Glad we weren't on the Lochmaddy pontoon ....

You do feel a bit vulnerable if you're at the pontoons or moorings there, when the "Hebrides" approaches, particularly with the bow raised. It feels as if she's going to swallow you up. It appears that the hammerhead of the pontoons has been destroyed.
 
We were there a few weeks back, on a pontoon finger that appears to have disappeared...

I was seriously contemplating moving my boat there for the winter, as I thought it would be safer than staying on the swing mooring :0
 
Kelpie said:
We were there a few weeks back, on a pontoon finger that appears to have disappeared...

I was seriously contemplating moving my boat there for the winter, as I thought it would be safer than staying on the swing mooring :0
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That's a definite no-no. I've seen these pontoons when there was a bit of a blow from the east, and they, and the boats berthed there, were jumping about like demented donkeys.

I was anchored not far from Lochmaddy, in a gale in August, the one when the oil rig was trying to escape from the sea on the West side of Lewis. We knew days in advance, that a bad gale was approaching, so had plenty of time to choose a good sheltered anchorage. (Pity the tug skipper didn't act accordingly).
Several yachts had obviously chosen to go to the Lochmaddy pontoons, and, judging by the radio traffic, there was a lot of concern there. The police and CG were called to the scene, because there were fears that the pontoons were going to break up. We were fine at anchor. I think there's a lesson there.

Pontoons have been installed recently in several places along the West Coast, and are referred to as"Marinas", giving the false impression that these are all-weather havens. They are not, and you still have to use your own judgement and common sense as to how much shelter they will provide.
 
Ever since the pontoon was built at Lochmaddy I have had doubts about its usefulness. It IS very near the ferry berth, the hammerhead is spoilt by the finger pontoon on the seaward side, and the inner berths are shallow and only of use for smaller boats - not the sort of size of yachts that are used for cruising.

Annoyingly, they Council has also lifted the two mooring buoys off the wee pier. I much prefer (especially if the weather is breezy, or if MV Hebrides is in overnight) to pick up a mooring or anchor in Ardmaddy Bay.
 
NormanS said:
You do feel a bit vulnerable if you're at the pontoons or moorings there, when the "Hebrides" approaches, particularly with the bow raised.
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It certainly does.

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Minchsailor said:
Ever since the pontoon was built at Lochmaddy I have had doubts about its usefulness. It IS very near the ferry berth, the hammerhead is spoilt by the finger pontoon on the seaward side, and the inner berths are shallow and only of use for smaller boats - not the sort of size of yachts that are used for cruising.

Annoyingly, they Council has also lifted the two mooring buoys off the wee pier. I much prefer (especially if the weather is breezy, or if MV Hebrides is in overnight) to pick up a mooring or anchor in Ardmaddy Bay.
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I think that is a bit harsh. We have been there a few times and it is a great facility - and very welcoming when faced with a South Westerly gale, as able to take shelter and go ashore to the pub and/or lovely walks / clycles around the surrounding area.
Before it was reshaped by CalMac, I didn't see any issue with the pontoon shape - able to take most sizes of boats. Clearly at springs you need to be selective about berth chosen if 2m plus draft, but I think this may now be shown on the pier. And at neaps, or in more modest draft boat, lots more berths available. They need to work with the depths available.

Certainly somewhere to bail out of if expecting strong winds, let alone gales from the East (hence we also avoided in such weather this year - though some don't seem to look at the chart and notice that a clear line out to Skye and being in that direction)
The ferry always felt close, but not more so than many other places (been to Lymington recently?) - but had always assumed they would have control of the ship. Perhaps if boats had been there they would have aimed for somewhere else?

PS I thought there were still a couple of mooring buoys when we were there a few weeks back, but may have been wrong
 
The worst of the wind in the August gale referred to in #5 was out of the south.:rolleyes: You wouldn't have wanted to be there.
 
NormanS said:
The worst of the wind in the August gale referred to in #5 was out of the south.:rolleyes: You wouldn't have wanted to be there.
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Interesting - surprised that would have a problem in a full southerly, with the shelter from Rhuba nam Pleac onwards, but we weren't there on that occasion.
We certainly were fine on a southerly F8 soon after the pontoons were installed (2nd July 2014) - part of a group of boats who used it for shelter before formally opened, with water supply etc still missing. In fact, I think the photo in Welcome Anchorages was taken the sunny calm day before that storm, with our previous boat just visible at the back (directly in the CalMac path as it transpired a few years later :-)
 
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We were on a Maddy mooring in a westerly 6 that turned SW8 a few years ago. Quite unpleasant and was unable to go ashore in the dinghy until it calmed down a bit some 24 hours later. Boats on the (then small) pontoon upped sticks and anchored in preference to being battered about.
 
There were still two moorings just south of the pontoons a few weeks ago. Although they might well be currently entangled in the ferry's bow thrusters...
 
MV Hebrides is off to the Clyde for repair. I wonder how much real repair is needed and how much is PR so show it has been properly looked at before going back into service?

If it's going to be off for a while I hope they can find a relief boat. There was a second boat serving the Oban - Craignure route this summer, perhaps that can be relieved to serve the outer isles in the mean time?
 
Gladys said:
Am I mistaken or is this a second CalMac incident where the engine controls failed? I remember reading an MAIB report not long ago...
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I think it may be the third in recent years. The Kenncraig - Islay ferry has seemed to be very prone to 'missing reverse'.

On the subject of a substitute; I suspect CalMac may be struggling. This is the time for the ships to go off station for winter refit, which means their relief fleet must be stretched. The Minch needs quite a seaworthy ship and I don't think the smaller boats, like the drive through's, would be licensed to operate. The ex-Stornoway ferry, Isle of Lewis, may be available, but it could be a bit big for getting into Tarbet (or even Lochmady). Interesting to see what they come up with.
 
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Minchsailor said:
The ex-Stornoway ferry, Isle of Lewis, may be available, but it could be a bit big for getting into Tarbet (or even Lochmady). Interesting to see what they come up with.
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The Isle of Lewis is currently doing the Loch Boisdale run. I know that because we spent a pleasant evening in the Loch Boisdale Hotel with some of the crew whilst we were weather bound there earlier this month. Loch Boisdale was very sheltered from the SW. We did go to Loch Maddy and I felt it was a bit exposed (CalMac ferries notwithstanding...).
 
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