TJAGAIN
Well-Known Member
we are planning to take a boat from kirkudbright to tobemory on mull,has anyone done this and if so what sort of time do you think i would need to make the sail ,all views welcome
trip to mull
- Thread starter TJAGAIN
- Start date
Rowana
Two steps lower than the ships' cat
How long have you got ??
The important thing is not to rush it !
Enjoy some of the best sailing around.
The important thing is not to rush it !
Enjoy some of the best sailing around.
Bergman
Well-Known Member
Absolutely right
I'd say about 5 years if you work it right.
I'd say about 5 years if you work it right.
[448]
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I,ve done this many times from Isle of Whithorn. The leisurely way is 1st leg to Larne, about 60 miles for you. You could go to Portpatrick, but this could cause problems off Kintyre later. Next leg to Gigha, about 50 miles. Next leg to Ardfern where you can replenish fuel etc., or Crinan, about 30 miles. Last leg to Tobermory via Sound of Luing. I wouldn't go via the Crinan Canal. You will need to pay attention to tides unless you can make 10 knots, or have a lot of time.
Cheers, Dave
Cheers, Dave
bilbobaggins
N/A
Lots of folk have sailed that route - in sections or all-together - regularly. Certainly the Vikings did, over 1000 years ago, and there have been quite a few others since. A number of questions arise. Your profile shows a Halcyon 23 sailboat, so let's assume that. How many peeps on baord? Time of year and weather encountered will matter, and so also will route followed.
The big decision on route is whether to round the Mull of Kintyre, or use the Crinan Canal - and that is dependant on weather outlook, and whether you want to minimise time on route, or maximise cruising pleasure..... I'd suggest that the Crinan route is likely to be a 'gentler' experience, while the 'Kintyre' option commits you to bigger days, and bigger seas.
My thoughts are for 2 days to somewhere on the Ayrshire coast, 2 days up to the east end of the canal, 1 day for transit, 1 day to Oban, and 2 days to Tobermory.
Both routes are likely to involve about 8 days' sailing, night-stopping. And it could be done in half the time - but why? Weather and 'dawdling' could easily add another 4-5 days ......or 4-5 weeks. It would certainly be pleasurable to winter-plan for both routes, and I'm certain that several others will suggest favourite anchorages, pubs, places to avoid......
You may find pleasure in Martin Martin's 'An Island Odyssey - Among The Scottish Isles'. I liked it so much I gave it to a friend.
The big decision on route is whether to round the Mull of Kintyre, or use the Crinan Canal - and that is dependant on weather outlook, and whether you want to minimise time on route, or maximise cruising pleasure..... I'd suggest that the Crinan route is likely to be a 'gentler' experience, while the 'Kintyre' option commits you to bigger days, and bigger seas.
My thoughts are for 2 days to somewhere on the Ayrshire coast, 2 days up to the east end of the canal, 1 day for transit, 1 day to Oban, and 2 days to Tobermory.
Both routes are likely to involve about 8 days' sailing, night-stopping. And it could be done in half the time - but why? Weather and 'dawdling' could easily add another 4-5 days ......or 4-5 weeks. It would certainly be pleasurable to winter-plan for both routes, and I'm certain that several others will suggest favourite anchorages, pubs, places to avoid......
You may find pleasure in Martin Martin's 'An Island Odyssey - Among The Scottish Isles'. I liked it so much I gave it to a friend.
hlb
RIP
We did it years ago from N Wales, IOM, Port Patrick, Camble Town, Humm!!, Ardfern?? Crinan, Croab Haven, Oban, Tobermory. Few other places enroute which I cant remember. Crinan makes a nice change from the sea and is interesting.
Mind, we did it all at 16 knots! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Mind, we did it all at 16 knots! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Viscount
Well-Known Member
I was in Lochgilphead on 24 November and visited the Crinin Canal; surprised to find it was drained on the southern end - best check it's open before sailing there and having to turn back!
TJAGAIN
Well-Known Member
thanks for that bilbo, crinan canal sounds good with two on board, i suppose 8 days is what i should be planning on taking into account the boat and it's igm10 engine and tides,i shall also have a look for the book also.
colvic987
Well-Known Member
we did the trip from anglesey this year, it depends on your time span, is it a holiday or delivery trip, have you got a week or two, retired and time not a problem, and when are you looking on going, early in season (april/may) august etc,
we had three weeks off and sailed from menai straits to iom, then portpatrick, glenarm, ballycastle, port ellen, gigha, to lochaline then tobermory, and a different route back from tobermory, to craobh haven, crinan canal, tarbert, largs, portpatrick, iom and back to anglesey, in 17 days, with two day stopover in tobermory, sailing everyday, and having good average f3/4.
as it depends time of year and weather, i would take first leg from kirkcudbright to portpatrick, then you will have to decide if you wish to take the crinan or the long way round. It is a nice trip well worth doing especially the stopover on gigha, also jura is supposed to be ok at (craighouse and lowlandmans bay).
If i could get my head around how to load the photos on this site i would post some, but if you are interested i will send you some of the trip if interested, just pm me your email address, and i will post you some....
we had three weeks off and sailed from menai straits to iom, then portpatrick, glenarm, ballycastle, port ellen, gigha, to lochaline then tobermory, and a different route back from tobermory, to craobh haven, crinan canal, tarbert, largs, portpatrick, iom and back to anglesey, in 17 days, with two day stopover in tobermory, sailing everyday, and having good average f3/4.
as it depends time of year and weather, i would take first leg from kirkcudbright to portpatrick, then you will have to decide if you wish to take the crinan or the long way round. It is a nice trip well worth doing especially the stopover on gigha, also jura is supposed to be ok at (craighouse and lowlandmans bay).
If i could get my head around how to load the photos on this site i would post some, but if you are interested i will send you some of the trip if interested, just pm me your email address, and i will post you some....
Krusty
Well-Known Member
No-one has mentioned a factor which you really need to take into account on such a venture in a small boat with modest performance: TIDESTREAMS. In several sections of your route they are strong enough to speed or slow your passage by several hours, and in fresh winds they kick up a sea bad enough to reduce a small yacht to a very uncomfortable crawl; in some areas sudden bad weather becomes
downright dangerous. You will have to plan your passages well in advance, with contingency 'bolt-holes' identified, to take advantage of favourable streams and avoid the periods of adverse flow at narrows and headlands: Spring or Neap tides can make a huge difference. Study the Tidal Atlas: it will determine the best times of the month for the cruise. You can often save a whole day by using a few night hours, if your boat is properly equipped and you have adequate experience. Preparation is everything! Good sailing!
downright dangerous. You will have to plan your passages well in advance, with contingency 'bolt-holes' identified, to take advantage of favourable streams and avoid the periods of adverse flow at narrows and headlands: Spring or Neap tides can make a huge difference. Study the Tidal Atlas: it will determine the best times of the month for the cruise. You can often save a whole day by using a few night hours, if your boat is properly equipped and you have adequate experience. Preparation is everything! Good sailing!
DaveS
Well-Known Member
"...we did it all at 16 knots! "
Including the canal? You must have been popular with BW!
Including the canal? You must have been popular with BW!
hlb
RIP
But I can do it now at over 20 knots with the new boat!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
colvic987
Well-Known Member
if i posted on here basic info about a cruise to a skipper of a boat, i would expect the skipper to know all the basic things about tides and tidal streams, and where to find the info, and also how his boat operates in these sorts of areas, if he is not competent enough then he should state that in the post, and ask for specific details, but i personally would not take everything for granted of what was said on this site, as a skipper you need to take stock of all the info, and if in doubt, find more info from almanac and pilot books, or fellow sailors who you know have done the trip on same sort of boat as you have, many people on this site have done this trip on motorboats and sailing boats, both have different considerations to look at...
Cloven
Well-Known Member
Tony
Can't help you with the Kirkcudbright to Crinan bit i.e. whether you go round the mull or through the canal but North of there is our cruising ground. Can recommend loads of secluded anchorages; pubs/restaurant/hotel food stops (and some to avoid); where to get a shower/food/water; where to avoid etc.
If you are interested, drop me a PM and I'll put something together for you. It would help to know what time of year you are planning to be there and roughly how long N of Crinan.
The best pilot books we have found for the area are the Martin Lawrence Yachtsmans Pilots published by Imray. The two you would need are "Isle of Mull & Adjacent Coasts" and "Clyde to Colonsay". You would also need the Admiralty tidal stream atlas.
Whatever you do, have a great trip.
Dave
Can't help you with the Kirkcudbright to Crinan bit i.e. whether you go round the mull or through the canal but North of there is our cruising ground. Can recommend loads of secluded anchorages; pubs/restaurant/hotel food stops (and some to avoid); where to get a shower/food/water; where to avoid etc.
If you are interested, drop me a PM and I'll put something together for you. It would help to know what time of year you are planning to be there and roughly how long N of Crinan.
The best pilot books we have found for the area are the Martin Lawrence Yachtsmans Pilots published by Imray. The two you would need are "Isle of Mull & Adjacent Coasts" and "Clyde to Colonsay". You would also need the Admiralty tidal stream atlas.
Whatever you do, have a great trip.
Dave
bobg
Well-Known Member
I am no expert, but isn't the problem with the Crinan Canal route negotiating woosh of water from the Gulf of Corryvreckan and the Scarba overfalls and tide rips? While taking the Islay/Colonsay route is open water, but less volatile? But then there is the moody waters of the Mull of Kintyre, the North Channel, etc. An advantage of the Crinan route is dinner in the Crinan Hotel. This is serious dining at serious prices. The last time I was in and talking to the owner Nick Ryan he said the hotel had been block-booked by Elton John who was flying up his party by helicopter. Might have been where he proposed to David Furnish
webcraft
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
woosh of water from the Gulf of Corryvreckan and the Scarba overfalls and tide rips?
[/ QUOTE ] We daysail through these at Springs often . . . to Crinan for lunch is a favourite when we take novice friends for a day sail. No problem so long as you get the tides right and there is no more than F4 wind over tide. More than that and the Dorus Mor can get a bit lumpy.
Have done a couple of delivery trips from Whitehaven to Craobh and Dunstaffnage. My preferred route was Whitehaven - Bangor - Rathlin - Craighouse -Oban, but it was a bigger boat and we had a deadline.
If going round the Mull then Portpatrick - Campbelltown leaves your options open depending on weather - it is still possible to shoot up to the canal if the Mull looks unattractive.
In short hops in good weather I suggest:
Kirkudbright - Isle of Whithorn
IOW - Portpatrick
Portpatrick - Glenarm
Glenarm- Campbelltown
All perfectly reasonable day sails in a 23 footer - but make sure you have the tides working for you.
Then you can decide on the Mull or up to Ardrishaig.
Gigha is good except in Easterlies, but in an Easterly you can always anchor of Macrahanish instread, making it a relatively short trip round the Mull from Campbelltown. (Never stopped at Macrahanish, but friends have, and it looks OK - but could be a trap if it suddenly went strong Westerly).
If you have time Craighouse is worth a detour. At Springs you can get 2 knots tide for six hours from Craighouse north on the flood, enough to get you up through the Sound of Luing if you plan your departure for just before low water.
If you decide to go through the canal then it's a doddle. A day from Campbelltown up to Ardrishaig, two days for the canal and a single tide will just about see you from Crinan to Oban with a fair wind.
Have a good trip,
Nick
woosh of water from the Gulf of Corryvreckan and the Scarba overfalls and tide rips?
[/ QUOTE ] We daysail through these at Springs often . . . to Crinan for lunch is a favourite when we take novice friends for a day sail. No problem so long as you get the tides right and there is no more than F4 wind over tide. More than that and the Dorus Mor can get a bit lumpy.
Have done a couple of delivery trips from Whitehaven to Craobh and Dunstaffnage. My preferred route was Whitehaven - Bangor - Rathlin - Craighouse -Oban, but it was a bigger boat and we had a deadline.
If going round the Mull then Portpatrick - Campbelltown leaves your options open depending on weather - it is still possible to shoot up to the canal if the Mull looks unattractive.
In short hops in good weather I suggest:
Kirkudbright - Isle of Whithorn
IOW - Portpatrick
Portpatrick - Glenarm
Glenarm- Campbelltown
All perfectly reasonable day sails in a 23 footer - but make sure you have the tides working for you.
Then you can decide on the Mull or up to Ardrishaig.
Gigha is good except in Easterlies, but in an Easterly you can always anchor of Macrahanish instread, making it a relatively short trip round the Mull from Campbelltown. (Never stopped at Macrahanish, but friends have, and it looks OK - but could be a trap if it suddenly went strong Westerly).
If you have time Craighouse is worth a detour. At Springs you can get 2 knots tide for six hours from Craighouse north on the flood, enough to get you up through the Sound of Luing if you plan your departure for just before low water.
If you decide to go through the canal then it's a doddle. A day from Campbelltown up to Ardrishaig, two days for the canal and a single tide will just about see you from Crinan to Oban with a fair wind.
Have a good trip,
Nick
TJAGAIN
Well-Known Member
many thanks for all the useful advice.. graham (colvic987) i have pm'd you
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