2014.2 Sailing south to Islay

 

The Caledonian Canal allows us to sail from one side of Scotland to the other

When we were waiting at Corpach basin, I noticed the flags at Canal office, including the Canadian which represented the Rideau Canal, were not there. But, soon a boat with a Canadian flag came to the pontoon and also departed with us into sea.

We sailed into Loch Linnhe and stayed overnight at Port Ramsay, and continued sailing south next morning. It was nice to see some of the yachts in Three Peaks Race heading towards their Ben Nevis stage and finish.

 

Sailing from Port Ramsay to south was again calm without much wind. Picture below shows some boats in the anchorage at Pulladobhrain as the morning fog started to clear.

 

 

Then we had a rather difficult time sailing to Islay as the wind died and we had problems with our engine. 

2014.1.From Stromness to south; Inverness and Caledonian Canal

We wish to sail down to Azores Islands this summer.

Sean started from our home port, Stromness with his friend David and David's son Graham.
A pleasant afternoon and evening sail tacking aginst the SE wind took them from Stromness to the visitor buoy off Burray. They then waited a few days for the SE winds to ease and give comfortable conditions for crossing of the Pentland Firth. The wind dropped and the fog closed in, so they crossed the Firth in thick fog, tracking ships with AIS and radar. Further south the fog cleared but they had to motor sail all the way to Inverness, seeing some dolphins on the way.

In Inverness I joined Sean for our cruising to south. It was very nice to be on board and sailing on the Caledonian Canal again. 

Sunset, Seaport Marina.

We had to wait a couple of days in Seaport Marina for our liferaft, as it had been sent away for servicing. Then headed off down the canal. Loch Ness was in a calm mood, with glassy water reflecting the blue and white sky.

Further along the canal it was damp and misty, giving us a typically 'soft' highland day.

Ben Nevis range looked impressive from the Canal as we approach Bannavie and Neptune's Staircase.

Summer 2012. 12.1 Caledonian Canal Passage

At Banavie , Canal Loch opens to let the boats move :

Click the link below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXzE5uukQQ

Summer 2012. 11Sailing to Loch Linnhe, Enterance to Caledonian Canal

Friday, August 17th :
From Loch Aline to Caledonian Canal enterance :

Just before we were planning to move towards Caledonian Canal, Corpach Sea Loch was closed due to some structural damage for several days and then there was some northerly winds against us, so we waited in Loch Aline more than a week.

When the conditions changed, we left Loch Aline and anchored for an overnight stay in Port Ramsay (Lismore Islands ), then sailed the next day in Loch Linnhe towards the Canal enterance.

Loch Linnhe

A view of PortRamsay

Approaching Corran Narrows in Loch Linnhe

Corran Narrows Light house

Saturday , August 18th :

Nice sailing along Loch Linnhe under reefed jib with force 5 southerly winds and heavy showers in the morning and tied along the wood pier in enterance of Corpach Sea Lock to wait for it to open. Then, Inci took the boat into the Sea Lock ! 

Caledonian Canal Enterance - Corpach Sea Lock

Tied alongside in Corpach basin in early evening and stayed overnight.

My first summer on Escapade ( Caledonian Canal )

Caledonian Canal

 I was excited about my first living on board experience. Although I have been sailing in the past and have lived on boats before , it was usually for a week or two and mainly for sailing holidays .

So, this would be my first experience to actually live on board as well as cruising for the whole summer. I must admit I was not sure if I could really do this. Well, let's see how it all went after all...

I arrived at Inverness on May 11^th 2010, after a long flight from Canada and Sean has already moored Escapade at Inverness Seaport Marina after sailing down from Orkney a week before my arrival. Our plan was to sail the West Coast of Scotland for the summer.

First of all, it was nice to be on Escapade again  ( I have seen Escapade for the first time at a boatyard in Plymouth in May 2009, where it was standing on a cradle for maintenance before launched again at sea. I will tell more about this later ). 

After a day of rest and some grocery shopping, we started sailing through Caledonian Canal, heading towards the west coast.

Caledonian Canal :  

Sailing through the canal was so beautiful ! ( my journal has been full of this statement ! whereever we have been sailing in Scotland this summer,  all were incredibly beautiful ! )

 

Handling the ropes and changing levels in the canal locks were interesting experiences :

 

Unfortunately, a swelling on my face along with a tooth ache started during the first days ! Sean had to start the engine and rushed along Loch Ness to get to a center to find a dentist. With the help of a lady in the canal tourist centre at Fort Augustus, we learned about a dental centre in Fort William. So, we ended up spending a couple of extra days in the Canal for my dental treatment. 

However, this gave us a chance to see Fort William and surroundings a little further.  

It was lovely to hear and see the steam train as in Harry Potter films :

Another nice surprise was to see the Canadian flag at Fort William Office building, where I learned about twin canals : Caledonian Canal in Scotland and Rideau Canal in Canada !