Passage from Scotland to Glenarm

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paddler

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We plan to sail to Glenarm from Islay, arriving at the Kintyre 'edge' of the TSS at HW Dover -5 then SW to the Irish coast and down to Glenarm before heading further south later. Any detailed information in the pilots refers to a northerly passage. Would welcome any advice about this trip from north to south. We haven't sailed in this area previously so local knowledge would be a great help.
 
paddler said:
We plan to sail to Glenarm from Islay, arriving at the Kintyre 'edge' of the TSS at HW Dover -5 then SW to the Irish coast and down to Glenarm before heading further south later. Any detailed information in the pilots refers to a northerly passage. Would welcome any advice about this trip from north to south. We haven't sailed in this area previously so local knowledge would be a great help.
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Relatively straightforward. The north channel can be bumpy around springs and the weather sometimes seems to be more vibrant just as you pass the Mull of Kintyre. Easy access to Glenarm and a helpful harbour master.
 
dgadee said:
Relatively straightforward. The north channel can be bumpy around springs and the weather sometimes seems to be more vibrant just as you pass the Mull of Kintyre. Easy access to Glenarm and a helpful harbour master.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the prompt response. 'Vibrant' paints an interesting picture.
 
If setting sail from Port Ellen I think I'd prefer to visit Rathlin, arriving towards the end of the East going tide around the west side of the island, then set out again at the start of the next convenient tide going S. It's easy to get down to Belfast Lough on that tide.

Rathlin is a wonderful place to visit IMO.
 
We have just done the reverse for the start of our cruise. Glenarm is our home port. We went from Glenarm to Craighouse. From port Ellen it is fine and you will do it in no time with the tide. Don't go too close to rathlin and avoid the rip tides ( shouldn't be hard) also depending on the sea state you can get some rips off the headlands. No problems but you can judge as you go whether to hug the coast or sit a bit further off depending on what the chef is cooking down below! Glenarm is lovely and easy to access from the north. The fish farm is on the S and E part of the bay and you should head inside it. The marina is sheltered but can get a bit of a surge in bad weather with a NE wind. There are a couple of pubs, a shop and a fish and chip van. Reasonable food can be had in Carnlough 3m up the road but the harbour is less suitable for yachts unless you enter at a reasonable state of tide and don't mind tying up against the wall. The harbour master (billy) is good and will help out if needed. Have fun.
 
Pmagowan - what's the depth like in the entrance of Glenarm? When we were last there a couple of years back seemed very little water under our 2m keel at low water springs when going in - though fine inside.
Was I just imagining this
 
Thanks All for the information - much appreciated. Hope we have kinder weather than that shown in parts of the video.
 
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