by Malcolm Sadler » Wed Mar 02, 2022 8:06 pm
For anyone who isn’t in the WhatsApp chat, here is the intended programme for the Rally. I say 'intended' because if there are strong south westerlies throughout the week, the sailing between Crinan and Oban may be a bit too uncomfortable/dangerous for 19ft craft, so we have a 'Plan B' for that contingency.
Please note that launching day is now 27th May - the Friday - rather than Saturday 28th May as I originally proposed in my post of 13 Nov in the CC19Assn Forum. I hope that doesn't deter anyone ?
Our Plan A, then, is as follows:-
Friday 27th May - a towing and launching day. Arrive Largs Yacht Haven, launch, overnight at Largs, where we hope to have an opening dinner at the Sailing Club or marina restaurant. NOTE Gary and I will be arriving on Thursday 26th, and anyone who wants to do that is welcome. A chance then for a shake-down sail on Friday in region of Largs and the Cumbraes.
Saturday 28th May - Sail past Rothesay, through the Kyles of Bute, to Tighnabruaich. We will moor overnight on the visitor moorings and have dinner at Kames Hotel.
Sunday 29th May - To East L Tarbert - overnight at the marina in the wonderful natural harbour there. Plenty of pubs and restaurants in this pretty little town, including some of the best fish and chips anywhere!
Monday 30th May - to Ardrishaig, lock in to the Crinan Canal, along the canal to overnight near Cairnbaan Hotel where we hope to book supper.
Tuesday 31st May - the remainder of the canal to Crinan, then explore L Craignish to and onward to overnight at Croabh (pronounced 'Croove' so I'm told!) Haven. Depending on weather we could go to Ardfern Marina instead.
Wednesday 1st June - explore up into L Melfort, where otters may be seen with luck. If the weather is on our side, then there is time for some competitive sailing out of Croabh on the Wednesday - the local sailing club has a race round the Isle of Shuna and I hope to obtain a copy of their course instructions. Overnight at Croabh Haven with dinner at Marina Pub.
Thursday 2nd June. Sail to Puilladobhrain Anchorage, where we will overnight. We'll need sufficient people to take dinghies to relay everyone ashore on this occasion, as for the night on moorings at Tighnabruaich. There's a pub a mile's walk from the anchorage where we'll have supper.
Friday 3rd June - sail via Oban, where I hope we can persuade the harbour master to let us tie up for a few hours on the town wharf for lunch, then to Dunstaffnage Marina, where we will be recovering our boats. Overnight on the Friday there.
NOTE - in case bad weather kicks up after we get through the Crinan Canal, we could rearrange the programme so as to ride out a blow either at Ardfern or Craobh. The Oban Marina on Kerrera would be an alternative to anchoring in Puilladobhrain if need be. I am hoping we will have reasonable flexibility with Marina availability so early in the season - and having come so far from the launch port on a linear passage we need to build in to contingency plans.
Saturday 4th June - boat skippers travel by road back to Largs, collect cars and trailers and return to Dunstaffnage (about a 3 hour drive). We are working on hiring a minibus for the trip to Largs - not much more expensive than train and saves several hours of journey time.
Sunday 5th June. Recover boats and head towards home. High tide is 10.11am and there is only an hour or two either side when the slip is usable. I await details. This is the reason we need to start the final day with our cars and trailers in Dunstaffnage, hence also the need to arrive there by boat on the Friday night.
Some people may choose to stay on for a few days - there's fabulous cruising from there. Do let us know and I will let the Marina know when making bookings.
Plan B
Plan B would be required in the event of unseasonably strong SW winds.
There are a number of alternatives, depending on the conditions. By keeping on the east side of Kintyre we should have more manageable seas. I am grateful to Archie Hardie (new owner of CC 'Foxglove') for the following ideas of what Plan B might look like, though we would probably change the order to take advantage of bookings made for Plan A where these can be fitted into Plan B
Day 1. Start by heading north, with the following wind Largs to Rhu marina. Lots to do visiting Helensburgh nearby (e.g. Submarine museum). Following day if still very windy explore the sheltered Gareloch.
If the weather has calmed down a bit, Day 2 Rhu to Carrick castle, Loch Goil, lying on the moorings at Carrick castle sailing club, or going up to the head of Loch Goil where there are moorings and a jetty and hotel.
Day 3 Loch Goil down Loch Long to the Holy Loch marina
Day 4 Kyles of Bute and Tighnabruaich
Day 5 Tarbert,
Day 6 Cruise north up Loch Fyne - maybe lunch at Otter Ferry - back to Portavadie marina,
Days 7 perhaps Carradale, then to Arran (Lochranza, which happens to have an excellent distillery),
Day 8 back to Largs
Day 9 (Sunday 5th June - recover boats and head home).
The inevitable, but important, disclaimer:-
The waters from Crinan to Oban are notorious for rapid tides and some narrow channels. Sailing these, in the midst of beautiful coastal and island scenery, will be a highlight of the rally. But the sailing needs careful passage planning and attention, and as always for the Association Rallies, each skipper is solely responsible for their own navigation and for all sailing decisions. As mentioned in my November Forum post, I recommend reading Clyde Cruising Club's 'Sailing Directions and Anchorages' and also obtaining the Antares Charts for the area.
Costs
Marinas seem to cost between £16 and £25 per night. We will be trying for group discounts of course, but we need flexibility to accommodate any route or timing changes the weather forces on us.
There are slipway fees at Largs and Dunstaffnage. We are hopeful there will be free car and trailer parking at Largs.
The Crinan Canal is about £70 per boat, though again we hope for a 10% group discount. The fee includes mooring overnight.
Transport back to Largs is likely to be in the region of £35/40 per person (13 or 14 people) in a minibus hired with driver - similar to the train fare. We will work on the most cost efficient solution.
Otherwise, the costs will be for meals and provisions.
I hope this gives you all enough to go on for the time being to get dates in the diary and book time off.
Responses please, for anyone reading this who has not already given me the info via this thread or the WhatsApp:-
please confirm :-
1 - are you a definite 'yes', subject to usual slings and arrows?
2 - would you intend to
(a) arrive at Largs any earlier than Friday 27th May?
(b) stay on at Dunstaffnage after Sunday 5th June?
3 - likely number of people on your boat, including skipper - I realise this will change, but for tentative restaurant bookings we'd like current best guess please.
All the best
Malcolm