Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 02 July 2016, 12:04   #1
Member
 
Stevem's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Tyne and Wear
Make: RC 4.8 & Aero380
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 50 & 20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 278
Crinan advice please

Hi All

I've got a family holiday booked for the end of this month staying at Duntrune at Crinan.
Weather permitting, I plan to go over to Jura avoiding corryvreckan but is there anything else I need to be aware of in this area.
Also any suggestions of any should see / go to. I'll be in my sib and 25hp so nothing too adventurous!

Thanks.
__________________
Stevem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 12:40   #2
Member
 
ashtonmarine's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: glasgow
Boat name: black cat
Make: redbay
Length: 6m +
Engine: suzuki 140hp
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 77
Hi

ardfern is a short motor away, corryvreckan is great if on neap tides and you are tide with wind. if either of these are not the case then it is interesting. Craobh Marina - Scotland's Gateway to the Isles is a must and mackerel fishing 10 yards outside the harbour walls is v good as well!

Head south just past Ardnackaig and you will find a stunning bay. there is a good pier to tie up to and then walk across to Tayvallich. that will be a stunning day and the food is local and v good.

if you want to see pictures look at my face book page for august last year https://www.facebook.com/david.ashton.16 sorry it a long scroll down but you will at least see where you are going!

Dave
__________________
Ashton Marine Services. Brokerage,Vanclaes, Bramber, Snipe Rapide trailers,
www.ashtonmarineservices.co.uk + 44 (0) 759 5638185 https://www.facebook.com/ashtonmarineservices/
ashtonmarine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 12:59   #3
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,626
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevem View Post
Hi All

I've got a family holiday booked for the end of this month staying at Duntrune at Crinan.
Weather permitting, I plan to go over to Jura avoiding corryvreckan but is there anything else I need to be aware of in this area.
Also any suggestions of any should see / go to. I'll be in my sib and 25hp so nothing too adventurous!

Thanks.
All of the tides round there are fairly strong, and so create overfalls at headlands etc. It is all manageable but make sure you understand wind against tide and plan accordingly. Remember the overfalls will be worst at full flow (spring tides and midway between high/low) and better at neeps and when the tide is turning. Get a proper chart and it will show you where the overfalls are. The Dorus Mor (heading from Crinan to Craobh Haven rather than south) is in my experience usually "worse" than the corry.

In my experience confidence around there is about knowing what the "escape" plan is if you decide a change in weather is too bad, or experience an engine problem etc.
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 13:14   #4
Member
 
The Gurnard's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Stirling
Boat name: The Gurnard
Make: Quicksilver
Length: 4m +
Engine: mariner 25hp 2s
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,664
Nice spot for a Holiday Stevem ..are you at the castle ?



You are in tide race heaven which can be a lot of fun ..assuming the wind is playing ball with the tide. Your 25HP will easily cope with the races if you can
At the end of Loch Craignish ..you have the Dorus Mor race ..it can carry you straight across and then through the Corryvrechan.



You already know the Corryvrechan



Then you have the Grey dogs .. next gap up from the Corryvrechan ..between Scarba and Lunga



There are races around Fladda and the Sound of Luing seen from Belnahua



In fact the whole Sound of Jura is a race itself .. just not as noticeable as the bottle necks it flows through (mentioned above)

Between Jura and Islay is another interesting race .. in the Sound of Islay..you will need to negotiate if you want to visit Loch Tarbet on Jura... with its raised beaches is very worth while.



The U tube videos are showing good flows so I presume spring tides..they don’t always flow as fast. However do be aware of the Dorus Mor ..if you head north..it might be sleeping when you cross it..but can suddenly awaken and be a very intimidating bit of water in a SIB...for you trying to get back

Crinan itself and Loch Craignish are very sheltered ..and its no problem going south down to Carsaig Bay etc. Mackerel have arrived in the area ..so bring your fishing gear.

Timing and good weather is all that is needed...and as Poly mentioned.. know there are various ways to go round the islands etc

Im sure you will enjoy the area..lots to see..in fact too much to mention ..so I wont mention more.
__________________
The Gurnard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 14:10   #5
Member
 
Stevem's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Tyne and Wear
Make: RC 4.8 & Aero380
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 50 & 20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 278
Excellent stuff many thanks, three replies and enough info to last me more than a week... I'd better get the maps out and start planning routes around the suggestions given, just need the weather.
We are in one of the cottages attached to the castle which I think / hope still has water once the tide is out as know a lot of the bay empties out at low water.
Thanks
__________________
Stevem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 14:21   #6
Member
 
The Gurnard's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Stirling
Boat name: The Gurnard
Make: Quicksilver
Length: 4m +
Engine: mariner 25hp 2s
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,664
Yup..it dries out near the castle Stevem ..but Im pretty certain where the RIB is moored in my photo.. it keeps a boat afloat..however slightly further in the bay its high and dry at low water. Keep an eye on your depth if heading straight to Crinan from the castle too...it gets shallow quick near the canal mouth

A nice trip on a good day would be south then up into Loch Sween. In fact..the beauty of a SIB and that area is.. if tide and wind dont suit..just nip across to Loch Fyne..its tide times are the opposite of Crinans..and it can be sheltered there when the coast is not so sheltered. Even drive to Tayvallich..Loch Sween is very pretty..Im sure Jambo will agree
__________________
The Gurnard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 19:49   #7
RIBnet admin team
 
Fenlander's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Cambridgeshire
Boat name: Nimrod II
Make: Aerotec 380
Length: 3m +
Engine: Yam 15 Tohatsu 9.8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,881
Hope you have a good time Steve and look fortward to seeing some pics on here afterwards. As Gurnard says you have a great choice of tidal races! We've stayed in one of the castle estate gatehouses previously but as a non-boating holiday. We really liked the area for family stuff.

I'm sure we've commented before that you will be one week ahead of our holiday and only a few miles north of our destination.... leave us a bit of good weather... and send the midges even further north if you can!
__________________
Fenlander is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 20:40   #8
Member
 
Stevem's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Tyne and Wear
Make: RC 4.8 & Aero380
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 50 & 20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 278
Cheers Gurnard / David, can you remember what the area was like for launching near the castle. Can I leave the boat moored up there?
Will try and get some decent photos but once the Gurnard has posted photos mine look a bit poor, must try and beat the Gurnards.....
__________________
Stevem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 21:32   #9
Member
 
The Gurnard's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Stirling
Boat name: The Gurnard
Make: Quicksilver
Length: 4m +
Engine: mariner 25hp 2s
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,664
I have never stayed at the Castle steve..so only going by memory.

I doubt you could moor a SIB safely there as its quite rocky around the shore even when the tide went out ? I remember keeping a close eye on the bottom as I moved in to take the photo of the RIB. Here is a crop of the photo..so you can see its tender is on the grass as are some kayaks. Around the corner to the seaward side was similar if I recall correct. So think it will be a haul ashore job at night unless its flat calm. But I may be mistaken..I wasnt really looking for that at the time.



I use the wee free slipway at Crinan Village if Im launching the SIB in that area.

I used to enjoy exploring the islands in Loch Craignish ..ie Island Macaskin had a couple of abandoned cottages and an owl made a nest in one..I often saw the owner of Eilean Righ land on the loch in his seaplane
Seago in Loch Craignish on a beach of Island Macaskin



That is why I started using an aux engine even on my wee seago slat floor.. I found the fishing was good heading from Island Macaskin to Crinan.

To the east of the island is sheltered from the Dorus Mor..so I happily motored around with my 2.5hp outboard ..but knew if it failed..I could be sucked into the tide race very quickly .. my oars wouldn’t stop that happening. Its not as bad as the U tube showed when its calm ..and you can go round it if you wish.

Dorus Mor at Craignish point



Looking over Dorus Mor from Craignish Point towards Jura and Scarba gap..where the Corryvrechan lies sleeping



The Dorus Mor is not a problem when there is no wind.. just big boils of moving water but it will kick up big time when the wind causes waves. It can make your heart stop even in the calm .. when a small vortex starts swirling beside your sib ..and you see air getting sucked way down into the depths



It is a lovely area so don’t let the U Tube vids put you off..just be aware ..the races can get like that...and know where they are so they don’t take you by surprise.

Think springs will be around 23 of July..and around about 4m high ? ..then falling off again after that...but I dont have a tide table for there at the mo.

Hope that all helps..if Im in the area ..and its possible ..I could give you a shout and show you some of the places of interest around the races
__________________
The Gurnard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02 July 2016, 22:19   #10
RIBnet admin team
 
Poly's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Boat name: imposter
Make: FunYak
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 30HP
MMSI: 235089819
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,626
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gurnard View Post
...but I dont have a tide table for there at the mo.
Tide and Sea - Tide Tables for Oban
__________________
Poly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 July 2016, 09:34   #11
Member
 
M.Thornton's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: blackpool
Boat name: Fast Forward
Make: Scorpion
Length: 8m +
Engine: 315 Yanmar
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 385
Great to see such valuable advice and help given,this is Rib-net at it's best.
__________________
It looks massive on the trailer,but tiny in a big sea!
M.Thornton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03 July 2016, 14:16   #12
Member
 
Stevem's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Tyne and Wear
Make: RC 4.8 & Aero380
Length: 3m +
Engine: Tohatsu 50 & 20
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 278
[QUOTE=Hope that all helps..if Im in the area ..and its possible ..I could give you a shout and show you some of the places of interest around the races[/QUOTE]

yes it helps a lot. Would be great to meet up if you are in the area, just let me know.
__________________
Stevem is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 00:09.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.