Ardfern to Linnhe

[Flobbets]

Hi all,

We've just bought the Westerly Pentland, Albion, which may be known to some of you. She's currently at Ardfern, but we'll probably be moving her to Linnhe Marine soon.

Any suggestions/comments/must-sees/avoid-at all-costs for that trip would be greatly appreciated.

We still have Alauda (our Pageant) in Banff, near home, but having fallen in love with the west coast...

Mike

[Nick]

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~ Make sure you have the tide right for the Dorus Mor and the Sound of Luing

~ Stop off overnight in Puilladobhrain if you haven't visited before

[Telo]

Shard and Ghillie are at Linnhe Marine - we'll keep an eye open for Albion.

Agree with Nick, Puilladobhrain's a nice spot, and handy for a pub. But there are some other nice anchorages on your way north, Lunga, Eilean Dubh Mor/Beag, Ardinamir (if you want to jouk aboot through Cuan), Duart Bay, Eilean nan Ridire, Inniemore Bay, South Bernera Bay on Lismore, Eilean no Cloiche and Eilean Dubh in the Lynn of Lorn, Airds Bay, Port Ramsay..... Spoilt for choice really.

[Flobbets]

Spoilt for choice is right! Exactly why we took the otherwise crazy decision to have two boats. Alauda is half an hour away in Banff, so ideal for a daysail, but the Moray Firth, delightful though it is, can't compare with the west coast. I trying to convince myself that the decision was therefore logical (for a given value of logical).

Shard and Ghillie - please come and say hello if you see us. We'll put the kettle on or crack a bottle or two.

Mike

[Nick]

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Two boats is eminently sensible - all I would argue about is the location of boat no. 1

Winters on Seil can be long, and ever since we came back from our year-long trip to Portugal, the Canaries and the Azores we have had the dream of buying a second boat - maybe even another Vega - anad taking her down to the Canaries to base her there permanently. We have also thought about doing it with other people - a yacht is the perfect Canaries timeshare, able to be moved from island to island and cheap as chips compared to a concrete apartment.

We made friends with a liveaboard couple on a Westerly Longbow, which is the same hull as the Pentland, while we were in La Gomera. They had sailed her from the Med to the Canaries and the last we heard from them they were in Brazil - you have an excellent and sturdy boat there.

[Ghillie]

We winter in Ardrossan and the only sailing we have managed this season is to deliver the boat to Linnhe Marine, but what a delivery! Going through the Crinan in bright sunshine and then up through the Dorus Mor and the Sound of Luing with the tide and attendant whirlpools is hard to beat anywhere. Will look out for you.

[Flobbets]

We were intending to perhaps get a second boat next year or the year after. Went online to show the family the sort of boat I was thinking of. Saw Albion. Decided to go and see her - just for a look, get our eye in etc. Family instantly fell in love with her (ok, me too) and the rest is history.

She's been neglected since her previous owner passed away so in need of some tlc, but she seems well equipped (even got stuff like radar, liferaft, generator, wind generator and all the usual electronics) and was obviously in the middle of upgrading when she was left, since the sprayhood and other bits are quite new. She is a late model with aft galley and wooden cabin sole and for the first time I'll have a nav station - what luxury!

What swung it for the family though is the fact that she's got tan sails; so much for cold hard logic.

We're heading for Ardfern tonight to take official ownership and sort her out ready to be moved. Anyone around there this weekend, come and say hello.

Mike

[Telo]

Anyone around there this weekend, come and say hello.

Sadly, very unlikely, as one of my hands is laid up having had surgical pins removed yesterday.

However we've had some terrific sailing sailing so far this year - good winds, but bloody chilly for much of the time. Just my luck that it's suddenly become warmer. Anyway, there's always the gardening for me to supervise [ouch].

Have fun!

[Ecotec]

I am located in Tenerife, Canaries and offer all support services, consultancy, tourism, documentation, charges, informations, marinas, boating repair, etc etc for those who want to visit us and feel supported. To have your boat here is a good idea
Fell free to contact me
Regards
Juan

[Oystercatcher]

Hello
I have sailed my Drascombe Lugger three times in the Arisaig - Eigg - Sleat - Scavaig - Rum -Sound of Raasay - area and went last year from Arisaig through to Torridon. -Sailing when the wind not too strong and camping on beaches. Great.
I have done a short trip through the Crinan canal to Ardfern.
Now I'm thinking about a trip from Crinan to Oban via the Clachan sound and the bridge over the Atlantic. However from my experience in that area and from reading the guide books it is clear that the area is much more difficult than north of Ardnamurchan: more scary tides, and no beaches to park on when it's too windy.
Dorus Mor seems the worst thing. Has anyone done it? What would it be like in a nice southerly force 4 with the tide optimal? What are the whirlpools like? Boat is 19ft long.

[Telo]

We're a bit bigger than a 19 footer, but shouldn't expect too much bother at Dorus Mor if you get the tides right. Otherwise, forget it.

Re shelter in the the area, you're never too far from a reasonable anchorage, and the islands and lochs usually provide protection from a variety of wind directions.

[Silkie]

I'm not much bigger than 19' although quite a bit heavier than a Drascombe but size is largely irrelevant. If you read your pilot and double check the tides (anyone can make a mistake ) the Dorus is a doddle. There are eddies but no real whirlpool.

Let us know when you're going to transit Clachan Sound. I'm sure someone will be available to immortalise you sailing under the famous Bridge over the Atlantic.