SWMBO would enjoy it more /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I'd have a place to park the tender, more room for drink and a nice rail to mount one of 'em fancy BBQ things on.

As for the "Waverly Incident"..I was miles a way M'lud. Having seen the foam this thing creates close up I wouldn't want to be within 5 miles of it. It looks like one of them boating pond things with the two handles you spin to get it moving.....loads of foam with no go, and it's just as manoeverable.. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Ian, don't know the mileages involved but the "cruise" went something like:

Largs-Rothesay
Rothesay-Tighnabruich
Tighnabruich-Little Cumbrae
Little Cumbrae-Largs

Largs-Greenock
Greenock-Rosneath
Rosneath-Millport
Millport-Largs

all on just under 1/4 tank of diesel, fast in the fast bits, slow in the slow bits. (cruising at 25knts) Before I set off I topped the tank from 1/2...it cost £35 /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Hi Clyde

cracking pics - excellent camera - even makes the water look blue.

tell you what tho - dont think you took the pics this week! I was in tighnabruiach on monday and have never seen such rain

cheers

alan
 
Really nice pictures - just makes you want to be there! The scenery looks great - when its nice like that, there can't be many places that beat it for the views

Martyn
 
Clyde

when I had the rinker I used a fast inflater/deflater to blow up the dinghy on the sun deck it only took a minute to inflate/deflate. cant remember the make but they have them in the chandlers at the marina (£80ish)

p.s we have met - on the fuel berth, you very kindly moved over to let me in. I remember it well as I couldnt understand why you were putting diesel in!!!

cheers

alan
 
Nice /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
WIDE pictures though, my 1932 puter can,t accomodate them /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

"Waverley" doesn,t come round here but "The Balmoral" does.

"Balmoral" is from the same Organitation I think but ain.t a Paddler.

Nice but not as nice as Wales tee hee. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Alan, were you the guy that helped SWMBO down the "plank" to the fuel berth at low water?

I forgot she had mild vertigo and sent her off for the "provisions" (beers!!) /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Did you spot the deliberate mistake?? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Too much Shiraz me thinks....east/west, left/right etc etc....... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gifSeems youre right!! Think I've gone a bit Jack Sparrow /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Fantastic pics and fantastic report, SWMBO and I have both just read it.

I don't think i have every seen the clyde that calm before.

And, YES, it did help my cause, at this minute the good lady wants too move, we'll see what she says in the next minute!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks for the great report.

Cheers

Alistair.
 
Like the pictures,

and from your report seems like I now know where to berth for the night at Rothesay, which will be my next time out.
 
Top