Mallaig harbour, gales and safety concerns.
- Thread starter dave_gibsea
- Start date
zoidberg
Well-known member
One can occasionally see Canna from points along the West Highland Line..... if you can stand on top of the choo-choo carriage!
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-known member
I think he was implying that a crew change is scheduled event. i.e. you need to have a confirmed berth for the time and date of the arrival of crew by public transport, rather than just trusting to chance that there will be a berth available.
cpedw
Well-known member
Don't overlook the ferry to Canna from Mallaig. It runs most days and possibly links with the trains.
SaltIre
Well-known member
I once got the ferry from Canna to Mallaig, the train to Fort William and thereafter the sleeper service towards London via Edinburgh. I was going to Glasgow Queen Street so got off at Westerton then another train trundled up to take me and the guard into Queen Street! It all kind of joined up...
zoidberg
Well-known member
To be intoned in a phony tcheuchter accent....
"All the world is The Lord's and all the world contains
Except the Western Islands - and they're all MacBraynes"
"All the world is The Lord's and all the world contains
Except the Western Islands - and they're all MacBraynes"
Spirit (of Glenans)
Well-known member
In the OP the ferries were off, due to the weather.
SaltIre
Well-known member
OP reported the Skye ferry was cancelled - no mention of Canna.
biscuit
Active member
I have often used Mallaig marina, including twice because of steering and engine problems, and found nothing but help and good will from all.
Its a good place fror crew changes, provisioning, and ok for refuelling and there are some nice walks in the hills.
I too remember in the past when yachts were actively discouraged, so the present regime and facilities is a bonus.
Having said that, the marina has become a victim of its own success, having only a small number of berths, insufficient for peak summer demand, hence the need for advance booking, and why it is unable to cater for all even in advance of a storm. The main failing is the design of the harbour. Any significant northerly wind makes the pontoons untenable, and even makes things difficult for the ferries. It has been crying out for an effective North breakwater ever since it was established.
Its a good place fror crew changes, provisioning, and ok for refuelling and there are some nice walks in the hills.
I too remember in the past when yachts were actively discouraged, so the present regime and facilities is a bonus.
Having said that, the marina has become a victim of its own success, having only a small number of berths, insufficient for peak summer demand, hence the need for advance booking, and why it is unable to cater for all even in advance of a storm. The main failing is the design of the harbour. Any significant northerly wind makes the pontoons untenable, and even makes things difficult for the ferries. It has been crying out for an effective North breakwater ever since it was established.
srm
Well-known member
When first cruising the west coast in the 70's and early 80's before parking pontoons and marinas invaded the area I had a set of large scale Admiralty charts plus yachting guides with hand drawn sketch charts. Lots of local knowledge there for those who can read them. As to Malaig I have never taken a boat in there. I took the steam train there once from Fort William, looked around the harbour and decided that anchoring in Arisaig was a far better and much more comfortable bet. We did take the bus from Arisaig when held up there for over a week by bad weather to do some shopping - and took the next bus back.
As far as safe anchoring goes, I have the gear to lie safely with two anchors on long scopes in any summer weather on the west coast and have done so a couple of times when the anemometer sat stuck against the stop at 60 knots for a few hours. The best we managed in visits to Arisaig was only one 50kn gust.
Perhaps the OP needs to rethink his sailing philosophy as pontoon and harbour hopping is not a safe option in areas like the west coast of Scotland. An obvious example is Tobermory where the "marina" was normally empty in a fresh easterly as anyone with sense moves out and anchors in Loch na Droma Buidhe, south of Isle Oronsay.
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zoidberg
Well-known member
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awol
Well-known member
For the less educated amongst yous, an oransay is a tidal island, of which there is a wheen up here, about 20 or so.
srm
Well-known member
Indeed it is, however a competent navigator looking for a safe storm anchorage within easy reach of Tobermory will no doubt spot the correct one with the aid of a chart, (or Google Earth) without need to refer to a cruising guide. If you do not know it look on the south side a short way in to Loch Sunart. Entrance to Loch na Droma Buidhe, from the west, tidal passage to the east. Check it out, it can get quite crowded at times. Last time we spent a few days there waiting for the weather to improve. Soon got to identify the boats with canines aboard as their tenders headed ashore early morning and late evening regardless of the intensity of the rain. (Sorry @zoidberg but could not resist AWOL's challenge, incidentally very nice pic).
zoidberg
Well-known member
The first time I went in there, it was 'as Black as the Earl o' Hell's Waistcoat' - thick overcast, no moon or stars. Once through the entrance, I just kept heading east until I found a suitable anchoring depth, and stopped.
In the morning ( see above ) the sun was blazing out of a wall-to-wall blue sky, and the mist was on the water. Sounds were attenuated. I took a glass of orange juice and sat on the pulpit, watching the mist burn off and the dozen other boats tucked into nooks to the south and the north.
That became a lazy day.....
We left early the following morning and went to meet the breeze, which started to fill in from the north just past here....
....veering as it built. We were able to have the boat 'self-steer' on the steady wind all the way to Canna Harbour. One of my best days.
In the morning ( see above ) the sun was blazing out of a wall-to-wall blue sky, and the mist was on the water. Sounds were attenuated. I took a glass of orange juice and sat on the pulpit, watching the mist burn off and the dozen other boats tucked into nooks to the south and the north.
That became a lazy day.....
We left early the following morning and went to meet the breeze, which started to fill in from the north just past here....
....veering as it built. We were able to have the boat 'self-steer' on the steady wind all the way to Canna Harbour. One of my best days.
dunedin
Well-known member
That must have been a very long time ago as sounds like a very different Mallaig harbour. Entrance currently # is round a green buoy and almost due south. Go any further to the East and you are on rock.
# Apparently there are proposals to extend the harbour northwards over the rocks between the current breakwater and the green buoy. This is for ferry / commercial use. I fear it might further channel waves in a northerly gale
SaltIre
Well-known member
I'm pretty sure the quoted post isn't about Mallaig. Is it not referring to Loch na Droma Buidhe, south of Isle Oronsay? See #31.
dunedin
Well-known member
In a thread titled Mallaig, I assumed a post referring to "first time I was I there" must be Malkaig. Perhaps Zoidberg doesn't understand the quote function to give context when doing thread drift
zoidberg
Well-known member
I don't know the Tcheuchter - nor the Doric - for 'wind your neck in', so I'll desist.
This ould dosser is quite content that enough gentle readers followed the plot for his purposes.... and I'll point the puir crosshatched curmudgeons among ye to the important bits o' 'The Jug O' Punch'.....
This ould dosser is quite content that enough gentle readers followed the plot for his purposes.... and I'll point the puir crosshatched curmudgeons among ye to the important bits o' 'The Jug O' Punch'.....
NormanS
Well-known member
It was pretty obvious to me that he was referring to Loch Drumbuie (other spellings are available). Some folks are making it more complicated by dragging in things about Oronsays, which as has already been pointed out, exist all over the place.
Another clue was in the photo - very few people would sail from Mallaig to Canna, via Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. ?
Another clue was in the photo - very few people would sail from Mallaig to Canna, via Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. ?
wully1
Well-known member
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