Lizzie May Long Weekend Voyage - West Coast Odessey

Voyage Number	LM912
Voyage price	£390
Voyage Dates	31/07/2009 - 10:00 - 03/08/2009 - 17:00
Depart from	Oban
Finishing Port	Largs
Voyage area	Scotland
Voyage type	Pilot Cutters , Short Breaks , Weekend Voyages
Vessel	Lizzie May
Availability	Fully booked

Voyage Description

Explore West Coast of Scotland under Sail

A four day short break as working guest crew aboard pilot cutter Lizzie May. If you are visiting Scotland from abroad, then this activity based holiday package gives you a wide range of experiences and scenery viewed from an interesting angle.Sailing an eye catching wooden pilot cutter will usually introduce you to some interesting characters in ports and anchorages. No sailing experience is necessary as you will be given full training so you can be an active part of the crew.

Starting in Oban you only need to walk away from the station a few metres and you are amongst the fisherman’s stalls selling fresh prawns, langostines and scallops. Western Scotland is a rich marine ecosystem which offers fantastic seafood and wildlife watching from the sea eagles of Mull to the dolphins and whales that cruise the deep waters between the Western Isles. Starting at 10am you will probably need to spend a night in Oban (see our port details) but that means you will fresher and able to enjoy the first days spectacular sailing.

After safety briefings and training you have plenty of open water in the Firth of Lorne to get your sea legs and plenty of scenery from Duart Castle guarding the Sound of Mull to the mountains of Mull as you head south. There are some lovely anchorages on route like Puilladobhrain (home of the otter) which is a narrow perfectly sheltered inlet south of Oban, but you may aim further afield on the first night.

Islay, Jura & Colonsay

Depending on the wind direction and strength your 4 day voyage might make the best of the sailing grounds around Mull, Iona, Colonsay, Islay and Jura, sailing through the Sound of Islay and down around the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula. This is the long way around. Back in home waters you could enjoy a last anchorage off Arran or perhaps Ailsa Craig before heading for Largs.

Alternatively you might seek a more sheltered route via Cuan Sound or Sound of Luing where there are a couple of narrow channels to negotiate, tides to get right, and the famous whirlpools of Corryvrecken to avoid, and then Lizzie May reaches The Sound of Jura. Well protected from the swell of the Atlantic Ocean by the large island of Jura this has been a major routeway to and from the Western Isles for Centuries.

The Crinan Canal – ‘Britain’s most beautiful shortcut’

Chosing this route you can take advantage of the Crinan Canal – ‘Britain’s most beautiful shortcut’ – an option not available in Viking times ! You would be hard pressed to find a more attractive stretch in inland water between two spectacularly different coastal sailing grounds. At just 9 miles long the Crinan Canal links The Sound of Jura with Loch Fyne at Ardrishaig. For Clyde based boats or those travelling northwards the Crinan Canal offers a shorter ‘Gateway to the Western Isles’ and Hebrides than sailing the long miles south and around the Mull of Kintyre. It still requires some effort with 15 locks to negotiate.

It is quite strange to be crew on a good looking gaff cutter and have towpath cyclists chatting to you as you navigate the canal, and there is plenty of classic Scottish scenery to enjoy from a slightly more pastoral setting than the first part of the voyage.

If you chose this route then Lizzie May is back in her home sailing waters and can show you the delights of the Kyles of Bute, seek out Loch Fyne oysters and kipper, visit characterful fishing villages like East Loch Tarbert, or anchor in Lamlash Cove under the moody mountain ridges of Arran.

The voyage ends in Largs. For Port information and other holiday and travel ideas see the end port details page.
 

Long Weekend Voyage - West Coast Oydessey - ITINERARY

DAY ONE  Fri 31st July 2009 Join 10am

Lizzie May’s skipper will explain the plan for the next few days, dependant on weather and tides. After safety briefings, you will be introduced to the traditional sailing skills need to sail Lizzie May. Apart from her barrel windlass there are no winches on board – just blocks and tackles.

Large enough to leave under sail if you keep clear of the island ferries, Oban harbour takes you straight out into unmistakeably Scottish scenery. Duart Castle guards the entrance to the Sound of Mull, but if the weather is fine Lizzie May will sail down the Firth of Lorne where there is plenty of room to practice tacking, or gybing. The mountains of Mull make a great backdrop and occasionally you see seals swimming across, or dolphins and whales in this major deep water routeway.

The beauty of sailing in Scotland amongst the islands is that there are nearly always several deep water routes you can chose, and an infinite number of anchorages where you may be the only boat.

For the first night you might shelter in the deep inlet called Puilladobhrain. Impossible to pronounce but it means home of the otter, so keep an eye out at dawn or dusk.

Alternatively you might head for mainland lochs like Loch Melfort if the weather is going to be a bit wild for a few days. There are strong tides through Scarba, Luing and Seil but the journey should get progressively more sheltered as the gaps between islands get narrower. As you get whisked along silently by the tide keeps your eyes peeled for seals, otters and birds amongst the kelp. This inshore route opens up the option of taking the Crinan Canal back into the waters of the Clyde and spending more time exploring around Arran, Kyles of Bute, Loch Fyne. (see Lizzie May’s 3 day voyages for more details of her autumn and spring cruising ground)

DAY TWO – Sat 1st August 2009

From an anchorage like Puilladobhrain you could have a day sailing south westward to anchor off and explore Colonsay during the long daylight hours of a Scottish Summer. If the tide is out you can walk from Colonsay to Oronsay via a wide expanse of shell rich sand. There is an Augustinian Priory ruin built in 1380 on Oronsay, second only to Iona monastery in terms of archeological importance.

Alternatively you might sail to Jura or Islay, ready for a trip south through the Sound of Islay in the morning. Anchor at the northern end of the Sound of Islay to see the raised beaches, arches and caves on the West side of Jura (Over 50 large caves were used as mortuaries before shipping bodies out to the monastery on Iona).

The lure of Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavullin, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain or Caol Ila whisky distilleries may tempt you to anchor off Islay instead. For ornithologists there are more bird species on Islay than any other Hebridean island with 180 species from choughs to golden eagles and lots of geese. The Lord of the Isles held council on Islay in the 14th Century and the ruins of this Scottish Gaelic culture include the great hall at Loch Finlaggan.

DAY THREE -Sunday 2nd August 2009

The Sound of Islay provides a stunning backdrop, so why not take advantage of the flat waters and take a photo from the bowsprit. Beyond the Sound you are out in the open sea known as Malin in the shipping forcasts. The tides are strong and you need to look out for large shipping as you sail through the North Channel between Northern Ireland and the Mull of Kintyre Peninsula. There are plenty of lighthouses so you could even experience a night sail if it fits with the tides and helps maximise the holiday exploration options. There is an anchorage off Sanda Island once you have rounded the Mull of Kintyre, or Campbeltown gives a chance to grab a shower ashore.

DAY 4 - Monday 6th July

Back in South West Scotland and the Firth of Clyde, you are in Lizzie May’s home waters. Although you will see more yachts it still has a wild offshore feel to much of the sailing grounds. The jagged mountain ridge skyline of Arran dominates the outer approaches and provides a classic brooding backdrop to Lizzie May’s cream sails. Sandy anchorages like Brodick Bay have steep slopes above them. Bute is smaller and more pastoral, whilst the islands of Great and Little Cumbrae can be navigated in an afternoon. If you have sailed the long way around you may only gain a passing glimpse of this area on the way to Largs, but when you feel the call of the sea again, remember that this sailing ground is in easy reach of Glasgow for a short break again on Lizzie May.

The voyage ends in Largs at 1700hrs. For Port information and other holiday and travel ideas see the end port details page.

Photo cuortesy Fr Paul Hackett

Oban
 

Oban has been described as one of the most scenic travel destinations. The sheltered port of Oban (“little bay” in Gaelic) is surrounded by views of earth, sea and sky, which have enthralled artists, authors, composers, and poets for centuries.

Known as the gateway to Argyll and the Western Isles, Oban is the perfect origin for your own journey to discover the enchantment of the west coast of Scotland.

Oban has always been known as the traveller’s rest. As a small town with a resident population of 8,500 this unofficial capital of the West Highlands often swells with large numbers of visitors.

Oban is renowned for its glorious gardens, its fabulous views, the ocean promenade, islands all around, ancient monuments and castles, and outdoor activities such as diving, hiking, fishing, bird-watching – even whale spotting - especially from pilot cutters and tall ships.

Queen Victoria visited the town and gave it the royal seal of approval when she described it as "one of the finest spots we have seen".
 

Getting to Oban

By Road
Head up the A82 from Glasgow and keep going all the way past Loch Lomond and its steam ships. When you get to Tyndrum turn to port (left) onto the A85 for Oban. Find the North Quay and then further into Town and near Tesco you will find secure paid for parking at Oban Car Hire which does have to be paid for.

By Coach
CityLink offer connections from Glasgow Buchanan Street train and Bus Station and Glasgow Airport.

By Train
ScotRail has trains for Oban that also leave from Buchanan Street Station.

By Plane
You can fly from Central Glasgow to Oban on Loch Lomond Seaplanes - probably the most dramatic way to arrive - certainly the quickest from Glasgow.
 

Accommodation
There are lots of places to stay in Oban, The Official Oban Tourist Office has the best local directory.
 

Lizzie May sister ship to Eve of St Mawes sailing together in the Fal with St Mawes in the background.

Click here for all Lizzie May Voyages 2010

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 & Skipper- Chef Laurie

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.  Either Jerry or Laurie Mills will usually be your skipper on Lizzie May.

Skipper Laurie is also a chef. When he is not on Lizzie May he has his own company cooking private dinner parties and performing chef cooking demonstrations at farmers markets with fresh organic produce. Laurie is a former restauranteur and made his name running an award winning restaurant in Royal Deeside.

Photo: Jerry - mid English Channel on Eve's bowsprit  2007

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.
 

Click here for all Lizzie May Voyages 2010