by ianrmaciver » Mon Jul 24, 2017 1:15 pm
Minnie Heading South 13th June 2015.Corpach/Fort William to Troon.
Checking through the log this year , I realised I hadn't covered Minnie's trip from leaving The Caledonian Canal
to Troon. So this is what I can glean from the log and my memory of two years ago.
An early start at the top of Neptune's Staircase , the 8 lock run down to Loch Linnhe. The loch keeper said a
large boat would be coming up first so there would be a 2 to 3 hour wait before we could enter the lock.
When he said large , he wasn't kidding , a seagoing cruiser was "wedged" into the lock with about 600mm
clearance on all dimensions lumbered up the staircase....should have got a photo..
Then we were off , on the best sail of the trip. A dead run with one reef in the main (preventer on) and the
genoa poled out , gull winged.
We ran at between 5 and 6 knots for the next 5 hours , before entering Dunstaffanage marina.
28miles in just over 5 hours...excellent. 4 or 5 dolphins escorting us for over an hour.
As a side note ....
Last winter I had the genoa converted to a yankee , UV and no sacrificial strip. As reported elsewhere this makes beating
far easier and when close hauled I suspect the twin head sail set up is better. However , having just completed
several hundred miles without a genoa , it was sorely missed when reaching and running. If I buy another sail it
will be a genoa / gennaker / code zero /....anything to improve reaching / running.
Back to Dunstaffanage , no staff on out of office hours and whilst climbing around the gates is ok...no access to the
shower block unless you can beg a key card.
Left marina at 10.00 sailing for four hours , outside Kerrera , in Luing Sound , before the wind dropped , then sailed / motored
through Dorus Mor entering Crinan Canal at 1700....just before they closed .
Moored near the entrance , with power. 30 miles.
Canal costs £92.50.
Set off at 08.30 , when the locks open. Narrow , pretty , help with lines at all the locks.
16.00 exited the sea lock at Lochgilphead .
For the last few locks we teamed up with Billidoca , a Shrimper from Holyhead .
We sailed together to East Loch Tarbert having phoned ahead to ensure a berth. Lots of new pontoons and enthusiastic staff.
Meal in town...plenty of choice.
16th June 2015 left East Loch Tarbert 09.40.....Billidoca planned to head for an anchorage on Arran but eventually we met up
again as we approached Troon.
Arrived Troon 17.00.
Troon is a great marina....24 hour manning , good restaurant , excellent slipway , plenty of parking space , very helpful staff
and a good memory too...when I launched in June 2017 to continue the voyage , they had all my details to hand...spooky.
Haul Out 17 June 2015.
Before hauling out there was the trip , by train , to Dundee and The Royal Tay Yacht Club.
I phoned Ron Lorrimer , the Commodore to thank him and met up with John Knowles , the Boat Shed Manager where the trailer was stored.
Such a friendly and helpful club....coffee and a bacon sandwich with John....and motored back to Troon.
Hauled out and stripped Minnie.....slept on board , on the trailer and headed back to Cambridge in the morning.
Next Steps....2016 was a wash out , but 2017 was a cracker . Joined by Mark Donnelly , another CC19 member / owner who added sailing
skill , IT capability and photographs . And herein lies the problem....I've no idea how to incorporate photos into logs. Hopefully Mark does.
Ian , Cape Cutter19 , Minnie 87