Scottish West Coast

 

 

After passing through Cuan Sound it is a short sail to Easdale, under jib and mizzen. Easdale is 16 miles south of Oban. 'Eilean Eisdeal', the Easdale Island Community Development Group, is a charitable organisation run by residents and friends of the island to carry out projects on the island of benefit to the community and with the long term aim of regeneration and sustainability for the island.

 

http://www.easdale.org/

 

Passing Duat Castle on the Isle of Mull with a following spring flood tide, which continued to flow all the way up the Sound of Mull to Loch Aline. Trying to head south against this flow would be difficult. There is plenty of room to anchor in the SE corner of Loch Aline. The pilot indicates that this area is full of moorings, but a shoal draft boat can come inside these and anchor on the 5 metre contour. There are pontoons on the west side of the loch which gives easy access to the village of Lochaline. There is also an old quay wall, with tyres hanging down, at the village which would provide a temporary stopping point but is in tidal flow, which is quite strong and would not be recommended for a long stay.

 

Heading north in Loch Linnhe, looking back at Rubha An Ridire.

 

There are a number of well protected anchorages at the north end of Lismore, in Port Ramsey. The most protected is a pool on the east side of Eilean Droineach. The chart shows the entrance to the pool has only 0.4 metres of water at LWS, so this should keep the big boats away!

 

Oban marina is currently up for sale, but it provided a good stopping off point and gave easy access to walking on Kerrera, which would easily occupy a day. The marina charged £16 for a pontoon and showers were £1. Water comes from a spring and it is recommended it is boiled before used for drinking.

 

Heading south through Clachan Sound at high water, there was quite a strong south flowing current.

 

Anchored in Ardinamir Bay, on the east coast of Luing, this  provides a very sheltered overnight stay. It is easy to walk over to Cullipool and visit the Atlantic Centre, which has an excellent café and exhibition about life on the island. There are now five moorings on the west coast next to the village, which are run by the community.

 

 

http://isleofluing.co.uk/

West Cork Run

 

After the rally there was a four day cruise from Baltimore to Cork, where we finally pulled the boat out at a public slip, which was at The Point, Crosshaven, after taking a bus back to Baltimore to collect the trailer and car. The trip took us round some exposed headlands and it was reassuring to have company of other boats, who had completed the trip before.

 

 

The first day finished at Glandore, where we anchored just outside of the small harbour, on the north side of the bay. Just inside the harbour there is a small pontoon, which we tied up alongside in the morning. There are public toilets just up the hill, as well a couple of excellent pubs which gave an excellent view across the estuary.

 

http://www.glandorevillage.ie/Glandore-Village.html

 

On a rising tide it is possible to reach Timoleague, where we spent the second night. There is a ruined abbey and interesting church. The channel is well marked and there is a pontoon in a pool, with an honesty box. Officially you should obtain permission to stay overnight. There are public toilets opposite the pontoon. We estimated you could reach here 2 hours either side of high water, although I wouldn't want to leave it too late on a falling tide.

 

http://www.timoleague.ie/

 

The third and final night was spent at Kinsale Yacht Club Marina, this cost 20 euros plus 4 euros harbour dues. The marina was well organised and the club house had excellent showers, a bar and served meals.

 

http://www.kyc.ie/index.cfm/page/marina 

 

 

Arrival at Crosshaven

Baltimore Rally

 

Just outside of Baltimore is Hegarty's boat yard, where the AK Ilen is being restored. This boat was built in 1926 at the Baltimore boatyard, before it left for the Falkland Isalnds, where is spent most of its working life. It was brought back to Ireland 1997.

 

http://www.ilen.ie/what-we-do-2/ilen/

 

 

 

 

 

The Baltimore Rally was a great success and every credit to those who organised it. The weather remained generally very good, in fact it didn't rain once during our two week stay in Ireland. It is a fantastic sailing venue and everyone very friendly and helpful. As well as great sailing, there was also a very full social programme.

 

http://www.baltimore.ie/

 

There are two good slips, one is in the harbour and the other is used by the RoRo ferry but they are steep and although clean, are best used near high water. There was plenty of place to leave trailers near the old railway station. A new toilet block has been built next to the harbour, including showers, which cost 3 euros in tokens, available from the harbour master. There is a floating pontoon in the harbour but this gets very busy with RIBs, we used this for some nights and cost 10 euros per night. We also anchored in The Cove, near the low water line, for two nights. We spent another night on the pontoon on Sherkin Island, you pay at the hotel. Although this was quite busy during the day with day trippers in RIBs, it soon quietened down in the evening. The harbour master managed to remain calm, as at times it looked quite stressful time with so many boats in the harbour.

 

http://www.atlanticboat.ie/

 

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/east-and-south-of-ireland/baltimore/

 

http://www.sherkinisland.eu/

 

Baltimore was quite busy and not everyone paid much attention to the double yellow lines but we found we didn't need to use the car and left it in the main car park, which is free.

 

Taking the boat over to Ireland was quite easy. We used the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and got a 20% discount with Stena as we were AA members, although I don't think this is a regular offer. Officially you are not allowed to carry flares (dangerous cargo) and only a small amount of fuel. We did take passports and SSR documentation but these were never checked. Both our car insurance and AA relay were covered in Ireland. On leaving Dublin Port the easiest route is to take the M50 tunnel, which cost 10 euros during peak times and 3 euros, evenings and weekends, there is a pay booth for this, so you can pay cash. However, you have to then take the M50 motorway which you need to pay electronically, which I did on a iPhone and credit card and we were told that they do chase UK drivers who do not pay. The road network down to Cork was excellent but these are toll roads and you'll need to be prepared to pay 1.90 euros on two occasions. There are wide lay-bys on the road and we filled up with diesel soon after leaving the M50. There were no actual services once you are away from Dublin. The road out from Cork to Baltimore is fine but does narrow for the last part once through Skibbereen. It is worth filling up with fuel for both the car and boat here (there is a shop in Baltimore but no fuel), there is a large garage on the left once you are through the narrow centre part of the town.

 

The return drive is just as simple until you leave the M50 tunnel and pay booth. We needed terminal 2 and this was a left junction straight after the pay booth, it is easy to miss and then you would end up in the centre of Dublin. To help avoid this, it is advisable to use the far left lane at the pay booth.