MOBO flotilla: up the River Forth to Stirling from Grangemouth - pics

[Sgeir]

We don't see many boating visitors in Stirling. Although many miles from the sea, the river is tidal to Kildean, to the west of Stirling, but only really navigable by pleasure shoal draught pleasure boats as far as the railway bridge near the town centre.

Freight was carried upriver to Stirling's harbour until the 50s, perhaps early 60s, but since then the river has fallen into disuse, has remained undredged for years, and consequently silted up quite badly in places. There are also a couple of fords where farmers would drove their cattle across at low tide. Apart from from some kayakers, the main recreational users are rowers.

The local council is keen to see the river as a community asset, and was therefore delighted when a group of boaters decided to sail up to Stirling from Grangemouth. The initiative was, I believe, the brainchild of Ronnie Russack of the "Ratho Princess" and Chairman of the Seagull Trust that organises free canal cruising for people with special needs.

So when the day came, the flotilla's guests included Stirling's Provost and Chief Executive, the Mayor of Stirling in Ontario, and Campbell Christie, retired former general secretary of the STUC who served as a member of the board of British waterways.

I don't know if any of the cruisers visit this forum, but there are lots of unsorted pics here. For the most part they are unedited (sloping horizons etc), but if anyone wants a full size pic of their boat, please PM me with an appropriate email address.

Since regular commercial traffic more or less ceased, the swing bridge at Kincardine no longer opens. The new Clackmannanshire Bridge was recently built, and there is also a newish bridge at Taylorton farm near Stirling. With bridge clearances of 9m and 3.5m at the Kincardine, Clackmannanshire, and Taylorton bridges, no yachts can make the passage except those that can lower their masts. The is more river information at On The Forth.

There are a couple of fords, and on no account should boats attempt a passage when the water is low. Also, there are many loops and bend; the inner bends tend to be silted and OK for anchoring, but the outer bends tend to be stony, with some large boulders in places.

The Stirling Rowing Club and the Riverside Community Council hosted the event. It fairly livened up the river, and local people will certainly be pleased to see more visitors in the future.

 

[ebbtide]

Congrats - that's exactly what MoBos should be doing instead of blasting around at 30 knots upsetting raggies!

What's your next target?

 

[JKay]

Great piccies Thanks Sgeir


As to Maladjusted

[ QUOTE ]
Congrats - that's exactly what MoBos should be doing instead of blasting around at 30 knots upsetting raggies!

What's your next target?

[/ QUOTE ]

take your medication it'll make you feel a lot calmer and try to stop stirring /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[theforeman]

great pics. takes me back to my coxing days /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
who`s the seaforth highlander in the 4th pic ?

 

[Sgeir]

[ QUOTE ]
who`s the seaforth highlander in the 4th pic ?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's Fergus Wood on the right, Provost of Stirling and a farmer at Kinlochard. Incidentally, when you mention your coxing days, did you row on the Forth?

Just in response to Malaprop, /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, yes I am a raggie and forewent a weekend's sailing in The West just to see the cruise and experience the novelty of boats coming up the Forth in flotilla. They had great time by all accounts, although I believe that a couple may have touched the bottom in the Forth and also in the Carron.

The locals in Stirling's Riverside were pleased to see the river being used, and laid on a small welcome in the Rowing Club with a buffet and impromptu traditional music session in the afternoon. There were also a couple of local bands playing later on Saturday evening.

I'd guess most of the boat crews would be more used to canals rather than rivers and the sea, so perhaps the anchoring might have been a challenge; but they were up to it and appear to have managed well.

It was very encouraging to see the river being used in this way - these are great surroundings, with Ben Ledi and Ben Lomond looming in the west, there's the steep scarp of the Ochils, the ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey, burial site to many of the kings and queens of Scotland, and of course Stirling Castle overlooking the river and the anchorage. It's got great potential for recreational boaters imho. I hope we see them again.

Just a shame about the 3.5m clearance. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[theforeman]

i was a cox at the rowing club - too young to row although latterly i was allowed to take a skiff out. i lived round the corner from you in miller place then.

fergus certainly looks the part, doesn`t he /

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Now that looked fun. Used to canoe/dinghy round there when visiting relatives in Stirling and its a beautiful area.

 

[Barnacles]

Some cracking pictures here. The trip was really enjoyed by us all although you were right about 2 boats going aground in the Carron and one did not get off until lunchtime today.
One thing I would like to clear up is this trip was not the brainchild of Ronnie Rusack of "Ratho Princess" but was Phil Crozier of "Spirit of Glasgow" and Donald Boa who planned and organised the whole thing from start to finish with the help of Stirling Council, the Rowing Club and the Community Council.
This was my second visit up the river to Stirling, the last time being 4 years ago when I managed to stop for a short time between the road and pedestrian bridge before the tide changed and then we anchored overnight further down from the Rowing Club with our boat "Daddy-D-Cool".
"Spirit of Glasgow" has also been up twice and was the first passenger carring vessel to navagate up to Stirling 4 years ago.
All the boaters would like to thank the public for turning out to meet us and hope our trip will influence the powers that be to think about putting in some form of moorings for boats to secure to when visiting.
We will return!!!!

 

[Sgeir]

Thanks for the correction - I was guessing when I mentioned Ronnie. I do hope that there will be facilities installed - a pontoon at the old harbour should be fairly simple to organise, and I do think that the council is keen to increase river use.

We have had occasional visitors before, like the one below from a couple of years ago. I hope we see more in the future.

 

[Barnacles]

The boat in your picture is from Grangemoth and was supposed to be going up with us last weekend, I don't know why he never came but maybe he will next time. Thanks again for the great pictures and we look forward to our next trip up to Stirling and hopefully some pontoons!

 

[falkirkdan]

Had the opportunity to sail back down the Forth on Sunday on Ratho Princess thanks to Ronnie & Lisa. Was a great day and very interesting for someone used to sailing the Clyde. Glad there was no depth gauge as think I would have been wetting myself with the lack of water we had in the upper reaches and also the Carron. Due to having to wait for the tide to rise enough to clear a ford we were later in getting to the Carron than intended. This meant we did not manage to get all the way up to the sea lock and had to berth up at the pontoon at Grangemouth Sailing Club where we were given a warm welcome. Two boats ahead of us chanced going on the the sea lock and went aground as reported above. Unfortunately one damaged his steering and no doubt this was the reason it was still there the following morning.