Anyone cruised Loch Sween

Euan · 28 March 2010, 14:53

Heading over to Loch Sween in May would welcome any comments on cruising this area
have attached recent picture of 'Little Red' tied up at Loch Sunart last september.

Poly · 28 March 2010, 15:44

Euan,

I've done a little - but the user "Jambo" is your man for questions of that nature. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to comment - but what in particular do you want to know?

jambo · 28 March 2010, 17:11

Tx for the vote of confidence Polwart!!

Hi Euan Tayvallich is may home port so ask away what in particular do you wish to know?
Either on here or PM me and I will get back asap. I will be up there at various times during May so maybe able to meet up for a natter or a cruise somewhere, that depends on wether I get my baby back in the water!

J

Euan · 28 March 2010, 21:17

Hi Polwart and Jambo
Just wanted to know how tidal the area around Tayvallich is and if there are any spots to avoid ie shallows, rocks etc
Will not be venturing too far. Mainly fishing and day cruising weather permitting.
Euan

jambo · 28 March 2010, 22:04

Hi Euan
well normally there is 2 highs and lows and with a drop of 4 feet but in 'springs' and with a south westerly swell that can increase. But the slip at the post office is usable at all states of tide and is free. There is a 5mile max speed limit within the reef and you cannot leave your rib on the pontoons over night you will be charged. Get on to the yachting Life site and d/load a copy of Anchorages 2010 and it will give you detais. There are not too many nasties around the Loch except Coffin rock at the bottom of the Loch in the middle stay clear. do not try to go into taynish you will come a cropper. Scotnish watch the reef about 100yds at entrance on the right stay just to the left of it for safe passage but take it easy as there is a submerged reef on the left so you go between them. All the dries are marked in the bay either with crdinals or individual marks. Fairy Isles are lovely just go in middle then slow all way up you will see all the shallows and it is tidal. Just beyond the FIs about 200yds on left of Loch there are a couple of dries so keep out to middle. I could go on but there is no big dangers just use common sense. Give me a PM when you are going and if I am up I can meet you for chat. When are you goin and for how long, are you staying in village?

J

Poly · 28 March 2010, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Euan

Hi Polwart and Jambo
Just wanted to know how tidal the area around Tayvallich is and if there are any spots to avoid ie shallows, rocks etc
Will not be venturing too far. Mainly fishing and day cruising weather permitting.
Euan

I can't tell you if there are any uncharted rocks etc - only that I haven't found any! As I recall there are some rocks on the charts / pilot books which are worth checking out depending on where you go. As for the tides - forget everything you thought you knew about tides... the tidal range doesn't seem to be particularly high (or at least not on the occasions I've been there) but it has a "double high/low tide" - perhaps Jambo can explain it - but in essence the tide come in, goes out a little way, comes back in, goes out all the way, comes back in a little then goes out again before the process begins again.

Bigmuz7 · 28 March 2010, 22:56

Funny how it varies .. with us in the North west coast .. a 3 meter range is ordinary, but in Islay 1 meter is more the norm IIRC

or should that be metre ?

willk · 29 March 2010, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

but in Islay 1 meter is more the norm IIRC

or should that be metre ?

This arrangement is the result of intensive negotiation between the Islay Whisky Commission and the Admiralty in 1951. The 1 meter/metre range is to faciliate those Distillery Visitors who had previously tended to "miss the step" and fall the last 4 meters/metres when returning to their craft in "quare form".

eilean mor · 30 March 2010, 02:18

hi Jambo, must try and catch up this season - boat currently on the drive, but was out at the garvellachs sunday night - nice - but cold!!

loch Sween - I used to work on it for a lot of years, canoed and p/boated lots of it, - I'll have a think and get back to you.

C.

Bigmuz7 · 30 March 2010, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

user "Jambo" is your man

He clearly was in Star Trek character mode there .... he could have been more logical and referred to you as user 2438 .. but preferred the curious human phenomenon of using a name

willk · 30 March 2010, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

He clearly was in Star Trek character mode there .... he could have been more logical and referred to you as user 2438 .. but preferred the curious human phenomenon of using a name

and there was me thinking that Jambo had been at the Bostik again...

jambo · 30 March 2010, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

He clearly was in Star Trek character mode there .... he could have been more logical and referred to you as user 2438 .. but preferred the curious human phenomenon of using a name

Hi Bigmuz yea I thought the 'Borg' had caught up on me!! But our friend meant well and that is the most important thing.

Billy

jambo · 30 March 2010, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

and there was me thinking that Jambo had been at the Bostik again...

Hi friend you giving away my inner secrets!! Richard what a hellva day I see you are getting the 'white' stuff (steady) snow over youre way do not send it over the ditch.
See you soon on the water I hope.

Billy

jambo · 30 March 2010, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by eilean mor

hi Jambo, must try and catch up this season - boat currently on the drive, but was out at the garvellachs sunday night - nice - but cold!!

loch Sween - I used to work on it for a lot of years, canoed and p/boated lots of it, - I'll have a think and get back to you.

C.

Hi Chris how you doing? yes I saw your post the other day and I thought it may be a touch coldish!!
Would love to catch up over the next hopefully summer months when we can go for a cruise and catch some lunch and a pint somewhere nice. I* gave Euan one or two pointers but i did not want to go on and on, hopefully I am up that week and can meet him get an idea what he wants to do and point him in the right direction.

for now
Billy

gavin · 03 May 2010, 07:52

Hi Euan, I had the pleasure of a day trip up loch Sween, a couple of years ago.We anchored at Castle Sween, and swam ashore in drysuits to have a look at the Castle.Tayvallich is a great village, you could always time your arrival/departure with the Jura ferry and tag along behind as they know the route in and out,
http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...bredian+cruise

Euan · 05 May 2010, 22:15

Hi Gavin
thanks for that advice about the Jura ferry I might just try that.
Thought your trip sounded amazing especially in all that wind.

Cheers

Euan