Skye's the Limit - two serious questions

[longjohnsadler]

Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Am sailing up to Skye in June and intend to leave the boat there for a week or two and sail it back later. Anybody know somewhere safe to leave it?
Am also tempted to stuff work for six weeks or so (self-employed) and stay there, risking upset of clients and cash flow. Is this a mid-life crisis and will I regret it?

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[scarlett]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

There is a nearly empty drying harbour on Skye, opposite Kyle that looked inviting from the land in November. Also half a dozen empty mooring bouys to encourge visiting the area. I am not sure they would appreciate you leaving your boat in the season but you could ask.

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[whisper]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Pontoon at Kyleakin is very sheltered, don't know about availability though and security. The vis. buoys off the village can be very uncomfortable in W'ly-N W'ly and E'ly blows.
We've happily survived a force 8 at anchor at Isleoronsay.
Suggest you do a search for Sail Scotland and get them to send you their excellent booklet on places to moor etc.
I'm envious.

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[TFJ]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

John
We are going to Skye in June (for a month I hope) will try and find you, send me a message when you know what your doing
Terry

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[paulrossall]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Without a doubt stuff work for as long as you can and enjoy yourself. I have heard of loads of folk who put off doing something out of the ordinary and who are then too infirm to do so or they kark it unexpectidly. I recon you nedd to live for today.IMHO. Paul

<hr width=100% size=1>" there is nothing-absolutely nothing-half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats".

 

[webcraft]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Pontoons at Kyleakin are probably the best place to leave the boat for a couple of weeks if there is space. The pontoon is looked after by the Harbourmaster at Kyle of Lochalsh (or was a couple of years ago). Tel. 01599 534167

The other possibility if you want to leave a boat is Isle of SKye Yachts, who have visitors moorings. They are based at Armadale. More details on their website <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.skyeyachts.co.uk/home.html>http://www.skyeyachts.co.uk/home.html</A>

BlueMoment's West Coast Moorings page may also be useful: <font size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bluemoment.com>http://www.bluemoment.com</font size=1>

 

[whisper]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

I've chartered from there - the moorings are rather exposed IMHO for a long unattended stay.

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[webcraft]

Re: Armadale moorings - exposed??

Hardly unattended . . . IOS Yachts will keep an eye on your boat if you are on one of their moorings . . . and I would happily leave a boat there at any time in the Summer months. I'm not talking about the blue visitors moorings - I'm talking about IOS Yachts' moorings - safe as houses in season.

- Nick



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[jleaworthy]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

If you are interested in the west side of Skye I would recommend Loch Harport where my own boat is moored. It is very safe and well sheltered. There are visitors buoys at Carbost (off Talisker distillery) but there is also excellent holding if you wish to lay to your own anchor. I would be happy to keep an eye on your boat if you wanted to leave it here for a week or two.

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[starboard]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

If you are returning home for a while why not consider leaving the boat at Arisaig on the mainland, a couple of hours sail will see you on Skye. Arisaig Marine are well organised with good moorings, landing pontoon/water/fuel etc. An easy place to enter now with all the hazards well marked with port/stbd posts...unlike the old days!!! Arisaig on good rail line to Fort William then good train service to Glasgow and Prestwick airport then 99 pence Ryanair flight back home to Ireland. If you make it to Skye take time to visit the Isle of Soay that lies a couple of miles south under the watchful eye of the Cuillin mountains. my thumb print photo was taken at anchor there June 2002 as we sheltered 3 days from a Force11..so beware June can be hairy on the West Coast!!!

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[whisper]

Re: Armadale moorings - exposed??

It's not that clever when you've got a strong N.Easterly blowing - can get very lumpy. Otherwise I agree, the inner moorings in particular are sheltered from the prevailing wind and I was forgetting I.O.S. Yachts would hopefully be checking his boat. Would prefer L.Harport, Isleornsay and Kyleakin pontoon for shelter though.
Strangely enough I've never been up to the W.Coast when there was any steady S.Westerly blowing. Possibly due to the fact that we only seem to go there for a week at a time.
What's it like on the N.Coast of Skye - I've never stopped up there ?

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by whisper on 05/04/2004 09:33 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Rich_F]

Classic Malt

Re: Loch Harport

Be aware that if you're in Loch Harport in late July, you'll be descended upon by the massed ranks of the Classic Malts cruise, myself among them.

Is anybody else from the forum doing it this year?

Rich

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[ParaHandy]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Portree? i sailed a dinghy some years ago there and i remember having to weave in and out of many moored yachts and motor boats ... absolutely wonderful place and i see bluemoment's notes there are ex-HIDB moorings available ... worth a try?

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[webcraft]

Re: N. Coast of Skye

Spent a day in Stein last year - free visitors moorings - then went round to Dunvegan for a couple of days, again on free visitors moorings. Stein in particular is attractive in good weather, with an excellent pub, while Dunvegan is good for supplies and has an interesting model ship display in the local cafe.

Stein is also rather exposed when the weather is crap . . . which of course it often is . . . but it's a good departure point for the Hebs. We took four hours mooring to mooring from Lochmaddy last August.

Another interesting anchorage is at Duntulm right up on the NW corner - more sheltered than it looks, but a longish trip ashore to the pub.

Here's a pic from a few years ago:

- you can just see the wee Cobra 750 we'd chartered beside the island.

- Nick

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bluemoment.com>http://www.bluemoment.com</A></font size=1>

 

[whisper]

Re: N. Coast of Skye

Great photo, thanks.

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[longjohnsadler]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Thanks for all the info.

Now spoilt for choice.

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[macd]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Stuff work and say there. If you don't you'll only worry about the boat, however tucked up it might be.
Soay is as enchanting the post suggests, but if you go there be sure to have plenty of midge repellant (or, I'm told, plenty of vitamin B6 in your system, freely available in Guinness). The inlet's too narrow to get away from the wee bitches, and once the tide begin to falls, you're in for the duration.

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[macd]

Re: Skye\'s the Limit - two serious questions

Stuff work and say there. If you don't you'll only worry about the boat, however tucked up it might be.
Soay is as enchanting as the post suggests, but if you go there be sure to have plenty of midge repellant (or, I'm told, plenty of vitamin B6 in your system, freely available in Guinness). The inlet's too narrow to get away from the wee bitches, and once the tide begin to falls, you're in for the duration.

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