WE ARE RECRUITING...............................................

Our busy workshop team currently have a vacancy within the Boat Building department and are looking to recruit an experienced Boat Repair Technician to join the team. If your interested in finding out more we have made a little video.................

See the Positions Vacant page on the website for further details or if you have relevant skills download an application form and apply today!

Whats on our Christmas Cards this year?

We try to be a little different with our Christmas Cards every year. This year we have got the children attending Craignish Primary School involved again by running a competition to draw a design for the card. Each of the three winners receives a small prize along with 10 copies of their winning design. This years winners are:

First Prize Christmas 2015
Ellie Gregory, age 11

                                                          Second Prize Christmas 2015
                                                          Rosie Day, age 9

Third Prize Christmas 2015
Ruthie Neville, age 10

Festive Opening Hours 2015/16

A winters day in Ardfern

During the festive period our Workshops will be closed between December 23rd 2015 and January 6th 2016 however our Chandlery will be open and Marina staff on duty right through the holiday period, see below for details.

                      DECEMBER 24TH                            8:30am - 1:00pm

                      DECEMBER 25TH                            CLOSED

                      DECEMBER 26TH                            CLOSED

                      DECEMBER 27TH - 30TH                 9:00am - 4:00pm

                      DECEMBER 31ST                             9:00am - 1:00pm

                      JANUARY 1ST                                CLOSED

                      JANUARY 2ND                                CLOSED

                      JANUARY 3RD                                9:00pm - 4:00pm

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you during 2016!

              

Snow on the pontoons

Strong winds for Round Shuna Fleet

From Alison Chadwick

WITH strong winds gusting 37 knots, Clyde Corinthian Yacht Club’s Round Shuna Pursuit Race proved a testing ‘blast’ for all competitors.

Many opted to remain in the shelter of Craobh but for those who braved the conditions it was a fast pursuit with Colin Crawford’s Dehler 35 Nimrod from Oban Sailing Club first over the line in the 30-strong fleet. Nimod lifted the prized case of bubbly and the Camus Trophy.

Pursuit races see yachts leave according to handicap with the theory they all finish together. Competitors in the Round Shuna can decide which way to circumnavigate. This year’s favoured option was north about and close behind Colin in Class 1 was  Joey Gough’s Tangle o’ the Isles, also from Oban.  Stewart and Dorothy Ritchie’s Contest 41 Anna Mae from Salen, Loch Sunart, was third.

Class 2 was won by Brian Wiseman’s Storm 33 Sorr of Appin with the conditions befitting the Westerly Storm. Brian and team also won the feeder race from Ardfern the previous day and so lifted the top prize for the whole weekend and the Craobh Haven Challenge Cup.

Alistair Pugh’s Contessa 32 Marisca was second in Class 2 sailing just two up and Donald Smith’s Maxi Tilty Too third. Alison Chadwick’s Hot Toddy took Class 3 from Hamish Whyte’s Elizabethan 30 in second and Alan Manson’s Cutlas 27 Dark Islander third. Alan also lifted the Brendan Bucket for the last boat home.

Several Flying Fifteens were forced to retire in the strong winds but Clive Brown’s Ffaolcuain and David Attwood’s Okey Dokey kept their cool crossing the line in first and second position respectively. With a better amalgamated score David won the Craignish Sailing Club Trophy for the best performance from a Flying Fifteen for the weekend. Andrew Chapman made a brave effort to sail his full rig Laser in the stormy conditions but a broken boom at the north end of Shuna ended his chances of not only being the only dinghy out but regaining his dinghy trophy of last year.

Round Shuna Race 2015 winners collect their trophy's.

 Oban and Ardfern Feeder Races

With a long beat for the Oban boats Eric Chapman and team found form to win the feeder from Billy Forteith’s Shadowfax. Hot Toddy was third. The Ardfern race saw a mix of conditions and Sorr of Appin took the honours from Alan Gent White’s sloop An Sulaire. Donald Smith’s Tilty Too was third. David Attwood’s Okey Dokey won the Flying Fifteen Class from Brian Johnston’s Reckless and Russell Anderson’s Toff in third place.

Despite a much reduced fleet due to the inclement weather the weekend was a great success. Commodore Kenny Macdonald thanked everyone for competing in the challenging conditions.  Kenny commented that it was unfortunate that some entrants did not manage to start Sunday's race and that some who did were unable to finish. For everyone else the warm sunshine and strong winds brought a good day's sailing in what continues to be the Club's most important event of the sailing calendar.

Round Shuna Race Weekend - August 22nd - 23rd 2015

Saturday August 22nd sees the annual Clyde Corinthian Yacht Club Round Shuna Race weekend kick off with the passage races from Ardfern and Oban to Craobh Marina before the Round Shuna Pursuit Race gets underway on Sunday 23rd. Its a fun event with a great family atmosphere and a relaxed attitude, if you have always fancied trying a bit of racing this is an ideal way to dip your toe in the water. Full race instructions and entry form available for this years event available here.

First Marine Scotland survey of Recreation and Tourism around the Scottish Coasts and Seas.

 

After several months of preparation Marine Scotland is launching its first national survey of recreation and tourism around the Scottish coasts and seas!

Alongside the National Marine Tourism Strategy, the survey will help to justify and guide future investment in facilities and infrastructure and will ensure that the importance of marine recreation and tourism businesses for the Scottish economy is properly recognised.

For the survey to produce meaningful results its important that as many; individuals, clubs and businesses participating in or servicing those who do participate in marine recreational activities as possible submit a response.

The survey is in two parts.

• The first is aimed at individual and clubs who undertake recreation around the Scottish coastline and aims to find out which areas are important for recreation and why.  To complete this survey please click here.  Everyone who completes this survey will have an opportunity to enter a prize draw.

• The second part of the survey is focused on businesses who are involved in marine recreation and tourism. To access the business survey please click here.

The survey, run by consultancy LUC, aims to provide data to support marine planning and is a partnership between Marine Scotland, Firth of Clyde Forum, Scottish Coastal Forum, The Crown Estate, Sail Scotland, Visit Scotland, Sport Scotland, WHAM, Royal Yachting Association, British Marine (Scotland) and Scottish Canals. The survey is available for completion online from August 1st 2015 until October 31st 2015.

Round Mull Race 2015 - THE RESULTS

RMR15 fleet heading up the Sound of Mull

OBAN Sailing Club’s 2015 Round Mull circumnavigation was a race of complete contrasts and winds varying from zephyrs to a full gale on Saturday.  

Sponsored by Owen Sails and Ardfern Yacht Centre, the island circumnavigation of around 100 miles had an entry of 41 boats and the Friday start off Oban Sailing Club looked promising with a steady breeze in the Bay.

However outside in the Firth of Lorn it was a very different picture with windless conditions prevailing to Lismore Light. Principal Race Officer George Seaton opted to take the fleet out to start near the Light but with a lack of breeze had to motor further north to Fuinary before starting the four competing classes.

A short race to Tobermory Bay was better than none at all and the wind filled in to a moderate breeze with a run all the way. It was to be Brian Wiseman’s Sorr of Appin that took the coveted Mishnish Bucket for the best corrected time of the fleet.  Brian and team, which included Mark Cameron of co-sponsors Ardfern Yacht Centre, also won Class 2 with John MacKenzie’s Stoirm Mhor second and Colin Crawford’s Dehler 32 Nimrod third.  

In Class 1 John Fraser’s Dufour 40 Wookie II was first with Scott Chalmers in Sunrise, the Sigma 400, second and Ewan Mackenzies’s Elan 40, Ceol Beag, third.

Class 3 was won by Marian Austin in Scintilla of the Sea from Lochaber Yacht Club with Oban’s Derek Greer and team in Al Harija second and Iain Gibson’s Nicholson 32 Tegumai taking third place. Alan Gent-White’s An Sulaire took the restricted sail class with Paul Moorhead’s Tupelo Honey second and Brian Robertson’s Celtic Spirit third.

Brian Wiseman (Sorr of Appin) collecting the Mishnish Bucket
(Photo by Ardfern Yacht Centre)

Saturday dawned breezy with a run for the fleet from Tobermory to past Caliach. The building breeze saw challenging conditions with spectacular broaches and some retrials back to Tobermory. After kites were dropped for the long beat into Bunessan the breeze was gusting up to 40 knots and some sails blew in the building breeze.

In the slow handicap class it was the Moody Whigmaleerie of Donald Philips that revelled in the conditions to take first place with Scintilla of the Sea keeping the results up with a second and the Contessa 32 of Alistair Pugh in third. Sorr of Appin sealed another victory again making light of the conditions with Amber Haze second and Colin Crawford’s Dehler 32 Nimrod third. Fast class honours went to Sunrise with Requiem placed second and Roxanne from Skye third.  In restricted sail it was Mystic Sun taking the honours with Celtic Sprirt second and Ionare third.

The majority of the fleet made it to Bunessan where the village hall committee laid on an excellent buffet and entertainment raising funds for the Ross of Mull Historical Society. The last leg of the race on Sunday saw a brisk spinnaker start with the fleet on a run to the Sound of Iona, then a tight reach through the Torran Rocks. The wind held for the majority of the passage until a mile or so from the finish at Frank Lockwood’s Island. Frustrating conditions prevailed as places were lost and won in the last hour or so of the race contending not just lack of breeze but a strong and adverse tide. Sorr of Appin came through to complete the hat rick of three firsts and lift the overall Bank of Scotland Cup for the medium class handicap yachts. In second place on leg 3 was Sarah with Alan Moore’s Delinquent third. In the slow handicap class Marisca won from Scintilla and fellow Contessa 32 sailor Mark Hillman in Milly Brown in third.  This gave the class overall to Marisca from Scintilla of the Sea and Milly Brown.

David Walter (Requiem) enjoying the challenging conditions
 on leg 2 Tobermory to Bunessan.
(Photo by Mark Taylor)

Ionare won the restricted sail class with Celtic Spirit second and Calvador third. This ensured a win for Damon Lindsay’s Dufour 44Ionare overall lifting the Brian Shellcock Memorial Trophy.

Class 1 was taken by David Walters with his Arcona 430 Requiem winning the Glencoe Trophy for the best corrected time from Bunessan to Oban, the fastest circumnavigation on both elapsed time and corrected time  - the Mull Plaque and the Torran Rock as well as the fast handicap class – the Antique Schweppes Trophy.

The Bilgewater Shield for the fastest circumnavigation on corrected time went to Kevin McGrath’s Calvador.

Close racing at the start of the third and final leg.
(photo by Jon Lloyd)

Race organiser Billy Forteith said it had been a very successful event despite the varying winds and welcomed the new boats that took part. ‘We hope to see everyone back next year with even more entries – this race is always varied and one of the most popular events on the west coast. Congratulations to all the winners and a big thanks to Forteith Food Service for the buffet preceding the race as well as the Village Hall committee in Bunessan for their gsnuloud hospitality. Thanks also to our other sponsors including T.Barbour Fuels, Forteith Refrigeration and Heat Pump Solutions and Dimension Polyant. Last but not least to Dave Sturrock for providing the committee boat, our race officers George Seaton and David Preston and Duncan Martin.’

The main trophies are awarded at the OSC prize-giving in November.

Round Mull Race 2015

We are proud to support this event as joint headline sponsors with Owen Sails of Benderloch. The Round Mull Race has acquired a loyal following over the last 25 years with many of the boats making up the fleet of approximately 50 boats having made the annual pilgrimage round the island of Mull many times. Every year the event stalwarts are joined by boats and crews from all over the UK who have come to experience this unique event; offering great sailing in some of the west coasts most picturesque waters around the coast of Mull.

The event see the fleet enjoying the hospitality of Oban Sailing Club on the Thursday evening with the opening buffet. Racing commences on the Friday morning with start line being positioned off Oban Sailing club, the fleet races from Oban to Tobermory on Mull via the Sound of Mull. Saturday see the fleet start at the entrance to Tobermory Bay before heading westward to the open waters of Mulls west coast before heading South for the finish line at Bunessan. Spending the night at anchor the local community offer a buffet and ceilidh on the Saturday evening in the village hall, a short walk along the road from the pier. The final leg of the race on the Sunday takes the fleet west again through the Sound of Iona before heading east along the south coast of Mull and toward the finish at Frank Lockwoods Island.

Described previously as competitive cruising rather than racing the event offers something for everyone with a white sail class and two handed class. 

Click Here to download a notice of race and entry form for this years event, we look forward to seeing you on the start line in Oban. Please use the #RMR15 on social media .

Crinan Canal - Closure February 2015

A Notice to Mariners has been issued by Scottish Canals in regard to closure of the Crinan Canal to through transit vessels for emergency repairs during February, please see below for details.

The Crinan canal will be closed to through transit vessels between 15:30 hrs on Tuesday February 10th 2015 until 08:30 hrs on Monday February 16th 2015.

Please note that any customer wishing to make full transit of the canal before the closure should aim to lock in on the morning of Monday February 10th to allow sufficient time to complete all lockings. The closure is to permit emergency repairs to the Ardrishaig Swing Bridge, the remainder of the waterway will function as normal.

Should you require any further information in regard to the closure contact the Ardrishaig office on 01546 603210

Able2Sail Fundraising Raffle

The FUNDRAISING raffle run last season by Ardfern Yacht Centre and the Crinan Canal has raised £331 for one of Scotland’s leading sports charities.

Run over the course of last summer and drawn on Hogmanay, the raffle, in aid of Able2sail, offered a free Crinan Canal Transit Licence as first prize along with a £100 in Ardfern Yacht Centre (AYC) chandlery vouchers and 2 weeks free on a swinging mooring at Ardfern, along with a host of other goodies offered by local Loch Craignish businesses.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to all those who donated a prize for the raffle, including the Crinan Canal, Ardfern Village Shop, The Crafty Kitchen, Craignish Village Hall, The Galley of Lorne and O-Fish-Shell seafood,” said Bea Goudy, AYC Bookings Administrator and raffle organiser.

Offering many disabled people their first experience of sailing, Able2sail operates their own 46ft sailing yacht ‘Able2sail’ and a 42ft motor yacht ‘Jenny Rose’ and provides voyages for individuals of all ages and all abilities. In past years the charity, which is operated entirely by volunteer skippers and crew, has organised over 210 sailing and skills training days.

“It costs just £125 to give a disabled person their first sailing experience as part of a crew and with the £331 raised, at least two more people will be able to enjoy their time cruising this year,” added Bea.