Inner Hebredian cruise

[gavin]

Myself and Tim have just returned from a week of cruising , including the International Rib Raid in Scotland

Iteniary

Donnaghdee to Portpatrick and back on the Sunday approx 44 miles

Trailer the rib from Bangor to Cusshendall
quick word and some good advice from Tom and Gary in Redbay
Tom also provided us with some serious phone numbers, Island hotels and phone numbers of people to contact for fuel or advice/help along the way.
Tom went through the chart of the trip with us, advising us on harbours, bunkering etc , and this was invaluable as we hadnt done this trip before and are much indebted to him for taking the time out of his busy boat building schedule to talk to us.
Busy is not the word for Redbay, more like flat out
every harbour, except 1 had a Redbay in it.


We left Cushendall approx 4pm running North towards Rathlin Island, we broke from its shelter and made the journey to Islay, our first landfall Port Ellen.

[gavin]

The first pic is Port Ellen and our second Harbour Port Askaig,other pics are the Ribraid

[gavin]

We left Port Ellen that night and headed for Port Askaig , this we made before Sundown , its a small harbour between the Island of Jura and Islay, afforded us good shelter for the night as we were blocked in by the Feolin ferry which overnights there.
The next morning we left in fog and rain ,heading north to Colonsay, this was lumpy enough, we arrived before 11 and had a brief walk around.

[gavin]

The harbour at Colonsay, Puffin divers at Oban, Craobh Haven Marina, and Lunga House

[gavin]

We left Colonsay heading north, as soon as we left the shelter of Colonsay we were basically exposed to the force of Atlantic weather and waves, we were heading north to Iona, but the wind was gusting 6/7 and we were having a lot of water in and negotiating the swell of the Atlantic, it was hard work, and after an hour we broke east and headed for Mull, we ran all the way down towards Oban along the coast of Mull spectacular coastline, and got to Oban approx 3 pm.
We left Oban heading to Puffin Divers operation to see the first 2 11m Redbays built for divers, amazing. That evening we headed out in fairly rough conditions for the Marina at Craobh Haven.
We were welcomed at Craobh by Jim Berry, who organised us a sheltered berth, and even phoned Laird Lyndsay Mac Dougalls residance at Lunga Estate,he organised us a bed for the night and even took us and all our gear up, by car to the estate.
We were really impressed by his kindness, his pristine car ,his help, advice and the warmth we were recieved with by Jim and his staff.
We overnighted at Lunga, the Lairds good lady provided us with a cottage for the night, and breakfast in the morning, offered lifts to the village,
A very welcoming family.
We ate that evening in Lord of the Isles , at Craobh Haven, a grand spot for food and boat talk.

[gavin]

We departed Lunga and Craobh, heading for the penultimate , Whirlpool at Corryvreckan, spent a while there, letting the whirlpool spin us slowly and about.
The next leg took us to Loch Sween , Sween Castle and the harbour north in Loch Sween Tayvallich.
This is a well sheltered spot, mooring buoys in the Loch and a visitors pontoon in the harbour, good food and a plesant village

[gavin]

The Whirlpool and Castle Sween

[gavin]

Loch Sween was good for snorkling and there is a lot to see ashore, we left that evening heading across Jura sound to Craighouse, the harbour was very exposed , we took a gamble and headed to the Isle of Giha.

We dined in the hotel and camped that night beside the beach, only 120 people live there, its well worth a visit.
The next morning we headed south, along the Mull of Kyntire to Sanda, the supply boat was there, and on the bottom, as the tide was low, so we headed back out for the nasty punch home to Cushendall across the North Channel,beam on seas and another 7 for about 22 miles.

I can see whay they all go Cabin Ribs from Redbay

[gavin]

Paps of Jura, Isle of Giha, Sanda and Mull of Kyntire from its southerly most point

[ozzydownunder]

hey gavin funnly enough we were there 1 or 2weeks back in a small place called loch melfort. I think you might of passed it. Anyway what did you think of the big alantic swell eh.

[codprawn]

Stunning photos - good job there were no Land Rovers around eh???

You have access to some great cruising grounds - very jealous. I want to take my RIB up to the West Coast of Scotland one day - maybe even across to Ireland but I don't know if my stupid old Discovery will tow it that far.....

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by codprawn

but I don't know if my stupid old Discovery will tow it that far.....

Probably break down a few dozen times I should think, apparently they are quite unreliable

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Probably break down a few dozen times I should think, apparently they are quite unreliable

Tell me about it - I ended up winching myself off every lampost from Weymouth to Swansea!!!

[Simon B]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Tell me about it - I ended up winching myself off every lampost from Weymouth to Swansea!!!

Landrovers are good, but Codders, I never thought they were that exciting!....Hello Miss Frost - Codprawn has been a very naughty boy.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Simon B

Landrovers are good, but Codders, I never thought they were that exciting

But what would a doctored photo of Gavins Redbay being towed by a Landie be worth

Gavin, great write up, good to hear about others adventures and a fab part of the world. Were you not worried about driving a rib through Belfast though, there are some really dodgy areas you know. You could have ended up here

Link

Pete

[gavin]

We mostly saw Subraus and Shoguns, however to be fair we did see this Landy towing this 6 ton 11m Redbay
This is a passenger Humber which visits Corryvreckan and A waterfall on Mull

[codprawn]

The Humber is a quinquari special - think the bloke who drives it lurks on here.....

[Shaggy]

Great photos, looks like you had a fantasic trip.

Shaggy

[Simon B]

Ahh Puffin divers.....the memories come flooding back!

Its a great boat to be sure.