Quandary
Well-Known Member
Current restrictions
1.8 m. draught and locking in limited to exactly 1hr. either side of high water.
Was expecting the water shortage to be biting so we stopped overnight in Oban, left against the flood at 11.30 motoring at 6 knots, (Oban HW 14-47, Crinan is Oban minus 1-40) hit the gate in the Sound of Luing just as it turned, got a nice wee wind swing so was motor sailing at 6.5+ and was in Crinan at exactly 15-00 had to wait ten mins. as two boats locked out, refused to lock us in today. Had to hoist the dog ashore on a rope, left boat in the lock on long lines and went home, they have promised to lock us in tomorrow at 13-00. All the time I could not speak to the keeper because of the noise of the water roaring out over the lock gate, still running out at the same rate when we left at 15-00, the other boat beside us asked her to shut the gates and let the wastage fill the lock but she is not allowed to do that. With hindsight we should have come on down to Cullipool yesterday and headed into the Sound early, you can dodge some of the tide along the Luing shore as long as you are careful.
This was at neaps, going to be tricky coming down from the North at springs, if its windy from the west anchoring in Lough Crinan can be rolly.
The wee girl that was manning the lock was trying her best and even tried to get permission to lift us for the dogs sake, (he is old and his kidneys are shot but he will still not pee on the boat). She had to take quite a bit of stick from the boats following us.
My rant is that the drought did not start last week, they knew the reservoirs were getting low 6 weeks ago when a bit of mild control could have been introduced. Can't wait to hear the squeals from the Bellanoch berth holders.
1.8 m. draught and locking in limited to exactly 1hr. either side of high water.
Was expecting the water shortage to be biting so we stopped overnight in Oban, left against the flood at 11.30 motoring at 6 knots, (Oban HW 14-47, Crinan is Oban minus 1-40) hit the gate in the Sound of Luing just as it turned, got a nice wee wind swing so was motor sailing at 6.5+ and was in Crinan at exactly 15-00 had to wait ten mins. as two boats locked out, refused to lock us in today. Had to hoist the dog ashore on a rope, left boat in the lock on long lines and went home, they have promised to lock us in tomorrow at 13-00. All the time I could not speak to the keeper because of the noise of the water roaring out over the lock gate, still running out at the same rate when we left at 15-00, the other boat beside us asked her to shut the gates and let the wastage fill the lock but she is not allowed to do that. With hindsight we should have come on down to Cullipool yesterday and headed into the Sound early, you can dodge some of the tide along the Luing shore as long as you are careful.
This was at neaps, going to be tricky coming down from the North at springs, if its windy from the west anchoring in Lough Crinan can be rolly.
The wee girl that was manning the lock was trying her best and even tried to get permission to lift us for the dogs sake, (he is old and his kidneys are shot but he will still not pee on the boat). She had to take quite a bit of stick from the boats following us.
My rant is that the drought did not start last week, they knew the reservoirs were getting low 6 weeks ago when a bit of mild control could have been introduced. Can't wait to hear the squeals from the Bellanoch berth holders.
