New boat and need a place to stay

ColleyV8

ColleyV8

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Had a look around the forum, tried searching and there is so much info on here.

I have just bought a Hunter 701 and will be bringing her up to Scotland. I live in Fife but I am considering putting in the west coast, either the sea lochs or Lomond

I have seen information about getting a club membership and a swing mooring, is there an easy way to do this, I didn't spend too much on the boat and want to minimise mooring fees so Marina are almost out of the question.

Which would be the nearest swing mooring to Dunfermline on the west coast and can you buy them outright?

Sorry for all the questions but will try to get the hang of the forum soon

Cheers Steve
 
This got a bit lost in the ether of approving first posts, another quick question would be, what length legs would it be to sail it from Pwhelli to West Scotland (Clyde)?

Am i right in presuming it is 12 hours to Isle of Man ,12 hours to Borders and about 12 more to the Clyde.

Cheers Steve
 
ColleyV8 said:
This got a bit lost in the ether of approving first posts, another quick question would be, what length legs would it be to sail it from Pwhelli to West Scotland (Clyde)?

Am i right in presuming it is 12 hours to Isle of Man ,12 hours to Borders and about 12 more to the Clyde.

Cheers Steve
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More than that. It's about 220 Nm. Even if you could average 5 knots, which is quite a bit for a small boat, it's still almost 48 hours. There are some tide gates as well where you will make little progress if it is against you - Bardsey area, Holyhead, and most difficult of all, the North Channel (not because it is the strongest, that's Bardsey, but because it goes on for miles and miles). Even in my trimaran, which doesn't hang about, I usually wait for a favourable tide in the North Channel.
 
If you mean the West Coast rather than the Clyde it is occasionally possible to buy moorings in places like Oban, but many people organise to have a new one put down, many places like Crinan etc. are now full but last time I heard there was room at Achamara opposite Tavyallich but that is right up Loch Sween a long way from anywhere interesting.
I suggest you might rent a mooring from someone like Linnhe Marine or Loch Creran for a season while you look around for a place that you can afford and that suits you great sailing in sheltered water around there. The number of boats on moorings up Loch Feochan this year with its awful entrance must indicate that it is getting hard to find a good spot. If you buy a mooring in a place you do not know you are stuck with selling it and moving. I would suspect you might soon get bored in Loch Lomond.
BTW I do know of a mooring for sale (not by me) but it is in Loch Gilp at Ardrishaig half way up Loch Fyne, it is outside the boat club mooring area so there should not be a residency condition. But you would enjoy the West Coast much more.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
More than that. It's about 220 Nm. Even if you could average 5 knots, which is quite a bit for a small boat, it's still almost 48 hours. There are some tide gates as well where you will make little progress if it is against you - Bardsey area, Holyhead, and most difficult of all, the North Channel (not because it is the strongest, that's Bardsey, but because it goes on for miles and miles). Even in my trimaran, which doesn't hang about, I usually wait for a favourable tide in the North Channel.
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Thanks Angus, I will be asking informed opinion at Pwhelli when I go there, would like to take the chance to learn a new boat with a competent skipper if I could hire one. Mostly had power boat experience.

The mooring in Loch Gilp looks promising, don't mind renting a mooring for a season. Was looking at Carrick Castle if anyone has any experience of there.
 
Will be there next Saturday, leaving Fife about 7ish so should be late morning, boat is at partington marine, would like to meet up if possible

Cheers Steve
 
Late morning? as I remember it it would be more like mid afternoon and when I used to do it the boys in blue were not as fussy about speed limits.
Unless you have a lot of spare time sailing up to the West coast might not be the easiest way to move this small boat in what can be a nasty piece of water and with the bolt holes not the easiest to negotiate.
A good number of years ago I assisted in bringing a 35' vessel from Bangor to the Clyde at this time of year, ended up spending four nights in Douglas then another three nights in Strangford because of weather and then over two days from Strangford to Dumbarton as the engine turned out to be unreliable and light winds.
The north channel is not the place to be especially when it is wind over tide.
It is not impossible but I would suggest experienced crew, a well found boat and no time restriction!
 
Thanks for all the advice, will be collecting on a trailer then.

About 6 hours drive, forgot what welsh roads are like so a 5am start I think

The recent PBO article of the single handed round Britain in a 17 footer made the trip up the Irish sea seem easier than it must be.

Oh well, live and learn.
 
Grajan said:
Unless you have a lot of spare time sailing up to the West coast might not be the easiest way to move this small boat in what can be a nasty piece of water and with the bolt holes not the easiest to negotiate.
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I do this trip frequently, and I agree. I got stuck in Stranraer for 10 days coming south in October once - just couldn't make it down the North Channel. When I finally escaped it was on a grumpy day and I blew out my main.
 
I first started crossing the N. Channel in an Achilles 24 with the wife and weans and never found it that frightening for very long in summer, but then sailors were tougher in them old days. I think the mistake is the east coast route via Portpatrick/ Stranraer with its wind over tide and long fetch instead of heading from the Isle of Man towards Belfast Lough. However while this route is fine for the West Coast via Gigha, or Loch Fyne via Campbeltown, it is a long diversion for Troon or Largs. Strangford Lough is not a bolt hole, some yachts that are kept there have never got out of it, nice in reasonable weather though.
If you are seriously interested in renting or buying a mooring in Loch Gilp PM me, but please, check that you really want to come here, look at where it is and how to get here by road. Day sailing destinations from here are places like the Oystercatcher, Tarbert, Inveraray, Loch Ranza. Weekends you can get to Campbeltown, Lamlash or Brodick, Kyles of Bute, Rothesay or the Clyde marinas if you like that sort of place. Fairly tide free unlike the west coast but not nearly as much choice, shelter is much the same, you get a big chop in Loch Fyne in force 6 southerlies. The nearest racing is occasionally at Tarbert.
I have wasted a bit of time and used up some goodwill locally trying to set this up for forumites before, so please, think about it carefully first.
 
Well boat is finalised now and nearly decided on a place to stay, looked at a few today and will be going for a pontoon berth to start with so boat gets used more, and swmbo can get on and off easier.

Really like the look of Dunoon, Holy Loch marina, has anyone any comments about this place, it was either that or Ardlui on Loch Lomond but would prefer sea bound.

All comments welcome
 
I would steer clear of Loch Lomond. It is poorly charted, anchoring is difficult as it is mostly boulders in the shallows and the winds funnelling down the loch can be quite dramatic to say nothing of the jet skis and speed boats buzzing round. Have you considered the Clyde. I live near Stirling and keep my boat at DRB Marine at Rosneath. The yard is very helpful and it only takes about 90 minutes to get there.
 
Looked at their website before heading off, they only have swing moorings, I am looking for pontoon for this 12 months, may consider swing after that. Thanks for the reply.
 
It's a long way from your base, but why not come up here (Loch Ewe, Gairloch rtc). Reasonable prices, pleny of space, GREAT SAILING, friendly un-stuffy sailors/locals, magic scenery.
By the time you've negotiated A86, Rest 'n' Be Thankful (when it's not closed), all the back roads you can be up here, breathing the best.
Just a thought.
Good luck
 
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