While willk is busy burning diesel.... - Page 2

jwalker · 05 July 2018, 22:56

The canal was remarkably quiet too. Perhaps the last few summers have discouraged folk from visiting Scotland. But the pontoons have filled up considerably this evening so we can't blame willk too much.

willk · 06 July 2018, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

Can’t believe the pontoons are so quiet given the weather. Do people not realise the Irish troublemaker has gone back to whence he came?

We arrived in Tobermory at 1900hrs to find it chockers with WAFIs. They were having a three day race*

We had called ahead but the marina wasn't doing phones. They were rafted three deep on the pontoons and the moorings were all gone. We had a B&B booked so were keen to land rather than proceed elsewhere. As we recced the pontoons, a couple of gin swilling WAFIs were delighting in telling us we were too late to get anything. I considered my options and as skipper decided on "Nuclear". I put donegaldan on the bow and dropped him on the end of a finger. Not so much yapping from the wee dogs now. After 5 minutes I got a call on the VHF to say "Proceed to the harbour master's berth at the bridge". I slid in past the WAFIs and there was the 11m Redbay Power of Scotland about to depart her prime berth. We slipped in and nabbed the best space in the place (thanks Cameron!). They all had to walk past her to get to the pub...

* They called it a race. Three days from Oban-Tobermorey-Round Mull-Tobermorey-Oban. Fortunately several of them asked for OUR three day itinerary: Donegal-Stornoway-Tobermorey-Donegal

Poly · 06 July 2018, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

* They called it a race. Three days from Oban-Tobermorey-Round Mull-Tobermorey-Oban. Fortunately several of them asked for OUR three day itinerary: Donegal-Stornoway-Tobermorey-Donegal

Just as well you didn't compare fuel bills

willk · 06 July 2018, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

Just as well you didn't compare fuel bills

Oh, we did. We were bunkering when a HUGE yacht pulled up opposite. He was in an english hurry

He paced about a bit, there was some muttering about racing...
We took 290L, eventually.
He took 70L - oddly he looked a little crestfallen.

I reckon their catering bill waaaay exceeds my fuel bill - they're like you - takes all day to get to the (Ardnamurchan) point...

beamishken · 06 July 2018, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Oh, we did. We were bunkering when a HUGE yacht pulled up opposite. He was in an english hurry

He paced about a bit, there was some muttering about racing...
We took 290L, eventually.
He took 70L - oddly he looked a little crestfallen.

I reckon their catering bill waaaay exceeds my fuel bill - they're like you - takes all day to get to the (Ardnamurchan) point...

I never understand the whole cruising sailing lark, up at the crack of dawn sailing all day to the next destination even though its only 50 miles then no time to see the place their visiting.
We get up at lunchtime do the same 50 miles in a couple of hours or less arrive ahead of the yachts usually, get the best berths and still have time to sight see.
All you get out of yachties is the cost of fuel🤤 but in reality the fuel you put in cost is negligible compared to the overall running cost of any decent sized boat (even at our 1.5 mpg)

And racing at 6kts whats that about?

jwalker · 06 July 2018, 14:36

Today's destination.. 50miles..

Brian · 06 July 2018, 15:18

Lochmaddy??

jwalker · 06 July 2018, 15:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Lochmaddy??

... westish...

willk · 06 July 2018, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian

Lochmaddy??

Too far - where's Wally?

willk · 06 July 2018, 15:39

Lochboisdale praps?

jwalker · 06 July 2018, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Lochboisdale praps?

Yep. Give a prize to that man!..

New harbour, very good and modern and sheltered but it's not a room with a view, you can't see out except upwards!

Maybe that's a bit harsh but it is a limited view.

willk · 06 July 2018, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

Maybe that's a bit harsh but it is a limited view.

Harsh? G'way for a walk ya miserable git! Ye'll be glad if the wind blows. Is there a friendly fuel tanker nearby?

EDIT: Oh, I bet it's that PIN and key thingy? I may have to look into that...

jwalker · 06 July 2018, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Harsh? G'way for a walk ya miserable git!

Shoosht, yer sounding like her next to me...

Quote:

Ye'll be glad if the wind blows.

I ken, there's always a positive. Talkin' about wind, that was a good white pudding supper last night...

Quote:

EDIT: Oh, I bet it's that PIN and key thingy? I may have to look into that...

Might be...

And we only needed 180 lts at Tobermory, so there!

jwalker · 07 July 2018, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

EDIT: Oh, I bet it's that PIN and key thingy? I may have to look into that...

https://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/roads-tr...-and-harbours/

jwalker · 12 July 2018, 20:29

Saturday is forecast to be wild but tonight has turned into a beautiful evening. Will hole up for Sat and sit it out...

willk · 12 July 2018, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

Saturday is forecast to be wild but tonight has turned into a beautiful evening. Will hole up for Sat and sit it out...

Lochmaddy this time? (roundy ended fingers)

jwalker · 12 July 2018, 21:16

Yep, but I'm gonna move now. If I wait until tomorrow it'll be low tide and rain through some tricky places. No telephone signal where I'm going though.

GuyC · 12 July 2018, 21:32

You need to be out of there before the ferry arrives!

It's good to see they have repaired it or at least got it operational. I was concerned that it was going to be deemed to be in an unsafe location.

Kilda next?

duggie12 · 14 July 2018, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

I never understand the whole cruising sailing lark, up at the crack of dawn sailing all day to the next destination even though its only 50 miles then no time to see the place their visiting.
We get up at lunchtime do the same 50 miles in a couple of hours or less arrive ahead of the yachts usually, get the best berths and still have time to sight see.
All you get out of yachties is the cost of fuel🤤 but in reality the fuel you put in cost is negligible compared to the overall running cost of any decent sized boat (even at our 1.5 mpg)

And racing at 6kts whats that about?

Beam thought exactly the same as you but me and my girlfriend halfed in for a yacht this year and love it!
We keep it at crinan so we can go and use it as a caravan without having to actually sail anywhere - much cheaper than a holiday home!
I know what you mean about taking ages to get anywhere but we quite enjoy planning the passage and it really makes you think about the tides and navigation which is quite good fun (if you like that sort of thing!)
And nothing quite like the peace and quiet of moving just using the wind and no noise of an engine to scare the wildlife away. Plus we can go away for weeks at a time and live on it comfortably. Definitely lots of advantages !
Expensive though !

beamishken · 14 July 2018, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by duggie12

Beam thought exactly the same as you but me and my girlfriend halfed in for a yacht this year and love it!
We keep it at crinan so we can go and use it as a caravan without having to actually sail anywhere - much cheaper than a holiday home!
I know what you mean about taking ages to get anywhere but we quite enjoy planning the passage and it really makes you think about the tides and navigation which is quite good fun (if you like that sort of thing!)
And nothing quite like the peace and quiet of moving just using the wind and no noise of an engine to scare the wildlife away. Plus we can go away for weeks at a time and live on it comfortably. Definitely lots of advantages !
Expensive though !

We once blew a headgasket in lock Creran and had to make our way back to largs on 1 engine at 7 kts timed our passage wrong through the sound of luing and ended up doing 1 kt past fladda instead of the normal 25 kts our son who was about 11 or 12 at the time was sat in tears saying" I hate yacht speed ".
Think ill happily put up with the whine of a pair of turbos to turn a 6 or 7 hour passage into a couple of hours