Interesting times in Argyll

S

scottie

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 Nov 2001
Messages
5,511
Location
scotland
Visit site
Last night excitement in the Oban area
on Saturday night and Sunday morning after running aground.
Three people were taken off one yacht near Puilladobhrain Anchorage at about 22:30 on Saturday.
Two other yachts were refloated after dragging their anchors in Loch Feochan and Loch Aline.
And a yacht with one person and a dog on board made a mayday call at midnight after running aground at Lismore.
The vessel refloated on the rising tide.
There are strong winds and big tides in the area, which is currently hosting the West Highland Yachting Week event.
Graham Cay, senior maritime operations officer with HM Coastguard, said: "It's been a challenging night for yacht owners.
"The weather's not been great and looks to continue like this today.
"We advise yacht owners to take care when anchoring to ensure they have good holding - a number were caught out by stronger winds and big tides.
"Also make sure you've got a means of contacting us if you get into trouble and adequate provisions and safety equipment."

BBC news today
 
Last edited:
I was out this weekend from Craobh Marina and heard the Loch Feochan call (CG side only), which the coastguard put out as a Pan Pan because the lifeboat was attending another call and could not cross the bar. I think the yacht initially called for assistance, not Mayday. Perhaps folks underestimated the wind but it was clearly forecast. I was tucked up at Crinan Harbour on the boatyard moorings. Todays racing was in light winds.
 
We were going to rejoin the boat (she's at Kilmelford) tomorrow, but I think we'll give it a couple of days more for things to settle down. I don't hold with strong winds.
 
We left boat on moorings in Oban Bay for a few days on Saturday. Haven't heard any bad news :encouragement:. Did head that the transit marina was a 'difficult' place to be on Saturday night.
Donald
 
JumbleDuck said:
We were going to rejoin the boat (she's at Kilmelford) tomorrow, but I think we'll give it a couple of days more for things to settle down. I don't hold with strong winds.
Click to expand...

Come back when you like, wind down close to zero this morning and it looks like a light but showery week.
 
Quandary said:
Come back when you like, wind down close to zero this morning and it looks like a light but showery week.
Click to expand...

Wednesday it (probably) is then, though as I have just posted on another thread ...

oGFxUcK.png
 
.
That is the second shambles in Puilladobhran in the last few years where the lifeboat has been called. People anchor too close together and don't put out enough scope - and the holding is not improving over the years . . .

If you do drag the anchorage is not difficult to get out of in the dark and Oban/Kerrera is an easy sail to a more secure berth.

- W
 
It was a rolly night in Craighouse on saturday, but by mid morning sunday we had the engine on due to lack of wind.
Puilladobhran must have been very busy this year with the good weather , so the mud is probably more churned than ever. I haven't read the most recent pilot book on it , but maybe time for a warning in the pilot that it is not the hurricane hole many seem to think it is?
 
We were on a mooring in Dallens Bay, Linnhe Marine, Loch Linnhe on Saturday night. It was wild for a couple of hours, no sleep until 0300, but it was good shelter from southerlies.
 
stevepick said:
It was a rolly night in Craighouse on saturday, but by mid morning sunday we had the engine on due to lack of wind.
Puilladobhran must have been very busy this year with the good weather , so the mud is probably more churned than ever. I haven't read the most recent pilot book on it , but maybe time for a warning in the pilot that it is not the hurricane hole many seem to think it is?
Click to expand...

I've never thought of it as being a 'hurricane hole' Too constricted, especially on a big spring tide, to put out any decent length of chain. Also the mud is very soft, even at the start of the season before it has been churned about.

Surprised yachts had a problem in Loch Aline. I have always found that to be well sheltered and the mud has fantastic holding. Usually anchor in the NE corner, before the iron beacon. Moderate depths.
 
Minchsailor said:
I've never thought of it as being a 'hurricane hole' Too constricted, especially on a big spring tide, to put out any decent length of chain. Also the mud is very soft, even at the start of the season before it has been churned about.

Surprised yachts had a problem in Loch Aline. I have always found that to be well sheltered and the mud has fantastic holding. Usually anchor in the NE corner, before the iron beacon. Moderate depths.
Click to expand...

I think there is a view ( evidenced by the fact people are anchoring there on forecasts like last saturday's) that it is a good place to shelter in really bad weather. I don't have my up to date copies of the pilots to hand ( on the boat), but the old one does say "well sheltered". I think its reputation as a 5* anchorage clouds peoples perceptions of it.

I am also surprised by difficulties in L. Aline, one of the best anchorages in the area, and when we were rolling in Craighouse I was wishing we were in L. Aline.
 
Craighouse, Jura, always has rollers in it if there is any south or east. I was in on Friday night, lady and we rolled all night, small rolls.

Comming southwards from north of Jura, keeping to the Jura side, there are a few spots of big swells, not standing waves, caused by the subsea terrain, which is sort of a channel.

I think the shape of the Jura coast also helps divert the swell in to the bay. Pretty sure it is stated in one of the popular pilots that the bay is subject to some swell. I have always known it to be a bit rolly at times.

Dragging anchors are nothing new, mostly technique as opposed to seabed, in my opinion.
 
So what was the inshore forecast on the night in question? I was on a non-boaty weekend so not paying attention but can't recall seeing anything particularly dire on the landlubbers forecast.

On a second point, does anyone have further details of the Lismore incident as that's my home patch? Port Ramsay I presume..
 
wully1 said:
I was in the house and for a few hours it was like a decent winter storm.. glad I wasn’t on boatie at anchor. I doubt it got much above a force 7 here.
Click to expand...

We had ferocious gusts between 00.00 and 03.00; no sleep! Quietened down to merely windy after that. Boat sheering violently in the gusts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top