eilan garbh - Gigha stop -over

[pagoda]

I'm probably going South & round the Mull next Sunday/monday -and my current guesswork on tides suggests Gigha as the obvious place to hesitate.
However, there's a ridge of higher pressure looking possible - and I may end up with North Easterlies. Fine for sailing - less good for a quiet night near Gigha. Ardminish with any East is lumpy, and there are no pick-ups for the moorings either.
Has anybody been into the south bay at Eilan Garbh to anchor? It looks ideal for shelter in a N/NE. I cycled to the bay last year- but it was close to HW so got no clues about LW hazards. It gets mentions in various places- but little detail. The North facing bay looks clean.. but not likely to be appropriate.
Any info welcome.

thanks, Graeme

 

[Shuggy]

Yes, I've been in there twice in Easterlies. Once to beach the old boat as I thought we had sprung a plank (we hadn't!) and once this year overnight in 40 knots of wind. Flat as millpond on both occasions despite quite a big sea outside.

 

[Shuggy]

Sorry - additional info - on the first occasion we nosed right in to the south-facing bay and anchored in 5m; the second time we dropped the hook on the 10m contour mid-way between the north-facing and the south-facing bay and let out 80m of chain!

 

[Spyro]

How about Port Ellen? same distance from the Mull maybe a bit further on the way South though. Pontoon Berthing only £12 inc electric and water for 32 footer

 

[pagoda]

Sorry - additional info - on the first occasion we nosed right in to the south-facing bay and anchored in 5m; the second time we dropped the hook on the 10m contour mid-way between the north-facing and the south-facing bay and let out 80m of chain!

I was talking mainly about the twin beaches -either side of the tombolo at Eilan Garbh- I know there's another N facing bay about 0.5M south of the two beaches. (West Tarbert????)

Thanks folks.

 

[Sgeir]

The bay gives good shelter in northerlies and easterlies. Straightforward.

 

[snooks]

How about Port Ellen? same distance from the Mull maybe a bit further on the way South though. Pontoon Berthing only £12 inc electric and water for 32 footer

Lagavluin Bay is much more fun to get into, very pretty and next to Lagavulin

What more could you want?

OK, a pub and a shop, but apart from a pub and a shops and the company of someone special...What more could you want?

 

[Morven]

I have used West Tarbert bay ( at the top west), good holding in firm sand, well sheltered North though East to South. I have used both top and bottom ends of the bay without issue, good shelter, south a little weedy last I used it but not bad.

 

[agurney]

Lagavluin Bay is much more fun to get into, very pretty and next to Lagavulin

What more could you want?

OK, a pub and a shop, but apart from a pub and a shops and the company of someone special...What more could you want?

I'd want less east in the wind

 

[pagoda]

I'd want less east in the wind

Agreed on that, but I'm on a mission this time without much room for dallying around.
I've acquired some of my great uncle's pilotage notes of some west coast beaches & harbours they used to trade to. I checked out a few of them this summer. Grandfather & uncle were Gavin & George Hamilton - the G&G Hamilton puffer business. Fully laden their boats used the canal, so most of the anchorages/channels mentioned are OK for a yacht. Can't say the same about beaches they dried out on to unload!
Laphroaig in one of the Islay locations I have.

Anyway - I'm fairly well convinced it sounds OK for a night stop for weather with some east in it.

Graeme

 

[bikedaft]

stopped off s end machrihanish beach earlier this year in april (spell of light northerlies/easterlies) slight swell from west but bearable, and quick to get around mull in morning. and a stunning beach