Dunstaffnage marina nightmare

The frequency and strength of winds have always been greater in northern and western Scotland than other other parts of the UK, something that I'm sure is appreciated by visitors. However, perhaps sufficient consideration is not given the consequences of these conditions

In this season, including earlier this week, we have several times experienced sustained winds of between 40 and 50 knots. By their very nature, just about every set of temporary visitor pontoons is exposed to at least one direction. For example, the Tobermory pontoons, a great initiative and resource in my view, are very sheltered in most winds, but absolutely untenable in a northeastery gale as a glance at the chart will show. In these circumstances, the best option is to clear out and anchor in a more sheltered area, eg Lochs Sunart or Drombuie, or perhaps on the north side of the Sound.

While I would expect commercially run marinas to be more sheltered, they are not immune to severe conditions. Dunstaffnage and Rhu are particularly exposed.

TBH, it's always going be be a compromise between convenience, cost and risk, and I'd guess that most sailors are aware of that. If the risk of damage is the greatest concern, then perhaps moorings would be the better option.
 
Last edited:
I learnt very early in my yacht ownership that misaligning my mast with adjacent boats in a marina was essential if I didn't want sail or masthead instrument damage. Short pontoons can make this difficult but a bit of angling can resolve it.

I understand that since Calmac put the Loch Tarbert on the Kilchoan run every time she comes into Tobermory Bay she is followed by her wash which carries on to the pontoons spilling gin and swinging masts. Previous ferries didn't cause this problem, no idea why.
 
The most damage Ive seen in Tobermory was caused by the Tobe life boat and another class of lifeboat on delivery. The two skippers took them out for a play but didn't go far enough and the wash they set up caused some damage and a queue of angry yotties complaining when the boats came back in...
 
awol said:
I understand that since Calmac put the Loch Tarbert on the Kilchoan run every time she comes into Tobermory Bay she is followed by her wash which carries on to the pontoons spilling gin and swinging masts. Previous ferries didn't cause this problem, no idea why.
Click to expand...

She gave us a bit of a bouncing on our way from Kerrera to Kilchoan this summer. Nothing horrible, but more than I expected from such a wee ferry. She had an impressive propeller wake, which is unusual for Voith-Schneider units. Six good big humps behind her ... looked as if she was leading Nessie out of town.
 
"If someone charges the public for the use of a pontoon it is reasonable to expect that your boat will be safe when using the facility."

Perhaps converting into a question would have been more diplomatic.

There really are two facets to the OP's post:-

Do marinas have a duty of care to users?
a quick look at the T&C would have given him a quick answer - No!

But is it not in line with our overprotected world to expect such cover? Millennials with safe areas, legislation generally to protect the user from "sharp practice".
 
You are right, I have just looked up the Terms and Conditions of a certain Scottish Marina and they are not exactly customer friendly.
I fear I am not tough enough for sailing the ruffy tuffy West coast of Scotland.
Definitely not a 'safe area' for us whimps from the South.
 
mainsail1 said:
Earlier this week the swell running into Dunstaffnage marina made pontoon based yachts roll gunwhale to gunwhale. Masts crashed together. Our boat nearly mounted the pontoon and we had to move out. Wrong type of wind apparently (Northerly 20 knots).
I thought Marinas were places of safety and tranquillity. Not in Scotland!
Click to expand...

To get back the OP's first words. Like many others I have had to put to sea out of Braye Harbour in a rising NE gale. Also had to quit West Cowes Marina in a NE gale when it was wisest to be on all fours on the pontoon to get aboard. Don't see that Dunstaffnage is particulary guilty of poor service/facilities. Such hazards surely go with the territory. CBT
 
mainsail1 said:
Definitely not a 'safe area' for us whimps from the South.
Click to expand...

Sailing on the west coast of Scotland does require rather more preparation and resilience than is needed in areas with more leisure marine infrastructure and lifeboats. The west coast of Ireland even more so. Anyone who can't read a chart and a weather forecast and form a reasonable expectation of what conditions might result should probably stick to somewhere less challenging.
 
If you care to read the introductions to both the Clyde Cruising Club's sailing Directions or the Martin Lawrence sailing directions of the area, either or both which are a required standard for cruising the west coast of Scotland, you will undoubtably know that both publications inform the reader of the scarcity of modern safe havens and that yachts should at the very least* be self sufficient in anchoring equipment and the ability to use it (my italics).

In other words, it has long been advised not to rely on any form of berthing for your yacht other than your own ground tackle. If you haven't already read these publications, or the more modern conglomeration of the two from Imray, I suggest you do.

The west coast is a beautiful and accessible sailing area, but you are on your own, certainly more so the further north and west you go.

This is certainly not a comment on the OP's experience or ability, rather that different areas of sailing require different skills and knowledge.

Regards
Donald
 
Aja said:
If you care to read the introductions to both the Clyde Cruising Club's sailing Directions or the Martin Lawrence sailing directions of the area, either or both which are a required standard for cruising the west coast of Scotland, you will undoubtably know that both publications inform the reader of the scarcity of modern safe havens and that yachts should at the very least* be self sufficient in anchoring equipment and the ability to use it (my italics).

In other words, it has long been advised not to rely on any form of berthing for your yacht other than your own ground tackle. If you haven't already read these publications, or the more modern conglomeration of the two from Imray, I suggest you do.

The west coast is a beautiful and accessible sailing area, but you are on your own, certainly more so the further north and west you go.

This is certainly not a comment on the OP's experience or ability, rather that different areas of sailing require different skills and knowledge.

Regards
Donald
Click to expand...

Succinct, and kindly put.
 
awol said:
Are you suggesting that surviving the arduous 60nm from the Needles to Cherbourg (and back) is insufficient training for motoring up the Sound of Mull in the race to get a Tobermory pontoon?
Click to expand...

If directed at me, no, I'm not suggesting that. I'm suggesting that different sailing areas require different skills. I would be a nervous wreck in the east coast mud where 3metres depth was really deep! :)

Donald
 
awol said:
Are you suggesting that surviving the arduous 60nm from the Needles to Cherbourg (and back) is insufficient training for motoring up the Sound of Mull in the race to get a Tobermory pontoon?
Click to expand...
Yes, and surviving a week on the west coast is also inadequate training for a cross channel trip. Two totally different sets of headaches involved.
 
When the swell comes in the long pontoon at Dunstaffanage has a sort of snakey twisty motion that makes it feel very dangerous just to walk down it.
Tying up to a floating pontoon in any significant wave motion is bad and I have seen problems at marinas right round the uk coast. My own worst experiences have been in Conwy which seems to get a lot of gusts and is listed at the 4th windiest area in G B by the met office
 
Halo said:
When the swell comes in the long pontoon at Dunstaffanage has a sort of snakey twisty motion that makes it feel very dangerous just to walk down it.
Tying up to a floating pontoon in any significant wave motion is bad and I have seen problems at marinas right round the uk coast. My own worst experiences have been in Conwy which seems to get a lot of gusts and is listed at the 4th windiest area in G B by the met office
Click to expand...

Worst experience of "snaking pontoon" was @ BIzerte, when one had to crawl along the pontoon to stay on it. I left and anchored.
There are, IMHO, few if any "Safe-in-all-conditions" marinas in the world.
The Dunstaffnage complainant may be about to experience a real storm this afternoon.
 
Halo said:
When the swell comes in the long pontoon at Dunstaffanage has a sort of snakey twisty motion that makes it feel very dangerous just to walk down it.
Tying up to a floating pontoon in any significant wave motion is bad and I have seen problems at marinas right round the uk coast. My own worst experiences have been in Conwy which seems to get a lot of gusts and is listed at the 4th windiest area in G B by the met office
Click to expand...

You have seen problems right round the coast and your worst experiences have been in Conwy??? Both marinas in Conwy have flap gates so half the time they are sealed. The Conwy Marina entrance is not open to the sea, neither is Deganwy. The River can get some swell when the sands outside in the Bay are covered but to imply the marinas are the worst in the GB is stretching credibility?

Then you say Conwy gets lots of gusts, citing the Met Office as a source. The Met Office may say that the top of Snowdonia is breezy; and even say that Snowdonia is the 4th windiest place in the GB. But I don't think Conwy experiences the 4th windiest conditions in the UK by any stretch of your imagination?
 
garvellachs said:
You have seen problems right round the coast and your worst experiences have been in Conwy??? Both marinas in Conwy have flap gates so half the time they are sealed. The Conwy Marina entrance is not open to the sea, neither is Deganwy. The River can get some swell when the sands outside in the Bay are covered but to imply the marinas are the worst in the GB is stretching credibility?

Then you say Conwy gets lots of gusts, citing the Met Office as a source. The Met Office may say that the top of Snowdonia is breezy; and even say that Snowdonia is the 4th windiest place in the GB. But I don't think Conwy experiences the 4th windiest conditions in the UK by any stretch of your imagination?
Click to expand...

I think he meant the pontoon in the river? I've seen a waterspout off Conwy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top