Long weekend sailing - what would you do?

[Nick]

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I've got a skippered charter out of Dunstaffnage Fri lunchtime to early Monday morning.

Departure South at midday on Friday would miss the tidal gates at Luing, Cuan, Dorus Mor.

Tobermory Friday then back down the Sound Saturday to somewhere is a possibility, but Sun/Monday morning look problematical but we need to do something. Strong/gale s-easterlies. Hide out in Puilladobhrain?

Or a Saturday run down to Craighouse and back up Sunday morning? Getting pretty breezy by midday Sunday, but probably doable.

Looking at XC weather and the tides, what would you do? (Staying at home/ going to the pub is, sadly, not an option)

[claymore]

Depends a bit on what the clients are up for, I think.
They might be bored out of their trollies thrashing down to Craighouse and back - I think I would suggest afternoon tea in Port Ramsey followed by Dinner in Loch Aline for Friday. Saturday perhaps a wander up to Drumbuie then across to Tobers for the evening and a wander back to Loch Spelve on Sunday morning before returning to Dunstaffnage.
If Tobers is a step too far then I'd be inclined to play the tidal gates on Saturday at Pladda, & Dorus Mor (In and Out) then perhaps an overnight at anchor under the ghostly eye of Irene McLachlan.
Back through Cuan on Sunday morning, brew in Pullers and then back up Kerrera Sound and into Dunners.

[Nick]

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They are pretty experienced. We went to Knoydart, Eigg and Muck on a four-day charter in September, and they handled a bit of rough OK. The boat will cruise at 7+ knots.

Sunday/Monday is southerlies gusting to F8 or above though so options are limited. I don't want to be coming back down the SOM in that beating in wind over tide. If we are going anywhere Sunday we have to be going North-ish.

I'm currently favouring Tobers on Friday, back to Pullers on Saturday then thrash around until we are sick of it on Sunday and back to base. Still hoping the blow will slip 24 hours.

[marisca]

You have almost the perfect weekend - easterlies on the Friday, NW on the Saturday, SSE on Sunday so west on Friday, south on Saturday and home on Sunday - looks like round Mull apart from a wee blow on Sunday - mostly dry during the days, pubs at T'mory and Bunessan, morning tide goes south through S.of Iona and lots of diversions via Ulva, Treshnish Isles, Staffa (dinghy into Fingal's Cave in a northerly is fine).
Wish I was going!

[Nick]

You have almost the perfect weekend - easterlies on the Friday, NW on the Saturday, SSE on Sunday so west on Friday, south on Saturday and home on Sunday - looks like round Mull apart from a wee blow on Sunday - mostly dry during the days, pubs at T'mory and Bunessan, morning tide goes south through S.of Iona and lots of diversions via Ulva, Treshnish Isles, Staffa (dinghy into Fingal's Cave in a northerly is fine).
Wish I was going!

I'd thought of that but XC is giving Southerlies gusting up to 40 knots on Sunday from 10am onwards - not the sort of weather I like to be off the South of Mull in really, it's not a nice lee shore.

It could calm down a bit though, so heading for Tobermory with a circumnavigation in mind wouldn't do any harm.

A big ol' AWB with some novices on board is not the same as people who know what they are doing aboard an ocean whippet like yours.

[marisca]

A big ol' AWB with some novices on board is not the same as people who know what they are doing aboard an ocean whippet like yours.

No, it's probably considerably drier and more comfortable and you will be down or cross-wind the whole time so it shouldn't even slam (much!). Just keep the keel on.

[Telo]

Haven't looked at the tides, but wonder in Loch Etive might be an option, although it might be a bit squally. It's certainly worth a sail sometime - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4939.

[Nick]

Haven't looked at the tides, but wonder in Loch Etive might be an option, although it might be a bit squally. It's certainly worth a sail sometime - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4939.

Mast too high

[stevepick]

Around Jura? Black isles friday, Craighouse saturday, Ardinamir sunday and romp home on monday through Cuan, reasonably sheltered, maybe bit of tide against you on saturday through Sound of Islay if you are early, but its scenic, and some fun waves through cuan on monday before blasting home? A few distillery visits possible on the way round

[claymore]

WELL?????

[Nick]

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Went for Steve's Around Jura option.

Very sugar-scoop-slammy night alongside at Scalasaig Friday night with a night in the Colonsay Hotel then down the Sound of Isaly in the morning for a lunch stop at Craighouse then on with the turn of the tide to Craobh. Beautiful day, with some good sailing. Meal in LOTI.

Early departure from Craobh for a run through Cuan and Easdale Sounds then up through the Sound of Kerrera to check out the new buoyage. Brisk sailing with either all or (later) some of the genoa. Gusty, 7.3 knots under genoa with four or five rolls in. Early arrival at a VERY quiet marina on Kerrera. Meal in Oban.

Round to Dunstaffnage this morning, getting a bit blowy. Half a genoa and some entertainment berthing.

All in all a good few days - the customers seemed happy.

[mm5aho]

Sounds a nice trip.
A week later and there would be the madcap SIPR flotilla to escape from.

I think Marisca on the way west now, and we'll be heading out tomorrow night via the expensive canal.
Later in the week and weekend looks like being brisk too.

Wonder why Kerrera is so quiet? Might be busier this weekend.
Has Dunstaffnage improved any in past few years?
Is the sound of K buoyage better?

[claymore]

Good man
Dear Heart jumped ship in Scalasaig and slept in the shelter of a boulder ashore. Teamwork.

[Nick]

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Sound of Kerrera buoyage - Chicken Rock red replaced by a W Cardinal, and another red just before the first green to make it a bit more obvious there is a channel up the West side.