Lizzie May - 3 Pilot Cutters West Coast Exploration with Mascotte & Ezra. - FULL

Voyage Number	LM1020
Voyage price	£945
Voyage Dates	13/08/2010 - 10:00 - 20/08/2010 - 15:00
Depart from	Oban
Finishing Port	Mallaig
Voyage area	Scotland
Voyage type	Adventure Voyage , Wildlife Voyages
Vessel	Lizzie May
Availability	Last Place
	BOOKING FORM >>>

Voyage Description

Lizzie May, Ezra & Mascotte - Sail Scotland in Company

Join pilot cutter Lizzie May in Oban as guest crew for a unique traditional sailing holiday exploring Skye, Rum, Eigg and the unspoilt wilderness of Loch Nevis in company with Pilot Cutters Ezra and Mascotte. Lizzie May and Mascotte found themselves in the dramatic Loch Scavaig together last summer and all agreed it was even more impressive to sail in company under the big mountain backdrop of the Cullins.

Ezra has joined the party, so together they will cut quite a dash as they island hop through some of the West coast's finest scenery from Mallaif to Oban over 7 days. Each professional skipper has been sailing in Scotland for years so they will be able to show you their favourite anchorages and share a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife and history of the area. Islands on route are Skye with over 400 miles of coastline, Canna, Rum, Eigg, Muck, Mull.

Swap crews and take photos of your own pilot cutter

When you are sailing an powerful pilot cutter at 8 knots with with a 'bone in her teeth'  the biggest regret is that you cannot take a photo of yourself from another boat. When the seas are rough, even with a decent dinghy and outboard it is often too risky to leave the mother ship whilst she is still sailing and go on a photographic foray.

What you need is another equally beautiful pilot cutter sailing along with you, or the opportunity to swap crews with so you can see your own vessel in action.

On this voyage you can. Sailing in company with Lizzie May on this 7 day summer sailing expedition are the mighty original pilot cutter Mascotte and Ezra - another Luke Powell pilot cutter sister to Lizzie May. Both are aslo charter boats with very experienced skippers that Classic Sailing Office know personally. Each brings their own specialisms, favourite secret anchorages and interests to the joint venture.

Lizzie May - Our 42' Pilot Cutter based in Scotland

Lizzie has a taller rig and probably more sail area than Ezra and is less beamy - but both are extremely good looking working boats. If you are feeling competitive, we will be interested back in the Classic Sailing office to learn about their relative performances. Actually they are quite different in hull shape, as the designer Luke Powell built each pilot cutter for different original roles. If Laurie is skippering then you will have a skipper who is also a chef on board.

Mascotte - Original Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 1904

Mascotte is an original 1904 Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter and has probably the most authentic interior of all the restored pilot cutters afloat. This magnificent vessel has only just re located to Scotland, but Dougie has skippered sail training yachts and traditional boats in Scotland for many years, and we think he used to be a RSPB warden, so he'll be your bird and wildlife expert. Mascotte is 60ft on deck and her interior is about the closest to an original layout of the pilot cutters at the end of the 19th century....and they were remarkably elegant and comfortable living spaces for the pilots.

Ezra - 'sister ship' to Lizzie May & Based in Skye

Ezra is another tough wooden pilot cutter built by Luke Powell of Working Sail, so she is a sister ship to both Eve of St Mawes and Lizzie May. Ezra is owned  by Sam and Ingrid. Sam runs traditional sailing and mountaineering voyages on Ezra, from their base on Loch Harport in Skye, and Classic Sailing helped them fill their first season when Ezra was first launched in Cornwall and watched her being built. Ezra has a barrel windlass like Lizzie May so you can compare notes.

Explore West Coast of Scotland under Sail

There is no finer way to see the West Coast of Scotland than from a boat and this activity based holiday  gives you a wider range of experiences and scenery than from any other way. 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.

Lizzie May 7 Day Western Isles of Scotland Expedition - ITINERARY

DAY ONE  Join 3pm

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.

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.

Oban
The voyage ends in Mallaig and unfortunately you have to leave Lizzie May to get ready for her next crew.

Day One
Joining at 3pm gives you time to travel from Glasgow but not much further afield. The skipper will give you an introduction to Lizzie May and a safety briefing before setting off that afternoon or evening.

The expected route is north into the Sound of Mull but where you stop is dependent on many factors but the skipper will have many places to choose from.

Day two
Today should see the completion of your progress up the Sound of Mull with a stop in either Tobermory or Loch Sunart.

Days three, four, five and six
This will be the period when you get a chance to explore some of the Little Isles as they are known. The group includes , Muck, Eigg, Rum and Canna.

Day Seven
Today you will be drawing closer to Mallaig and it could be Southern Skye or into the Lochs of Nevis or Hourn.

Day eight.
The voyage is not over until 5pm so there is plenty of time for a good sail on your last day. You finish in Mallaig.
  
 

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.
 

Getting to Mallaig

Please meet at 3pm at the junction shown by the blue balloon in the map below.

By Road
Head up the A82 from Glasgow and keep going all the way past Loch Lomond and its steam ships and all the way to just beyond Fort William. Past Fort William turn left on the A830 to Mallaig.

There is free parking just before you enter Mallaig on the left hand side. In frequent use by sailors, people leave their cars there for a week at a time.  

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

By Train
ScotRail has direct trains for Mallaig that leave from Glasgow Central Station or via Inverness leaving Buchanan Street Station, Glasgow or from Waverley Station in Edinburgh

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