awol
Well-Known Member
Can anyone give me a link to the "Lakesailoring" rules?
Positioning Clyde to Oban- is this a sensible plan?
- Thread starter Boeingdr
- Start date
1114C
Well-Known Member
lots of replies already so this might not add much but just in case here is mine, we did the same thing last year and best thing we have done, Clyde was good but the west coast is so much better for us
we went from clyde to cairnbaan in one day, if you can get through the first four locks before the canal closes then you can do the 2 or 3 miles that follow in your own time to get before the road bridge at cairnbaan for night (and that gives you a nice pub when staying over!) (we left Kip at around 0600 to make that happen for us)
next day we went from cairnbaan to craobh easily - 4 or 5 people are ideal for the canal, we got in to a system of two on the boat, two doing the lock gates and one going ahead and opening the next set of lock gates or at least getting the water at the right level (assuming no one coming the other way) - the worst position to be in is not to meet someone coming the other way but to be behind someone going in front of you as you have to drain or raise the water each time
from craobh we went to appin the next day but not through Cuan but up the sound of luing - just gorgeous!
have a great time, hope the sun shines and the wind comes from a good direction!
we went from clyde to cairnbaan in one day, if you can get through the first four locks before the canal closes then you can do the 2 or 3 miles that follow in your own time to get before the road bridge at cairnbaan for night (and that gives you a nice pub when staying over!) (we left Kip at around 0600 to make that happen for us)
next day we went from cairnbaan to craobh easily - 4 or 5 people are ideal for the canal, we got in to a system of two on the boat, two doing the lock gates and one going ahead and opening the next set of lock gates or at least getting the water at the right level (assuming no one coming the other way) - the worst position to be in is not to meet someone coming the other way but to be behind someone going in front of you as you have to drain or raise the water each time
from craobh we went to appin the next day but not through Cuan but up the sound of luing - just gorgeous!
have a great time, hope the sun shines and the wind comes from a good direction!
Goldie
Well-Known Member
I agree with AWOL. Unless you actually WANT to do the Crinan - which is very nice - I'd be tempted to go around the M of K if the weather is settled. I don't know where in the Clyde you are, but if Troon, it's an easy first stage to say Sanda or Campbeltown. Once around the Mull, there's a lot of flexibility and you're largely constrained by whether you want to push on or not, rather than canal times - at least until the Sound of Luing. Either way, it should be a fabulous trip - enjoy it.
rhumlady
Well-Known Member
The first time prior to going round the Mull we got talking to the lifeboat crew in Campbelltown and asked for advise. "Go in close to the Mull and you will be fine" they said. "How close is close enough?" asks I. "You will chicken out before you are too close" they said. So I followed the advise and sure enough I chickened out with plenty of depth under the Keel.
starboard
Well-Known Member
If the conditions are right you should be close enough in to step ashore.....for me the M of K everytime weather permiting......what ever have a great trip and enjoy.
Paul.
Paul.
mcframe
Well-Known Member
DaveS
Well-Known Member
Just adding to others...
I would tend to agree re. MoK / CC: unless the weather's foul, MoK is probably the better (and certainly cheaper) bet. I've twice stopped off at Sanda in N'lys, and each time used the "popular" anchorage which was uncomfortable, but tolerable in a 4/5. There is also a southerly anchorage which, although giving a longer walk to the pub, is apparently much more sheltered in such conditions.
I would tend to recommend the Sd of Luing rather than Cuan for a first visit, but if you do opt for the latter - which can, indeed, be entertaining - then, as Silkie says, the real danger is not the (visible) Cleit but the hidden buggers to the N.
For a berth close to Oban for crew exchange, etc. I would recommend Oban Marina, which is actually on Kerrera, but has a free hourly taxi service over to Oban.
I would tend to agree re. MoK / CC: unless the weather's foul, MoK is probably the better (and certainly cheaper) bet. I've twice stopped off at Sanda in N'lys, and each time used the "popular" anchorage which was uncomfortable, but tolerable in a 4/5. There is also a southerly anchorage which, although giving a longer walk to the pub, is apparently much more sheltered in such conditions.
I would tend to recommend the Sd of Luing rather than Cuan for a first visit, but if you do opt for the latter - which can, indeed, be entertaining - then, as Silkie says, the real danger is not the (visible) Cleit but the hidden buggers to the N.
For a berth close to Oban for crew exchange, etc. I would recommend Oban Marina, which is actually on Kerrera, but has a free hourly taxi service over to Oban.
Sam_Steele
Well-Known Member
If you are short handed going through the canal, then you can arrange for someone to help you at the sea lock. In 2006, it cost us £40. The best £40 we've spent. Hugh (ex lock keeper) was there at every lock and opened it in advance, took mooring ropes, opened the locks to let us out and closed the lock behind us. You just need to contact the sea lock in advance to organise it. You also get lots of info about the canal at the same time. With the exception of the sea locks and 1 bridge all are operated by hand - so it is quite hard work if you are on your own. If you are wanting to stop in a nice place away from the crowds then there is a staging at Bellanoch bridge - just be warned about the midges though.
Regards
Sam
Author UK and Ireland Circumnavigator's Guide
www.ituna.info
Regards
Sam
Author UK and Ireland Circumnavigator's Guide
www.ituna.info
Rowana
Two steps lower than the ships' cat
I bought Rowana on the Clyde and then sailed her back to Peterhead.
The relevant parts to yourself went -
Day 1 - Ardrossan to Ardrishaig.
Day 2 - Transit Crinan canal and on to Ardfern.
Day 3 - Ardfern, through Dorus Mhor, sound of Luing, to Dunstaffnage.
Day 4 - Dunstaffnage to Corpach
Then 2 days through Cale Canal, Burghead, Whitehills and Peterhead.
This was my first trip with my own boat, although I'd had a few thousand miles as crew on other boats. Apart from a leak from the log impeller which necessitated drying out alongside in Burghead for a tide, it all went reasonably well.
The relevant parts to yourself went -
Day 1 - Ardrossan to Ardrishaig.
Day 2 - Transit Crinan canal and on to Ardfern.
Day 3 - Ardfern, through Dorus Mhor, sound of Luing, to Dunstaffnage.
Day 4 - Dunstaffnage to Corpach
Then 2 days through Cale Canal, Burghead, Whitehills and Peterhead.
This was my first trip with my own boat, although I'd had a few thousand miles as crew on other boats. Apart from a leak from the log impeller which necessitated drying out alongside in Burghead for a tide, it all went reasonably well.
webcraft
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I would tend to recommend the Sd of Luing rather than Cuan for a first visit, but if you do opt for the latter - which can, indeed, be entertaining - then, as Silkie says, the real danger is not the (visible) Cleit but the hidden buggers to the N.
[/ QUOTE ] Agree - Sound of Luing is a much less stressful first time passage, esp. if the vis isn't ideal. If you are coming from Craobh Cuan is is a bit quicker, but what's the hurry? If you do go through Cuan then I think Silkie's 50m N of Cleit is probably a maximum, especially if it is near LW. That thing you have read about the tide taking you onto the Cleit only really applies on the ebb , and its not that bad anyway. DO have the engine ticking over in neutral if attempting to sail through Cuan - things can happen fairly quickly.
- W
I would tend to recommend the Sd of Luing rather than Cuan for a first visit, but if you do opt for the latter - which can, indeed, be entertaining - then, as Silkie says, the real danger is not the (visible) Cleit but the hidden buggers to the N.
[/ QUOTE ] Agree - Sound of Luing is a much less stressful first time passage, esp. if the vis isn't ideal. If you are coming from Craobh Cuan is is a bit quicker, but what's the hurry? If you do go through Cuan then I think Silkie's 50m N of Cleit is probably a maximum, especially if it is near LW. That thing you have read about the tide taking you onto the Cleit only really applies on the ebb , and its not that bad anyway. DO have the engine ticking over in neutral if attempting to sail through Cuan - things can happen fairly quickly.
- W