Progress Report

[claymore]

Which is why the faithful old Bruce should be considered as a better deal - We've dragged our way around most of NW england and Scotland with a blasted CQR and when we weren't dragging I was repairing my fingers.
Never had any problem at Sanda - Line up the end of the little stone slip and anchor to the left of it - quite a way in.

[little boy blue]

we were trying to anchor between the jetty and the mooring. never had any trouble with cqr before but that`s the first time trying to anchor on sand i think. also the first time i could actually see the anchor on the bottom. i think the sand was so hard the anchor wasn`t even beginning to dig in - it almost appeared to bounce when it landed !

[jim.r]

I've got a Delta and never had a problem however it is oversized, being a size up from the one recommended for the boat

[little boy blue]

i would have pirated the mooring but a yacht had preceded us in by about 20 mins and was on the mooring. the annoying thing was being overtaken by same ship about 3/4 way to campbeltown

[Telo]

wide. shard posted some photos in a whereisit recently ( think on ybw ). a fairly small harbour i think and not all of it will be useable.

It's not big, but big enough for Suprstrath's cat, although as Silkie (I think) commented, might be a bit of a tight turn if the MacBrayne's ferry's in.

Having said that, SC could park up easily in the shallow part of the inner harbour.

It's all dependent on the weather now.

[little boy blue]

" Outlook for all UK Inshore Waters for following 3 days:
Winds moderate for a while later thursday into friday as high drifts into Southern Britain, but low dominates late friday into saturday with strong wind in places, perhaps gales over Scotland. "

not looking too promising for rathlin. can`t see the crew being very enthusiastic about crossing the north channel on friday night.

[Telo]

not looking too promising for rathlin. can`t see the crew being very enthusiastic about crossing the north channel on friday night.

Outlook for all UK Inshore Waters for following 3 days (from 0500 Tuesday):
Strong or gale force westerly winds in all areas on Thursday, decreasing on Friday, becoming light and variable by evening except around Scotland, then freshening from the south or southwest on Saturday.

Hmmm, doesn't look good. I've seen the Irish side of the North Channel calm fairly quickly after a gale, but, having been stuck in Campbeltown for two days in similar circumstances, would still be inclined to give it at least 24 hours afterwards before going round the Mull. Or am I being too cautious?

We were hoping for an overnight passage on the Thursday, but that really doesn't seem likely now. Whatever, waiting until Fri/Sat will push back our schedule for the following week too much. Much as I like the Crinan Canal, it's just not the same.....

[little boy blue]

the tides are spot on for an overnighter heading west but of course with a westerly wind of any strength the whole north channel would probably become one big overfall between midnight and 0700.
we are a mere 23 feet oa and of limited experience so unless there is a marked change i doubt we will see rathlin this weekend.

[Silkie]

Different story in the Firth of Lorne of course. The sailing bits of Saturday & Sunday look like W F5. Westerlies tend to give a combination of SW & NW IMO, depending on where you are. Should be fun, I hope.

[Telo]

unless there is a marked change i doubt we will see rathlin this weekend.

Shame - latest forecast is back with the "8" number and the "g" word. We've cancelled plans for Rathlin I'm afraid. Posted message on SB:

Ummmm...., latest forecast suggests Thursday night passage to Rathlin would be unwise. Because we hope to meet a schedule for next week, we'll probably go NW via Crinan Canal now, thus missing Rathlin. Shame. I was looking forward to a musical soirée in McCuaig's bar.

Had an email from Superstrath, last heard of in Tarbert. He's also cancelled Rathlin at Easter, and will be heading back for Ardrossan on Thursday.

Outlook for the following 24 hours (ie Thursday):
Wind: west or southwest veering northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time.
Weather: showers.
Visibility: moderate or good.
Sea State: moderate or rough on exposed waters, perhaps very rough for a time in North Channel.

Outlook for all UK Inshore Waters for following 3 days:
Mainly west or northwest winds, occasionally fresh or strong, occasional gales across Scotland, whilst moderating for a time over Central waters as a fresh east wind develops for a time across Southern waters. bands of rain or showers expected.

Really disappointed. Maybe next Easter?

[Silkie]

xcweather is currently showing 4s or 5s (albeit westerlies) with only the occasional 6. Starting to look worse further north.

[Telo]

xcweather is currently showing 4s or 5s (albeit westerlies) with only the occasional 6. Starting to look worse further north.

Mmmm, which one should I go by? XC looks better, but MetOffice I/F not looking good at all, at all, at all.:

Issued by the Met Office at 1700 UTC on Wednesday 12 April.

Inshore Waters Forecast to 12 miles offshore from 1700 UTC to 1700 UTC.

The Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and the North Channel.
24 hour forecast:
Wind: west or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Weather: outbreaks of rain then showers.
Visibility: good or moderate.
Sea State: moderate to rough, but very rough in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
Wind: west 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north, decreasing 4 or 5.
Weather: scattered showers.
Visibility: good or moderate.
Sea State: moderate to rough, but very rough in north, becoming slight to moderate, but rough in north.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point.
24 hour forecast:
Wind: west or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Weather: outbreaks of rain then showers.
Visibility: good or moderate.
Sea State: very rough to high.
Outlook for the following 24 hours:
Wind: west 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5.
Weather: scattered showers.
Visibility: good or moderate.
Sea State: very rough to high becoming rough to very rough.

Outlook for all UK Inshore Waters for following 3 days:
Winds continuing light to moderate off England and Wales and moderate to fresh, locally strong in far north, off Scotland and Northern Ireland throughout the outlook.

[Silkie]

Skipper knows best.

[little boy blue]

well, didn`t make it to rathlin of course so had to settle for rothesay and tarbert. some motoring due to not enough wind and a bit on monday due to too much wind but by and large some excellent sailing. mercifully the rain stayed mainly away but still not warm for easter.
anemo got a bit of a work out on the first trip on its new home.
it will be interesting to see how mccuaig`s bar compares when we eventually get there, but the entertainment in the islay frigate, tarbert on saturday night was good fun.
all in all a good weekend despite the effect on the old muscles gone soft over a winter of idleness.

[Telo]

well, didn`t make it to rathlin of course so had to settle for rothesay and tarbert.

Hmmm, neither did we make Rathlin or McCuaig's bar. Went up to Barmore Island on Friday and then through the canal. With the benefit of hindsight, I wonder if we made the right decision - the actual conditions seemed more favourable than the forecasts suggested, though it was pretty lumpy at the south end of the Firth of Lorn. Anyway, we had two good sailing days, with the canal in between.

Are you coming on ra Cruise?