The Lost Cruise

[webcraft]

Finally got off the mooring at 2 o'clock Saturday after a hectic 45 minute row out with ten minutes hanging onto a fishing boat for grim death to recuperate before the final onslaught . . .

And so off in search of Claymore and Jimi . . . down to Craighouse, that being the only logical destination given the weather, tides et al - but we were the only boat in. Tried mobile comms and Channel 16, but to no avail.

Yesterday down to Port Ellen via the Ardmore Islands to check out the new marina - still no sign of the elusive mariners.

Today we looked at the forecast, took into account the fact that we have friends coming tomorrow and so set off home. We had a stonking* run back to Balvicar (50nm) in exactly 10 hours, all under sail rather than a cloud of smoke in spite of a dearth of wind as far as Ardmore and two hours battling against the tide from Barnhill to the bottom of Luing. We saw some boats in Craighouse as we flew past, but were too far offshore to identify them - was that the Cruise for Distressed Gentlefolk, prop. Claymore?

Sorry to have missed you all, next time we'll find youse wherever you're hiding.

- Nick

*stonk, verb - to go like excrement off a shovelling implement[/b]

PASSAGE NOTES

- Beer in the Craighouse Hotel still only £2.00 per pint - the Murphys is excellent

- Port Ellen Marina devoid of toilet facilities, security gate non-functional, so a bit pricy at £12 or £14

- New Indian restaurant in Port Ellen is excellent - cheap, delicious and take your own booze




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[Davy_S]

Hi Nick.
I really think its about time you broke open the kids piggy bank and bought yourself an outboard motor. You know it makes sense. It has made me quite tired reading your rowing exploits, and I need my energy the Vega goes in tomorrow /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[webcraft]

You're right Davy - although I'm sure the exercise is good for me . . .

The hard dinghy we use to get to and from the mooring is so small however that it needs to be a really tiny outboard. There is a man here who might have a Yam 2HP so SWMBO will be chatting him up next time we see him down the pub.

On that topic, I would like to give aforesaid cockleshell more buoyancy with a (say 6" dia) inflatable tube running round the gunwhale minus the transom - has anyone done this or got any ideas?

No word yet of the Lost Cruise, but no doubt all will be revealed tomorrow. Weather is better than expected here today, so hopefuly they are enjoying a good run home from wherever they went.

Good luck with Domingo's launch and have a great season. If you fancy a trip up here you are cordially invited to the 2nd Scottish Vega Gathering on August bank holiday weekend - PM me for details if you are interested.

- Nick




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[Talbot]

The inflatable tube around the outside has been done before, and IIRC there was an article on PBO about one such mod a fair few years ago.

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[Davy_S]

There is a possibility of cruising your neck of the woods in July, as we have a couple of weeks off then. We shall see where the wind takes us. Then we have to decide what happens next, as we are hopefully clearing off to Greece for good.
So this summer could be our last season here if all goes to plan.

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[claymore]

We'd a grand time of it.
Carsaig for the International Single Oar disappear up yer own arse circular dinghy rowing event
Tayvallich for the reverse anchoring onto a private mooring mixed crews come all ye
Gigha for the Oh bugger I've slept in early starter breakfast and arn't these small holes on the top of the moorings gala
Craighouse for the Bollocks the distillery's shut seminar
and finally Croabh for the Claymore sideways downwind berthing spectacular and the Pipers Gold Lavvie Dash.

Really good weather - some Jessies had an Eberspacher which should be a warning to all of the perils of living too long in the south
Brilliant company
Annual Event

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[webcraft]

Sorry we missed youse . . .

Book us in for next year, we'll have an outboard by then!

- Nick



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