by Malcolm Sadler » Mon May 22, 2017 5:22 pm
Dennis
Gary and I, both rather last minute planners, are firming up the Firth of Clyde week
We'll launch at Kip Marina on 29th May. Day cruise on 30th May - possibly to explore Holy Loch and some of Loch Long but depends on tides and wind
1st June I have to train back to Oxford for a funeral so Gary can say what he's going to do then
2nd June and through to the night of 5th we will aim to visit Port Bannantyne or Rothesay (both marinas/pontoons), possibly a night on visitors' moorings off Tighnabruaich, Portvadie and/or E Loch Tarbert. I am checking tides today. Routes between these, and day cruises, will depend on conditions (and Submarine exercises!) but from the chart and the CCA Sailing Directions some of the following look appealing:-
Around Great and Little Cumbrae.
Around Bute (probably 2 days and maybe in 2 legs, one diverting up Loch Fyne to visit Portvadie/ E L Tarbert
Explore some of Loch Fyne
Over to Arran (pretty definitely not around it as that is 50/60 NM with no guaranteed safe haven!)
Reading the "Sailing Directions " it sounds as if there are few anchorages suitable for a novice like me and suitable for all winds so we will limit ourselves to pontoons, marinas and buoy moorings. We'll take at least one tender.
As Gary has said on the 2017 Rally thread, we will do some scouting on this trip, so will be able to recommend with more confidence if the CCA fancies a rally in Firth of Clyde in a future year. From video blogs of other CC sailors, it does look very beautiful in the sunshine, but I am quite prepared to believe it can have a very different face in a Southerly storm!
All the best
Malcolm