agurney
Well-Known Member
Are you sure they weren't clegs?
Taking the boat to Scotland
- Thread starter Sans Bateau
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Are you sure they weren't clegs?
bastonjock
Well-Known Member
Last time that i was up at Oban sailing,there was talk of a flight being introduced from the Clyde to Kerrala marina using a aircraft that could take off and land on the water.
Dont let the midgephobes put you off,they are not a problem on the water,only on the land and only then during windless days,a mozzie coil will keep them out of any tent.caravan or boat
If you are going to loop around Mull just be aware of the swell that can come in from the Atlantic from the south west.
There are plenty of free anchorages that are well marked up,local cruisers often paint the rocks to give safe passage marks.
The food had improoved a lot too,the restaurant at croabh was excellent and so was the fresh sea food at Kerrala.Oban is also blessed with a large Supermarket for loading up with supplys
You will enjoy it,its still the most beautifull area for Sailing in the british Isles,the boat numbers are much fewer than down south,the water is generally crystal clear,its funny looking doen and seeing the bottom that is 20ft under your hull
Dont let the midgephobes put you off,they are not a problem on the water,only on the land and only then during windless days,a mozzie coil will keep them out of any tent.caravan or boat
If you are going to loop around Mull just be aware of the swell that can come in from the Atlantic from the south west.
There are plenty of free anchorages that are well marked up,local cruisers often paint the rocks to give safe passage marks.
The food had improoved a lot too,the restaurant at croabh was excellent and so was the fresh sea food at Kerrala.Oban is also blessed with a large Supermarket for loading up with supplys
You will enjoy it,its still the most beautifull area for Sailing in the british Isles,the boat numbers are much fewer than down south,the water is generally crystal clear,its funny looking doen and seeing the bottom that is 20ft under your hull
awol
Well-Known Member
Perhaps the stories of midges stripping horses to the bare bones in 10 minutes are a mite exaggerated but if you have the misfortune to be present when temperature and humidity have heightened the libido of the female midge, you may well believe.
Clegs - last year I was attacked by a herd of the beasties midway between Toward and Bute, probably at least a mile offshore and with no wind - luckily I had a tazer on board. And then there are the Lions Mane jeelies ready to attack a lazily trailing hand or foot and they are worse than Somali pirates when it comes to climbing on board via an anchor chain.
So the advice is don't anchor, only use marinas that are more than half a mile offshore and wear full NBC suits at all times. And make sure you load up with plenty of fuel - there are islands with pumps that will only sell to the locals.
Clegs - last year I was attacked by a herd of the beasties midway between Toward and Bute, probably at least a mile offshore and with no wind - luckily I had a tazer on board. And then there are the Lions Mane jeelies ready to attack a lazily trailing hand or foot and they are worse than Somali pirates when it comes to climbing on board via an anchor chain.
So the advice is don't anchor, only use marinas that are more than half a mile offshore and wear full NBC suits at all times. And make sure you load up with plenty of fuel - there are islands with pumps that will only sell to the locals.
Krusty
Well-Known Member
Galadriel: I can thoroughly recommend Arisaig for your purpose.
I adopted it as my base for Sea-school years ago, as the best 'centre' for 2-week cruises/courses AND for its transport links. Clients from the South and the continent could leave home, fly to Glasgow, train to Fort William and Arisaig and join the boat by 1630 the same day! .. and did so repeatedly.
The landlocked harbour is secure, the entry is limited on depth only for about 1.5 hrs either side of LW Springs (which occur mid-day), moorings are robust, the facilities are more than adequate, the proprietors (Arisaig Marine) most helpful: and the midges are nothing like as troublesome as some miserable folk on this forum make out!
By the way, my only connection with A.M. is as a customer for over twenty years.
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Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
I can honestly say that with the exception of berths in the canal I have never been troubled by midgies on the boat. I carry 20 fathoms of chain.
Indeed. I've noticed that prices have risen substantially since I last had a mooring at Crinan. The only merit I can usually see in marinas is that they suck the caravans up and away from the rest of us.
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Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
Loch Lomond Seaplanes fly from Glagow to Oban and will, I understand, land you just about anywhere you want. For a fee. http://www.lochlomondseaplanes.com
Incidentally, Kerrera is the island opposite Oban. Kerala is a state in the south of India. Kerrala doesn;t seem to exist.
bastonjock
Well-Known Member
with moorings costing 45 quid a year its not surprising that they are becoming scarce.
Ludd
Well-Known Member
FUEL BIT MISLEADING-----pumps are card operated,only fishermen have them. Be nice to the fishermen------
awol
Well-Known Member
But then how would you be able to pay the duty? And the fishermen may be disinclined to supply duty free pink to complete strangers.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Midges
Going to be interesting next year with all you guys in the boats with midge machines, flame throwers, mesh hoods etc. You might stand out a bit.
The only way to deal with midges is to avoid letting them see that they bother you, any violent response is a waste of time and only generates more of the CO2 that attracted them in the first place. After a few days of stoic suffering you will become (almost) immune, (long sleeved shirts are useful accessories)
Or you may swell up like a ballooon and have to take to your bed.
The traditional solution is keeping Avon in business up here, its called 'Skin So Soft' and has the side benefit of revealing your feminine side, not nearly as poncy as a midge hat though.
Just as sea sickness helps keeps the sea clear for sailors to use, midges keep the Highlands clear for Highlanders so don't knock them, you wouldn't want us to lose our quaint culture would you?
Going to be interesting next year with all you guys in the boats with midge machines, flame throwers, mesh hoods etc. You might stand out a bit.
The only way to deal with midges is to avoid letting them see that they bother you, any violent response is a waste of time and only generates more of the CO2 that attracted them in the first place. After a few days of stoic suffering you will become (almost) immune, (long sleeved shirts are useful accessories)
Or you may swell up like a ballooon and have to take to your bed.
The traditional solution is keeping Avon in business up here, its called 'Skin So Soft' and has the side benefit of revealing your feminine side, not nearly as poncy as a midge hat though.
Just as sea sickness helps keeps the sea clear for sailors to use, midges keep the Highlands clear for Highlanders so don't knock them, you wouldn't want us to lose our quaint culture would you?
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lenseman
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Danny Jo
Well-Known Member
The Scots have something to learn from the Irish and the Welsh here.
Come on guys, take a clover leaf out of the emerald sward: the Irish present an unwaveringly consistent picture of a storm-battered, rain-lashed island whose sailors only reach shelter by weaving via secret channels through countless uncharted rocks.
Or the Welsh, the true masters of disinformation: they have acquired an admirable reputation for xenophobia, maliciously switching from Saesneg y Cymraeg (English to Welsh) the moment an Englishman puts his head in through the pub door; burning holiday cottages; raping sheep; and locating ugly nuclear power stations, mammoth gas storage tanks and oil refineries on the shores of the best anchorages.
[Small print]
1. Freestyle takes no responsibility for death or serious injury sustained by those cruising Scottish waters after reading this post, whether by exsanguination by midges, cleggies or claymores; by poisoning by neaps, tatties or haggis; by drowning in a malt mash; by suffocation under kelp; or by the acute claustrophobia precipitated by the arrival of second boat at a previously deserted anchorage.
2. Contributors to this forum are not required to declare any conflicts of interest.
2. A conflict of interest may be assumed whenever contributors post unfavourable comments about sailing in their own puddles.
3. Readers should be aware of the modification of IRPCS Rule 30 that applies to Scottish waters: vessels of less than 20m length at anchor are required to display signal flag 'M' (a diagonal white cross on a blue ground) from a position superior to that of the Ensign. Although most yachtsmen seem to comply with this rule when at anchor, they don't generally bother about removing the 'M' flag when under way. (See also day shapes for fishing vessels not engaged in fishing.)
4. For technical reasons, the tongue-in-cheek smiley that appears on Scottish versions of Scuttlebutt is not visible on the international version.
5. This post is not to be used for navigation[/Small print]
Come on guys, take a clover leaf out of the emerald sward: the Irish present an unwaveringly consistent picture of a storm-battered, rain-lashed island whose sailors only reach shelter by weaving via secret channels through countless uncharted rocks.
Or the Welsh, the true masters of disinformation: they have acquired an admirable reputation for xenophobia, maliciously switching from Saesneg y Cymraeg (English to Welsh) the moment an Englishman puts his head in through the pub door; burning holiday cottages; raping sheep; and locating ugly nuclear power stations, mammoth gas storage tanks and oil refineries on the shores of the best anchorages.
[Small print]
1. Freestyle takes no responsibility for death or serious injury sustained by those cruising Scottish waters after reading this post, whether by exsanguination by midges, cleggies or claymores; by poisoning by neaps, tatties or haggis; by drowning in a malt mash; by suffocation under kelp; or by the acute claustrophobia precipitated by the arrival of second boat at a previously deserted anchorage.
2. Contributors to this forum are not required to declare any conflicts of interest.
2. A conflict of interest may be assumed whenever contributors post unfavourable comments about sailing in their own puddles.
3. Readers should be aware of the modification of IRPCS Rule 30 that applies to Scottish waters: vessels of less than 20m length at anchor are required to display signal flag 'M' (a diagonal white cross on a blue ground) from a position superior to that of the Ensign. Although most yachtsmen seem to comply with this rule when at anchor, they don't generally bother about removing the 'M' flag when under way. (See also day shapes for fishing vessels not engaged in fishing.)
4. For technical reasons, the tongue-in-cheek smiley that appears on Scottish versions of Scuttlebutt is not visible on the international version.
5. This post is not to be used for navigation[/Small print]
West Coast
Well-Known Member
Have used Kilmeldford Yacht Haven a lot over the years. Facilities are more basic than a marina but costs are much cheaper. They have sheltered moorings, loading pontoons with water, fuel and gas. Showers and washing machines are available. We often take the boat from our base in Troon to Loch Melfort over a weekend - and then use this as a starting point for trips and cruises for say 4 to 6 weeks. Travel from oban is about 30 mins by car.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
That was the one bit about west scotland that we didnt find true. Admittedly we went only up as far as Oban but we took our time, stopped in lots of tiny anchorages and never had one to ourselves. To the contrary, it was more crowded than some parts of the west country. Pretty, even sunny at times, but crowded.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Anchorages
The ones in the pilot books are more popular especially in poor weather, in settled conditions nearly any bay will do but in some you have to get very close inshore to reach the bottom. The value of the anchorages in the books is that they usually describe the bottom, mud, kelp etc. and have been tested. Since the marinas at Croabh and Kerrera opened some like Pulldobhrain are almost always full and best avoided because it seems that even in benign condition some guy will manage to drag. However Easdale, close by, is interesting and not nearly as popular perhaps because the pilot books make it sound tricky.
CCC pilots were first written when few boats had engines, used lead lines and everything was done under sail. With engines echo sounders etc. you go where you like with care but circle carefully around the chosen spot.
Anchored off a golden beach in Loch Ewe last summer we were astounded when a massive slab of rock emerged about 30' away. We had just missed it in our exploration.
The ones in the pilot books are more popular especially in poor weather, in settled conditions nearly any bay will do but in some you have to get very close inshore to reach the bottom. The value of the anchorages in the books is that they usually describe the bottom, mud, kelp etc. and have been tested. Since the marinas at Croabh and Kerrera opened some like Pulldobhrain are almost always full and best avoided because it seems that even in benign condition some guy will manage to drag. However Easdale, close by, is interesting and not nearly as popular perhaps because the pilot books make it sound tricky.
CCC pilots were first written when few boats had engines, used lead lines and everything was done under sail. With engines echo sounders etc. you go where you like with care but circle carefully around the chosen spot.
Anchored off a golden beach in Loch Ewe last summer we were astounded when a massive slab of rock emerged about 30' away. We had just missed it in our exploration.
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
The trick is to use spots which are in the old CCC books but aren't in the new ones. Far too many floating caravanners around these days who need their hands held all the time. That and Solent sailors who have come north to get away from the crowds and find it's too scary.
Fascadale
Well-Known Member
Places tend to be a bit more on the quiet side North and West of Ardnamurchan Point.
Bosun Higgs
N/A
We didnt have either so just picked likely spots off the charts.
Not quite sure what you're getting at here! We're not Solent sailors and would only need you to hold our hands if you had big knockers and an obliging disposition. Do you?
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
Not quite sure what you're getting at here! We're not Solent sailors and would only need you to hold our hands if you had big knockers and an obliging disposition. Do you?
I refuse to answer that question.
And no, nothing personal intended. The herds get a bit wearying, that's all, but by studying the pilot books one can guess where they'll go and then go somewhere else ...
puddock
Well-Known Member
"Pulldobhrain" is apparently Gaelic for Asda carpark on the little water by the pub
