Yacht charter- West Coast of Scotland

[Gin]

We may be obliged to attend a family gathering in Dunoon ,late June.

It's not something I relish and staying at the chalet village there(I forget the name) is not something I wish to do a second time.

So, I'm thinking we may be able to fulfil our obligations( 2 days max.) and use the time to better advantage by taking a 10 day charter on a 34'; we are a crew of three, one old bloke(me) and two teenagers.

recommendations please,
First, the base
Secondly, the charter company/suitable boat
Third, the itinerary.
Fourth, cost

 

[photodog]

Weve chartered up there a few times, and always used Portway Yacht Charter....

Portway Yacht Charter...

They have bases on the Clyde and in Croabh Haven, just south of Oban...

The CLyde is a excellent place to start your West Coast adventures, with excellent fairly sheltered and extensive sailing with great places to go, lovely anchorages....and easy access to Glasgow airport and the motorway network... we went from from Rhu, which is great cause, seals in the entrance, nuclear submarines going by!

Croabh gives good access to places like Ioana, Oban, Tobermoray...... and is more challenging with some great tidal gates and more wildlife.......

Scotland is great, Clyde is fairly easy sailing, Croabh a bit more challenging... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

This is my all time favorite cruising area!

just dont take the Gibsea 33 on their fleet... urgh... bit of a pig. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[webcraft]

Fancy something different?

Wooden folkboat, the only coded FB in Scotland as far as I know, and cheap as chips: HERE

- W

 

[Spyro]

Croabh is no good if you intend to visit Dunoon on the Boat unless you want at least 2 days on the CRINAN CANAL or a long sail around the Mull of Kintyre. I don't have any charter experience but anywhere on the Clyde would be ok the rest would depend on boat and price.
Penty of Charters listed HERE

 

[Gin]

Thanks for that- I'm thinking two nights kipping (in Kip?) on the boat, instead of the sheds on the hill at Dunoon- then pushing of for the rest of the charter period. So the Clyde estuary is the sensible starting point

So, would their Beneteau 343 be a pleasant charter?

 

[Sgeir]

May also be worth taking a look at Flamingo, who have boats on the Clyde and in the west. It's been several years since we chartered, but we found them to be reasonably priced.

 

[dunedin]

At risk of being controversial, Kip is a great permanent parking base but not ideal for a holiday. Holy Loch marina might be an ideal step off point for Dunoon.

Depending on dates, check out the Fife regatta from 21 -27 June - beautiful classics up to 200ft sailing from largs then up to Rhu. Worth seeing.

Thereafter you're spoilt for choice - if you like pontoons and facilities then Tarbert and Largs and Rhu are a must, Rothesay as long as not a northerly. If like moorings then loads of choice, including Loch Ranza, Millport, Lamlash etc.
With an electric anchor windlass your choice is huge.

Suggest buy a copy of Martin Lawrence pilot guide Clyde to Colonsay and start planning

 

[Gin]

A good suggestion-thanks

 

[Gin]

Fife regatta sounds like fun and i shall get the Lawrence Pilot too-thanks

 

[nickf]

Used Flamingo 3 times and found them good.

 

[Gordonmc]

From the look of it two weekends ago Rothesay will still resemble a building site in June. They are having major problems with the inner harbour refurb.

 

[Spyro]

Last I heard it was a year behind schedule and is expected to be finished Sept 08

 

[awol]

Spent Tuesday night there. Inner harbour looks a long way from finished - is being drained by automatic pumps that send an irregular, noisy swoosh of water into the marina area. New ro-ro berth hasn't improved things - when the ferry arrives it creates a lot of swell in the marina (worse than it was on the short-stay pontoon with the old berth) and when the ferry is berthed there is a strong cross current from its bow thruster (left running while parked) across the entrance, so stay close to the pier side.

 

[Gin]

So- give Rothesay a wide berth I think

 

[awol]

[ QUOTE ]
So- give Rothesay a wide berth I think

[/ QUOTE ]

Rothesay is fine, it's just the pontoons that are in flux. Plenty of moorings in the bay and you can even drop anchor (but not between the yellow poles). The toilets are still a work of art!

 

[dunedin]

[ QUOTE ]
From the look of it two weekends ago Rothesay will still resemble a building site in June. They are having major problems with the inner harbour refurb.

[/ QUOTE ]

Apologies, yes - forgot about the building works. Was fine when we went there in December, but a bit quiter then !
Have generally avoided for a few years since they did the building works which funnel northerly waves in.

 

[Mark_Hitchin]

I've used Flamingo - great firm and Largs is a short bus ride from Prestwick and handy for Dunoon.

Not really handy for you this time but Skye Yacht Charter and Crystal Yacht Charter have also been excellent for me.