BLUEMOMENT

Nick,I am really grateful that you have kept the forum going for so long. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a lot of contributors - even you are more visible on TOP than here. I, for one, haven't a scoobie on how to host a forum. So thank you for what you have given all of us and may the worl...

Bodach na mara wrote: ↑Tue Nov 11, 2025 1:07 pm One section had me puzzled. Why have different sections for keelboat and yacht cruising. And in which category does cruising in a Westerly Seahawk lie?

I assumed that "keelboat" referred to things like Pipers and Etchells while "yacht" is something with a downstairs.

I completed it and wonder how it will help. I trust the categories I didn't tick were of more help than mine.

There are (or were) a couple of dipping lugsail traditional boats in Stornoway and one that I've never seen move in Tarbert (Loch Fyne).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg0j7pnqmgo No more sugar sheds at JWD!

Our esteemed webmaster has yet again turned to TOP for an answer to his problems. He obviously prefers the denizens of those fora to his home brewed contributors. This time it's his donk that won't go when he performs his usual incantations but does he ask us for advise and solutions? I imagine ther...

My state-of-the-art ST50 log has a temperature function - I think it's so you know when you are in currents like the Aghulas. On Saturday morning it showed over 20C in Loch Goil and I have heard of higher in Loch Fyne at Inverary. The weed on my boat is certainly more rampant than usual.

I know he doesn't work in an office but somehow this seemed apposite .......

https://newsthump.com/2025/06/23/the-ni ... 35eb8a09c2

Went through on 15th May. We weren't allowed into the sea lock until 12.00 for water saving but then the gates would neither close nor open without the ministrations of feet sticking out the hydraulic cabinets. We (there were two boats) were advised that the upper reach or possibly the Dunardry basi...

Charles is very much alive and kicking though he wimped out of SIPR this year but let his son Oli use his Rustler.

Marisca was launched last Monday after wintering in the luxury of the JWD sugar shed. It took till Thursday to set up rigging and refill the boat with the "essential" rubbish that I carry around. Then the 1st sail - gentle downwind to Baron's Point then up to Loch Goil and anchor drop in S...

I declare an interest as I am using a Knox specially modified to fit my boat by the Professor himself! That being said, I have experience of the Spade and the Knox and both give that confidence giving bow dip as they bite, something I never got from my ersatz CQR which needed much more careful layin...

Alan_D wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 11:57 pm Isn't it interesting that journalists seem to think "a social media user" is more authoritative than "a man I met in the pub".

You don't have to leave home for "a social media user" !

I'm afraid I phrased my last note badly. My point was that once the commercial entity is allowed to milk the cash cow of leisure boats, their capacity for rapacity can run riot. An 18% hike over 2 years and sea bed rental nearly 3x that of Crown Estates because they can?

Peel Ports are harbour authority for Sheerness and Medway. I'm not sure for which bits of those waters these charges apply but for leisure vessels conservancy in 2023/24 the charge was £87.69 inc.VAT. By 2025/26 it has risen to £103.13 inc.VAT and on top of that there is £146.20 charge for a mooring...