G
Guest
Guest
By special request from HLB
I have had an e-mail from Haydn requesting that I come out of my boating retirement to sort out this delivery trip. As some of you will know, I was based at Kip for many years and have extensive Clyde/West of Scotland/Irish experience. I have not been contributing a lot because I have now gone about 18 months boatless (the first in 20 odd years) and, to be honest, I am not missing the marina fees, repair bills, fuel bills, antifouling, insurance and worrying about whether the EU were going abolish red diesel. On the other hand, I still get the nautical pangs now and again.
I have not been contributing really because, I feel a bit of a fraud talking about boats when I don't have one (for now anyway!)
OK, turning now to the actual trip from Coleraine to the Clyde, its a bit more than 80 miles but I won't split hairs over ten miles here or there. It could be longer, depending on the wind direction and diversions. If the wind is actually or forecast southerly or south westerly or points in between with any strength (4/5 or above) at any time during your projected journey time, don't do it. In a 38 ton boat it may be better than in my former 8 ton Birchwood but its still going to be unpleasant at least and maybe even dangerous. Probably OK in a Westerly short of a gale (giving you a following sea). Northerly will be uncomfortable initially but ease as you come into the lee of the Scottish coast. Easterly won't affect you much at all except perhaps rounding the MUll of Kintyre. The North Channel is a horrible tip of a funnel so if the wind has any South in it at all, it piles up all the way up the Irish sea into what is quite a narrow gap making for enormous seas.
As to route, use Campbeltown which is a safe enclosed harbour in any weather as a primary bolt hole. You are only talking circa 20 miles from Coleraine. If the weather is settled, you can do the trip in one leg easily. The boat looks like displacement speeds so maybe 8/9 knots = 10 Hours. If the wind is in the West, turn left at the Mull of Kintyre and go up the Kilbrannan sound between Arran and the Mull of Kintyre and thereafter via Tignabruaich through the Kyles of Bute. Actually, you might want to go this way anyway as it is the most scenic if the weather is kind. At the Rothesay exit, you only have about ten miles left to Kip. Again, if the wind is Southerly or South Westerly that leg can be interesting but only uncomfortable in a 38 tonner in anything up to a gale. Having said that, the other day the 600 ton Rothsay Wemyss Bay Ferry Service had to be suspended!
So, in short, it can be done in December/January but
a) Get a good weather window
b) Make sure you have confidence in the boat - the North Channel is no place to break down although there is a handy lifeboat in Campeltown.
Finally, if you are approaching Kip in the dark, take care as the entrance is quite narrow and involves a 90 degree turn very close to the shore. The channel is not illuminated except by one miserable little flashing green buoy which is very difficult to pick out because of background street lights, etc. I would advise locating the chimney at Wemyss Bay power station which in most weathers (other than heavy rain or mist) is visible for miles. Immediately below that there is a pier. Locate that and then run at 005 degrees magnetic from there, parallel to the shore for about a mile and then you should be close enough to see the buoy marking the entrance. Much more than a mile and you've missed it and watch out then for the south facing beach just West of the entrance.
If you need any more help let me know. I'll send you my contact details.
Nick
I have had an e-mail from Haydn requesting that I come out of my boating retirement to sort out this delivery trip. As some of you will know, I was based at Kip for many years and have extensive Clyde/West of Scotland/Irish experience. I have not been contributing a lot because I have now gone about 18 months boatless (the first in 20 odd years) and, to be honest, I am not missing the marina fees, repair bills, fuel bills, antifouling, insurance and worrying about whether the EU were going abolish red diesel. On the other hand, I still get the nautical pangs now and again.
I have not been contributing really because, I feel a bit of a fraud talking about boats when I don't have one (for now anyway!)
OK, turning now to the actual trip from Coleraine to the Clyde, its a bit more than 80 miles but I won't split hairs over ten miles here or there. It could be longer, depending on the wind direction and diversions. If the wind is actually or forecast southerly or south westerly or points in between with any strength (4/5 or above) at any time during your projected journey time, don't do it. In a 38 ton boat it may be better than in my former 8 ton Birchwood but its still going to be unpleasant at least and maybe even dangerous. Probably OK in a Westerly short of a gale (giving you a following sea). Northerly will be uncomfortable initially but ease as you come into the lee of the Scottish coast. Easterly won't affect you much at all except perhaps rounding the MUll of Kintyre. The North Channel is a horrible tip of a funnel so if the wind has any South in it at all, it piles up all the way up the Irish sea into what is quite a narrow gap making for enormous seas.
As to route, use Campbeltown which is a safe enclosed harbour in any weather as a primary bolt hole. You are only talking circa 20 miles from Coleraine. If the weather is settled, you can do the trip in one leg easily. The boat looks like displacement speeds so maybe 8/9 knots = 10 Hours. If the wind is in the West, turn left at the Mull of Kintyre and go up the Kilbrannan sound between Arran and the Mull of Kintyre and thereafter via Tignabruaich through the Kyles of Bute. Actually, you might want to go this way anyway as it is the most scenic if the weather is kind. At the Rothesay exit, you only have about ten miles left to Kip. Again, if the wind is Southerly or South Westerly that leg can be interesting but only uncomfortable in a 38 tonner in anything up to a gale. Having said that, the other day the 600 ton Rothsay Wemyss Bay Ferry Service had to be suspended!
So, in short, it can be done in December/January but
a) Get a good weather window
b) Make sure you have confidence in the boat - the North Channel is no place to break down although there is a handy lifeboat in Campeltown.
Finally, if you are approaching Kip in the dark, take care as the entrance is quite narrow and involves a 90 degree turn very close to the shore. The channel is not illuminated except by one miserable little flashing green buoy which is very difficult to pick out because of background street lights, etc. I would advise locating the chimney at Wemyss Bay power station which in most weathers (other than heavy rain or mist) is visible for miles. Immediately below that there is a pier. Locate that and then run at 005 degrees magnetic from there, parallel to the shore for about a mile and then you should be close enough to see the buoy marking the entrance. Much more than a mile and you've missed it and watch out then for the south facing beach just West of the entrance.
If you need any more help let me know. I'll send you my contact details.
Nick
