Lizzie May - West to East Classic Passage through the Caledonian Canal FULL

Voyage Number	LM1025
Voyage price	£375 for 3 days
Voyage Dates	17/09/2010 - 15:00 - 20/09/2010 - 15:00
Depart from	Fort William, Scotland
Finishing Port	Inverness
Voyage area	Scotland
Voyage type	Weekend Voyages
Vessel	Lizzie May
Availability	Fully booked

Voyage Description

Fort William - Loch Ness "Nessie" Caledonian Canal - Inverness 

The whole trip from Fort William to Inverness is completed in an incredible deep and long geological fault line that starts near the island of Islay in the south west going right up through Loch Lorne and Loch Ness and forms the shore line right up to Tarbat Ness north of Inverness.

It is a very unusual way to see the Lochs of this great rift valley. There will be time to stop and explore on the way and a lot of fun to be had at the canal locks.

Having left Fort William we'll pass through lochs and locks.  After the tidal waters of Loch Linnhe near Fort William there are locks to lift us from sea level into the Caledonian Canal.  Seven locks - Neptune's Steps -  at the end of Loch Lochy take us to Loch Oich. 

The fnal part of the voyage takes you through the beautiful Glen More down the full length of Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle shown above. Loch Ness is famous for the depth that allows the Loch Ness Monster to hide away for centuries at a time. Well that's the myth of Nessie but you will have to make up your own mind about it and keep careful lookout while aboard.

Loch Ness is certainly deep, very long and very scenic.  Of all the beautiful lochs that you will sail, this is the most fabled and well known.  Travelling by traditional pilot cutter is certainly the best way to view the stunning environment and get a real feel of the history of this unique place.

For a more detailed description of this passage please read the itinerary page.

Fort William to Inverness Via Caledonian Canal

Day 1 -
Slicing through the Great Glen of the Scottish Highlands, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich, Loch Ness and Loch Dochfour lie in near-perfect alignment between Fort William and Inverness. Only relatively short artificial canals were required to link them together. The result? A 60-mile connection between western and eastern seawaters, with water supply guaranteed.Thomas Telford, usually heads the plaudits for this spectacular feat of engineering - a feat in which his artistic inclinations were permitted to run riot. At more than 50 yards (46m) long, its locks were huge by the standards of the time. Many of them are arranged in `staircases` interconnected locks in which the top gates of one lock are the bottom gates of the next.

The massive eight-lock flight at Banavie, known as Neptune`s Staircase, is little short of breathtaking. The entire canal smacks of similar engineering feats on a grand scale, defying direct comparison with any other canal in Britain. This special trip will provide relaxed cruising with good company in sheltered waters whilst enjoying the benefits of living aboard a traditional pilot cutter. The amazing scenic contrast between East and West Scotland has to be seen to be believed.

After arriving Lizzie May’s skipper will explain the plan for the next few days, weather and tides are not an issue regarding progress and after safety briefings, you will be introduced to the traditional sailing skills needed to sail Lizzie May in the fresh water lochs that are part of the canal. Apart from her barrel windlass there are no winches on board – just blocks and tackles. She has five sails for fast light wind sailing and smaller sail plans to cope with higher wind speeds and of course an auxiliary diesel engine for use in the interconnecting waters between the lochs . Lizzie Mays design is based on the tough pilot cutters that operated in the long ocean swells off the Isles of Scilly, she is a great boat and you will feel like you are on a much larger vessel.

Lizzie May will begin at Banavie at the Fort William end of the canal and with the help of everyone aboard she will work her way through the first few locks and swing bridges with the support of the helpful canal staff. Your skipper will try to reach Gairlochy before the canal closes for the night and you will learn how to secure Lizzie May to a floating pontoon before retiring below decks to enjoy an evening meal or have a pre dinner strole along banks of the canal.

Day 2 - Not only is the Caledonian canal an amazing feat of engineering , pioneered by Thomas Telford but its route takes you through Scottish culture and heritage fought over for centuries and the scene of countless battles. Here is one example; The Well of the Seven Heads.

On returning from France in 1663, two members of the McDonnells of Keppoch were murdered by their uncle and his six sons during a family quarrel at a celebration. All those responsible were rounded up and beheaded, their severed heads being washed in the spring running into Loch Oich before being presented before the Chief in Invergarry Castle. The monument, erected in 1812 is at Invergarry Castle lwhich you will pass later today on during the sail up Loch Lochy.

An early start today is required to enjoy hands on working of warps in the locks when your rope throwing skills will be tested as well as your knots. Tonight could be spent in the enchanting town of Fort Augustus. There will be an opportunity to explore this area on foot .

Day 3 - After breakfast at Fort Augustus (which was built by General Wade between the Jacobite rising of 1715 and1745) you will sail up Loch Ness and also get a chance to spot Nessie. One of our skippers saw the Loch Ness monster in the summer of 1972 at the South West corner of the Loch so keep your eyes peeled as Lizzie May departs from Fort Augustus. Further up on the port side (left) you will see Urquart Castle which is one of Scotland’s largest castles. It was used from the 13th to 17th centuries and featured prominently in Scotland’s struggle for independence under the control of Robert the Bruce.
You could be hoisting the lofty topsail along with the other four sails which Lizzie May carries and magestically glide up loch Ness with many admiring glances from passers by.

Day 4 - This morning Lizzie May could be leaving from an anchorage near the North West end of Loch Ness or from Dochgarroch in the final stretch of the canal before arriving in Inverness (Scotlands Highland Capital). You could be disembarking at Muirtown Basin in the canal or at the new Inverness Marina which is in the Beauly Basin outside the canal. Both locations are suitable for easy access to public transport within Inverness

Fort William

Fort William is the natural centre of a large area of Scotland and has excellent road and train links. Glasgow and Inverness airports are both under 100 miles away while Prestwick airport is just 45 minutes south of Glasgow.

It is the largest town in the Highlands and is also known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK due to its proximity to Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain.

The pedestrianised High Street has a good range of shops, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts. The Grog and Gruel is a popular pub and there is also the award winning Crannog Seafood Restaurant. The West Highland Museum in the centre of town is good if you have some extra time.

Fort William offers plenty of hotel, B&Bs and guesthouses.  Visit Fort William gives details.
 

Inverness

This is the last city as you head north in Scotland.

It is ideally placed for access down the Caledonian Canal to the West Coast of Scotland and into the glens out towards Torridon. Further north you will find Wick and eventualy John O'Groats.

It has good rail, coach and air connections and the A9 will take you all the way back to Edinburgh.

It has good restaurants and local accommodation.

Lizzie May sailing in Scotland 

See below for all 2012 voyages on Lizzie May

Specifications

Lizzie May was built new in 1999 by Luke Powell of Working Sail using traditional construction techniques to create a wooden pilot cutter with real character. Her frames are oak with larch planking and hardwood deck. Lizzie is 42ft on deck with a long 13ft bowsprit and lofty topmast. Her beam of 12ft gives her plenty of flat deck space and her low profile coach house is barely visible so all onlookers see is a traditional boat with lovely sheer lines.

The coach house also provides outward facing seating so you wont miss the scenery. All the rigging is ash blocks and tackles so you wont be sitting down for long.

There are no winches on board so everybody keeps warm and active pulling together. Sailing in Scotland requires a good anchor and true to her working boat origins Lizzie May has a barrel windlass to raise the anchor.

The vessel weighs 18 ton with a long deep keel—ideal for open sea sailing. The large mainsail can be slab reefed and even the staysail can be reefed in strong winds, so with a storm jib too she can make the most of the wilder days.. On light wind days she can glide up the lochs and narrows with a large flying jib and gaff topsail. 

Below Decks

Below decks is very light with loads of character and varnished wood. There are two single berths in the forepeak, three berths in the saloon and a double berth in the starboard quarter with limited headroom (back of the boat). Please remember this is only a 42ft boat with an elegant raked stern so spaces are communal, there are a few low beams and limited storage.

Lizzie has a lovely oak table, a small heater in the saloon, hot and cold water and WC, galley and modern navigational equipment. She carries all safety equipment required for her commercial coding under the MCA (Marine Coastguard Agency) and licensed to sail offshore up to 60 miles from a safe haven.

Lizzie May Skipper Jerry 

Jerry Headley bought Lizzie May in 2007- with the intention of setting up his own charter company, after a rather life changing voyage to Paimpol Shanty Festival on 'Eve of St Mawes.' He was not the only Eve crew on that voyage to find themselves owning a classic wooden boat. (Classical Guitarist James Boyd bought classic yacht Concord - currently nominated for Classic Boat Magazine Restoration of the Year)
 

Jerry's enthusiasm for pilot cutters shone through and it was evident he would make a sociable and relaxed charter skipper. Classic Sailing were thrilled to work with Jerry to establish Eve's  'sister ship' on the West Coast of Scotland, near Jerry's home. 

Lizzie May Printable details and Voyage Notes Lizzie May PDF

Lizzie May 2012 Schedule 

	Lizzie May Easter Bank Holiday 3 days for only £390 LM1201	Lizzie May	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Fri, 06/04/2012 - 15:00- to Mon, 09/04/2012 - 15:00
	Lizzie May Scottish Weekend Breaks 2 days for only £260 LM1202	Lizzie May	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Fri, 20/04/2012 - 15:00- to Sun, 22/04/2012 - 15:00
	Lizzie May Weekend Sailing 2 days for only £260 LM1203	Lizzie May	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Fri, 04/05/2012 - 15:00- to Sun, 06/05/2012 - 15:00

	Lizzie May Weekend Sailing 2 days for only £260 LM1204	Lizzie May	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Fri, 18/05/2012 - 15:00- to Sun, 20/05/2012 - 15:00
	Lizzie May Weekend Sailing 2 days for only £260 LM1205	Lizzie May	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Fri, 01/06/2012 - 15:00- to Sun, 03/06/2012 - 15:00
	Lizzie May - Arran, Mull of Kintyre, Islay, Jura on the way to Oban 5 Days £650 LM1206	Lizzie May	Bute, Port Bannatyne, Scotland	Oban	Fri, 15/06/2012 - 15:00- to Wed, 20/06/2012 - 10:00
	Lizzie May - West Coast Adventure- North to Mull, Skye or South to Jura, Islay etc - FULL LM1207	Lizzie May	Oban	Oban	Wed, 20/06/2012 - 15:00- to Wed, 27/06/2012 - 10:00
	Lizzie May - West Coast Adventure- Oban to Falmouth - 7 days - £780 - FULL LM1208	Lizzie May	Oban	Falmouth, UK	Fri, 29/06/2012 - 15:00- to Fri, 06/07/2012 - 10:00
	Lizzie May - Brest International Festival of the Sea 2012 - 6 days - £780 LM1209	Lizzie May	Falmouth, UK	Brest, France	Thu, 12/07/2012 - 15:00- to Wed, 18/07/2012 - 10:00
	Lizzie May - Brest to Douarnenez 2012 - 3 days - £390 LM1210	Lizzie May	Brest, France	Douarnenez, France	Wed, 18/07/2012 - 15:00- to Sat, 21/07/2012 - 10:00

What to bring

Boats have very limited stowage space so please limit yourself to one soft collapsible bag or rucksack (not a suitcase).
Bring a sleeping bag (we provide pillows and pillow cases).
We can supply waterproof jackets and trousers but you may prefer to bring your own if you have them.
A hat for sun or cold weather.
Swimsuit, towel and sun cream.
Flat shoes with a good grip e.g. trainers or deck shoes. Sailing boots or wellies as the sea can wash over the deck (an alternative to boots in the summer is another pair of trainers in case the first pair get wet).
A small rucksack is useful for going ashore.
Camera, binoculars, sketchbook and a good read.
Any medication, spare spectacles, seasick tablets (check which brand with your doctor if you are on any medication)

RYA Cruising Logbook if you are keeping a record of your experience for qualification purposes.

Musical instruments are most welcome.