Iona Visitor Mooring

[JumbleDuck]

Those thinking of a trip out west might like to know that there is a visitor mooring at Martyr's Bay now. It was apparently sunk expressly for visiting yachts last winter - my source is a young local lad who let me know from the stern of a open wooden dinghy which he was handling with great skill. We used the mooring for the night and it seemed fine - the chain was in good condition. I don't know if there is a charge, because we cleared out early in the morning as the swell was horrible (I normally stay in Bull Hole but was tempted by a forecast of mild westerlies) so I shall be using contacts on Iona to find out oif I owe anyone anything.

It's a white main buoy, almost sunk, with a small red/pink pickup without handle, so an underwater swipe with a boathook is needed. Position 59^o19.754'N, 6^o23.456'W, which is more or less opposite the terrace of the Martyr's Bay café, halfway between the sandy beach and the ferry pier.

There is another visitor mooring nearby, with a yellow hippo buoy, but I was told (same source) that it has not been serviced for years and has a paper thin chain, and I was strongly counselled not to use it.

 

[NormanS]

It seems a pity that "they" didn't service the existing mooring, rather than cluttering the place with another. Personally, I would always anchor, as it's clean sand, although tide-ridden.

 

[Sgeir]

Sorry, don't know about the moorings, but we've anchored there a few times, including overnight. Tide runs fast but we experienced no problems.

 

[JumbleDuck]

It seems a pity that "they" didn't service the existing mooring, rather than cluttering the place with another. Personally, I would always anchor, as it's clean sand, although tide-ridden.

I agree about the clutter of dud moorings, but if th old one belongs to someone else who won't service it, there isn't much option.

We were anchored, close in, and were planning to nip across to Bull Hole for the night, but shifting to the mooring was nice and easy.

Sorry, don't know about the moorings, but we've anchored there a few times, including overnight. Tide runs fast but we experienced no problems.

It was fine when the tide and swell were both heading north, but a bit too much of a good thing when the tide was heading south and the swell was heading north.

I've been entertaining myself on this trip reading Neil Gunn' "Off in a Boat", in which he says he used a good anchorage at "Port-na-Fraing", north of Martyrs' Bay. It wasn't on his chart and it's not on my rather elderly 2617 ... anyone know where it is?

 

[NormanS]

Port na Fraing is the sandy bay on the east side just down from the north tip of the island. In suitable wind conditions it's a good, clean, clear anchorage with little or no tide. Much better than Martyrs' Bay, and less disturbed by ferries etc. Further from the road, though, if that's important.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Port na Fraing is the sandy bay on the east side just down from the north tip of the island. In suitable wind conditions it's a good, clean, clear anchorage with little or no tide. Much better than Martyrs' Bay, and less disturbed by ferries etc. Further from the road, though, if that's important.

Thanks. Is that the long one marked as "Traigh bahn" on 2167? I noticed someone anchored there as we skedaddled.

 

[bikedaft]

yes. its more out of the swell etc. last time we anchored there i was sawing a bit of wood on the foredeck - two curious dolphins kept popping up to see what on earth the odd noise was.. cable at S end tho hopefully further S than where you would naturally anchor...

 

[NormanS]

Thanks. Is that the long one marked as "Traigh bahn" on 2167? I noticed someone anchored there as we skedaddled.

Yes, Traigh Bhan. That just means White (or light coloured) Beach.

 

[BigJoe]

It's a white main buoy, almost sunk, with a small red/pink pickup without handle, so an underwater swipe with a boathook is needed. Position 59^o19.754'N, 6^o23.456'W, which is more or less opposite the terrace of the Martyr's Bay café, halfway between the sandy beach and the ferry pier.

Are you sure about the position ?

 

[NormanS]

It's a white main buoy, almost sunk, with a small red/pink pickup without handle, so an underwater swipe with a boathook is needed. Position 59^o19.754'N, 6^o23.456'W, which is more or less opposite the terrace of the Martyr's Bay café, halfway between the sandy beach and the ferry pier.

Are you sure about the position ?

Well spotted!

 

[JumbleDuck]

It's a white main buoy, almost sunk, with a small red/pink pickup without handle, so an underwater swipe with a boathook is needed. Position 59^o19.754'N, 6^o23.456'W, which is more or less opposite the terrace of the Martyr's Bay café, halfway between the sandy beach and the ferry pier.

Are you sure about the position ?

Oops. 56^o, of course.