BLUEMOMENT

DRB Marine on the Gareloch opposite Rhu have the cheapest maintained moorings that I know of. The yard is a bit rough and ready but the moorings are fine and there are most services you might need. It is a bit of a trek round the Gareloch but the bay is sheltered in most conditions except strong eas...

I have had work done by Nicholson Hughes in recent years - repairs and cleaning - excellent work at reasonable prices with great service. On my recommendation my friend got a new genoa made by them for a Virgo Voyager and he was more than impressed by the quality and the price.

It was windy enough to hike out and I am feeling it today. The camera was out in calmer conditions. We got a taste of the swell at Ardrossan just off the east side of the bay at Millport where the lower FOC swell usually reaches unimpeded when its from the south. Later over at the west side we had ...

garredfox wrote:Thanks everyone for your input. If the weather ever clears up I will give it a go with one or other of your ideas.

Chine shine works very well for removing the brown stains from the hull. Just roll on and wash off.

I saw Dick Gaughin on Alba last week in the Song for Ireland programme and I thought he encapsulated what for me is the worst style of folk singing - especially Scottish Folk singing. His nasal, tuneless delivery is one which has been copied by many aspiring Scots folkies and he has female equivalen...

Its really straightforward Bob, all the water comes sluicing out of the Solway on the ebb and all you need to do is time your arrival at the Mull to catch the northward running stream. This will mean plugging a foul tide for a while but it isn't desperately strong from Whitehaven - You'll then get ...

We passed it yesterday and as far as I could see it was still there!

Wandering boats are not unusual in the Urr, especially at Springs. A couple of years ago a friend lost the entire season when his Seal 26 - a lifting keel boat - was washed up on to the Merse at the Spring Equinox and had to wait months for a similar tide to get her off. Another friend was lucky eno...

It was something of a coincidence that 'Coast' last night was focussing on the tides - how they work and the power that they exert on our lives at sea. I was at a barbecue on Saturday - under a gazebo - it was raining - and met a lady who sails with friends of ours. They have a boat in the Gareloch ...

It was with a friend who is the secretary of the Dunfries Cruising Club on his Virgo Voyager. Kingholm is quite crowded at the moment with the new pontoon providing berths for a good number of boats. The picture is, as was indicated, Glencaple which is still used by a couple of fishing boats. We spe...

The weather has been so poor we have not ventured as far as Bute this season. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks. It was so poor that I didn't venture there yesterday after all. Launching on Monday now. OK! Yes I am always at the back of the class ….. and no! ….. I don’t always pay attention ….....

The weather has been so poor we have not ventured as far as Bute this season. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

When we were sailing across to Greenock yesterday I noticed a regular kind of a beating noise that I have never heard in the 9 years or so that we have had the boat. She was sailing nicely along but this was obvious even to Mrs Dougie. I eventually thought it was coming from below the stern. I opene...

We went up yesterday for a day sail having heard the forecast for today. It was nice between the squalls but colder than I expected. Went across to Greenock to see the Caribbean Princess doing their lifeboat drills. We went home by Largs and KIlmarnock and it was fairly blowing off Skelmorlie about ...

Has anyone here heard of a phenomenon known as 'The Clyde Pause'. Some may have noticed that the Firth of Clyde often settles down in the evening even after a day of brisk conditions. I have an old friend who referred to this as 'The Clyde Pause'. Since then we have been even more aware of it. Any t...