W. Scotland for East coast boat swap or other ideas

[MoodySabre]

My son and I are planning to have a week sailing on the west coast of Scotland in June or July. So some questions if I may:

1. A boat swap (not the same week) for my Moody 31 would be great (and cheap ). Well equipped and well place for all the east coast rivers.

2. Failing that we shall charter. So where is the best place to start from? I can fly to Glasgow and son is coming from S Wales by whatever means he can. We won't have a car there so need to start somewhere getatable.

3. Any charter firms to avoid?

4. What would be a good itinery for a week?

 

[Fascadale]

A boat swap would be a good option but if you are unable to do so then you have a wide choice.

Perhaps a charter from here and a circumnavigation of Mull or perhaps a charter from here and a circumnavigation of Skye.

If the weather is not suitable to go to the west of the islands then there is plenty of more sheltered sailing in the sea lochs and sounds in their lee.

The Skye option is easier to get to by public transport, train to Mallaig, ferry to Armadale. A great way to start your holiday.

I once chartered a Sadler 32 from Lochaber Watersports but see they no longer list it.

(No connection to either company)

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I am not sure how many West Coast cruisers would want to swap with a boat based in Essex or thereabouts, chartering seems more likely to be fruitful.

If you have one week it will be important to choose a start/end point for your trip that gives you a choice of areas. Chartering from Armadale (Skye) gives you a good range of options depending on weather, as would using Craobh Haven or Dunstaffnage as a base. With reasonable weather in a week from Armadale you could visit the Small Isles, a day or two in the Outer Hebrides and return by Rona, Portee, Plockton etc.

There is also a company chartering out of Castlebay (Barra) of which I have heard reasonable reports.

I hope it works out for you.

 

[ditchcrawler]

Depending whether you want to drive a long distance I have chartered out of Kip Marina close to Glasgow and spent a pleasant week doing the Forth of Clyde,Arran,Kyles of Bute,Mull of Kintyre area.Went to Loch Long,Largs,Inverkip,Rothesay,Tarbet etc.Lovely cruising ground.Of course you may want to go farther North/West .

 

[Ceejay]

Depending whether you want to drive a long distance

The OP says he won't have a car

 

[1114C]

Dunstaffnage could be reached by public transport not too badly from Glasgow - train or coach to Oban, if train then a taxi ride from there, if coach then get them to stop at the marina as they have to drive past it

alba sailing have a moody 31!

from there the choice is good and you have lots of shelter if required or lots of open water if you get a good forecast - as good a chance in June as in any month. Alba sailing have a few suggested routes on their site but round Mull, down to Colonsay and then to Gigha or north to Muck would all be options depending on wind direction

 

[photodog]

We have used portway yacht charter in both rhu and croabh and would use either again.

Rhu is within easy taxi of Glasgow airport. Croabh is a renta car job.

They have a nice modern fleet... With boats down to around 32 feet iirc...

We enjoyed both the Clyde and the area around Oban... The Clyde is pretty straightforward well sheltered and extensive... Up around croabh there are more tidal challenges.

Rhu is a bit easier for provisioning...

I think that rhu would be a good bet... There are lots of super places in the area..

 

[Quandary]

A couple of updates to above,
The highly recommended charter from Barra (Westbound Charters, Paul McNeill) is a Sigma 33 (masthead) and is usually skippered.
One of the main charter operators at Croabh (Portway) has moved their boats into the Clyde (Kip) this season, but they say that Croabh may still be possible.
The March edition of Yachting Life includes a Charter Guide with details of over 20 operators, if you can not get hold of it I can send you mine.
You do not make it clear if you are content with the Clyde or if you want the real West Coast experience with deep deep water and scary rocks.
For the West Coast Oban has by far the best rail and bus links, bare boat companies from there (Dunstaffnage) include Alba Sailing, (Kerrera) Scotboats and Sail Swallow. The only company I know and can recommend is Argyll Yacht Charters but they are based at Ardfern which is not easy by public transport, they have an Amel Maramu and an Arcona 400 but they sold their Moody 31 last year, the smallest boat they list now is a Jeanneau 32.

 

[scottie]

If you are talking of a week then you may want to minimise your travel at either end so the clyde makes a lot of sense and is less likely to be affected by wind.
Have a look at a chart of the Clyde and get some idea of the distances involved you can usually plan a circular route and avoid retracing.
You can easily take a week to explore the area and still miss plenty we have sailed based on the Clyde for a long time and still manage to enjoy ourselves.

 

[aquaplane]

If you are talking of a week then you may want to minimise your travel at either end so the clyde makes a lot of sense and is less likely to be affected by wind.
Have a look at a chart of the Clyde and get some idea of the distances involved you can usually plan a circular route and avoid retracing.
You can easily take a week to explore the area and still miss plenty we have sailed based on the Clyde for a long time and still manage to enjoy ourselves.

That's what I thought too.

Sailing from around Oban is nicer though.

 

[Spyro]

That's what I thought too.

Sailing from around Oban is nicer though.

Most of the Clyde marinas are easily reachable by Public transport. Troon is only 10-15 mins in a taxi from Prestwick. Ardrossan has good rail links the harbour station is 100 yards from the marina office, Glasgow and Prestwick airports are about 45-60mins by train. largs is a bit Longer. There are several charter companies in most of the marinas.
http://www.bluemoment.com/charterscot.html

 

[Romeo]

Most of the Clyde marinas are easily reachable by Public transport.

Portavadie and Tarbert a bit harder to get to... in fact easier to get to Oban.

 

[Spyro]

Portavadie and Tarbert a bit harder to get to... in fact easier to get to Oban.

They were in Loch Fyne last time I was there.

 

[emnick]

Yacht charter

Hi Roger,
Have you thought about heading to Prestwick (from stanstead)? Troon is very close as is Ardrossan and Largs plenty to do in the firth of Clyde must be some bare boat charters with so many marinas. Some beautiful places to head for.

One point to consider if you are going out to the islands to pick a boat up is the cost of the ferries, that with train fares etc can stack up.

Got to know that area quite well as stuck there for about three weeks in 2010

Sean

 

[MoodySabre]

Thanks Sean and others.

A kind forumite is lending me a Moody 31 and an airport pick up has been offered! So now to the details. Prestwick is nearer to boat but son is travelling from S. Wales so need to work that out.

 

[webcraft]

A couple of updates to above,
The highly recommended charter from Barra (Westbound Charters, Paul McNeill) is a Sigma 33 (masthead) and is usually skippered.

Westbound Adventurer is now also available for bareboat charter from Castlebay, Barra for suitably qualified skippers (Coastal Skipper for the East side or YM for the W - St. Kilda, Monachs, Taransay etc).

There are still a few weeks available for June, July and August - see the charter website.

- W

 

[Romeo]

Glasgow Airport is a taxi ride from Paisley Gilmore Street station, which has frequent departures for the Ayrshire Coast. Should be pos for son to do that, or take train up west coast mainline to Glasgow Central. Enjoy the sailing. R

 

[photodog]

Thanks Sean and others.

A kind forumite is lending me a Moody 31 and an airport pick up has been offered! So now to the details. Prestwick is nearer to boat but son is travelling from S. Wales so need to work that out.

Meet him in stoke on Trent... Then drive up. It's only 4 hours or so to kip from stoke...( if that...).

I gather you are going from kip!

I can't understand why folks thought a swop would not be possible... The east coast is fabulous.. And your boat is well tidy...

I quit fancy that myself now.. Maybe we need a sub fora to arrange this sort of thing....

 

[MoodySabre]

And your boat is well tidy...

I quit fancy that myself now.. .

You want to borrow my boat from Bradwell?