Christine Wood, making waves in a Topper.

Christine on the water during the Topper Winter Championships
 at Weymouth

Craignish Boat Club and Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section member Christine Wood has been battling her way through the national rankings to make the GBR Topper National Squad and RYA Scottish Academy Sailor of the Year during the 2014 & 2015 seasons. Christine's family have had a long association with Ardfern Yacht Centre and the local area with the family yacht 'Rainbow' a familiar sight on the pontoons and in local waters. Competing in her final season with the GBR Topper National Squad we are pleased to be giving Christine some support during the 2016 season as she starts to make the transition to the larger, more competitive Laser dinghy class where her battle to climb the rankings starts again.

'The level of commitment required by the young sailors and their families to compete at this level nationally is staggering. Such enthusiasm for the sport has to be encouraged; dinghy sailors today are the next generation of cruising sailors and we have to keep an eye on the future. We are proud to be supporting a young Scottish sailor who shows such commitment and passion' commented Joanna Ashton, Director of Ardfern Yacht Centre.

During the 2016 season Christine will be competing in both Topper and Laser events and we wish her the best of luck. To stay up to date with her results at the various events follow her dedicated Facebook Page.

Christine Wood - GBR Topper National Squad

Moonbeam of Argyll heads stateside (again)

Moonbeam in the waters off Bequia in 2012

When David and Lynn Wilkie decided it was time for 'Moonbeam of Argyll' to find a new owner we were delighted they decided to use our in house brokerage service. Designed to 'cruise oceans, win races and be cruised by two people' the custom built McCurdy & Rhodes design had proven more than capable of all three during the 27,000 miles she sailed with the Wilkie's at the helm.

Lying in the UK when bought by David and Lynn in 2000 'Moonbeam of Argyll' became a regular sight on the West Coast of Scotland after being brought home to Ardfern. Following several years of preparation and the couples retirement she headed of for warmer waters and a 3 year Atlantic circuit in the summer of 2010. Having made the Atlantic crossing at the end of 2010 and spending two years exploring the Caribbean islands and Eastern  seaboard of America 'Moonbeam of Argyll' once again crossed the Atlantic back to the UK in 2013; this time piggy back on a ship. Since returning to Argyll she underwent a mini re-fit through the winters of 2013 and 14 before heading off to circumnavigate Ireland during the changeable summer of 2015.

'Moonbeam of Argyll' Sales Particulars

Presented in excellent condition and with a full inventory optimised for short handed extended offshore passage making it was obvious she would attract a lot of interest from buyers looking to head off on their own blue water adventure no matter where they were based. We worked closely with David to compile a set of sales particulars as detailed as possible to ensure all potential buyers would engage with our suite of internet adverts; taking a virtual viewing of the boat in their own homes. After just 5 weeks on the market and a good level of interest from the off a seriously interested buyer came forward. Based in Massachusetts USA (and also called David!) the process was never going to be quick, over a 3 month period we worked with both vendors and purchaser to get the boat surveyed by a US based surveyor before getting all papers in place for her export back to the states.

We followed her progress South with the wonders of AIS

With the sale completed and her new owner at the helm 'Moonbeam of Argyll' slipped her lines early on the morning of April 15th and left Ardfern bound for Southampton and her 7th Transatlantic crossing and the 3rd of those to be piggy back on a ship.

Moonbeam of Argyll leaves Plymouth - Photo by Sian Coughlin

Enjoying a fine spell of weather the crew made quick passage South through the Irish Sea stopping only in Plymouth for a quick re-fuel and supplies arriving in Southampton after just 4 days. Through the technology of the social age we didn't only follow her on the AIS tracker but also received live progress updates from users on Twitter.

Moonbeam safely secured as deck cargo ready to head stateside

Now loaded onto a ship and heading West to the United States we look forward to hearing from the new owner when she is safely docked in her new home.

 

Inaugural Sail Scotland Conference part of Scottish Tourism Week 2016

Sail Scotland and tourism leaders highlighted the huge potential of marine tourism on Tuesday 15^th of March as tourism businesses from across Scotland gathered at The Chartroom Restaurant at Kip Marina for the first ever Sail Scotland Conference.

Delegates gather for the first Sail Scotland Conference.

Part of the Scottish Tourism Week (STW 2016) Programme and proudly sponsored by The Chartroom, Caledonian MacBrayne and Inverclyde Council, the inaugural Sail Scotland Conference focused on sharing best practice and encouraging strategic collaboration within sailing and marine tourism.

Opening the event Inverclyde’s Provost, Robert Moran, welcomed delegates to the Clyde on a glorious spring morning. Stuart McMillan MSP who convenes the Cross Party Group on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism talked about the collaborative approach from government and industry in developing an agreed strategy, and congratulated Sail Scotland on bringing the industry together and picking up the Sailing Today Award as “World’s Best Sailing Destination” in 2015.

Sail Scotland Chief Executive outlined some of the strategic work Sail Scotland has led over the past two years achieve this accolade, including collaborative marketing campaigns involving Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Development International and VisitScotland, targeting key domestic and international markets. Targeted work spanning UK, German, and Scandinavian markets and brand partnership with Talisker and Musto contributed to a campaign which generated over £1.3 million additional economic impact for the Scottish economy.

Adding to the strategic nature of the event, Scottish Tourism Alliance Chief Executive Marc Crothall delivered a presentation on the national strategy review, highlighting how sailing and marine tourism has a key role to play in helping Scottish tourism to reach achieve the aspirational growth target of £5.5 billion, and inspiring delegates to achieve the Tourism 2020 vision, that ‘Scotland will be a destination of first choice for a high quality, value for money and memorable customer experience, delivered by skilled and passionate people.”

Round Mull Race 2016 - Open for entries

Oban Sailing Clubs popular Round Mull Race is now accepting entries for the 2016 race. This long established event is one of the highlights of the sailing calendar on the west coast with the perfect mix of great sailing, stunning scenery and a fantastic social program. The 2016 event runs over the weekend of July 1st-3rd, visit the Oban Sailing Club website or down load the Race Instructions for more details.

The event also now counts towards Skye Sailing Clubs newly established West Highland Offshore Series which we are please to be supporting in its second year, watch this space for more details! 

Seasonal Staff Required

We are currently looking for full time seasonal staff to work in the Chandlery and Marina office here at Ardfern. Both positions are on a full time fixed term basis for this summer. Find out more or call to request an application form.

Pontos Winches - The Wind of Change

A revolution in winch design has brought the 4 speed winch to the market.  Really simple to use and automatic in operation. Just like sliced bread did, these winches will change the market altogether in our humble opinion.

The birth of a Pontos Winch

We have brought a selection of Pontos winches into stock with an order already to fit a pair of Pontos Trimmer 52’s on to a Hallberg Rassy 42 Ketch as main sheet winches instead of going down the Electric winch route. The extra power will make sheeting in the genoa very easy. And other owners currently looking at changing halyard winches for the Pontos Compact winch we believe this is going to be the hot product of 2016. To find out more visit the relevant pages of our website or contact Guy in the Chandlery.

Pontos manufacture a 4-speed Grinder (and an automatic 4-speed Trimmer) for day sailing or racing, both designed to improve sail handling and reduce winching effort.

The Grinder is an automatic 4 speed winch designed to sheet in “hands free” on all sheets, halyards and furling lines. The result is 700mm of line recovered in just one turn of the winch handle in first gear allowing faster tacking, hoisting and furling with the sheet fully wound into the self-tailer.

The Automatic Trimmer has 2 additional gears which reduce winching effort and these automatically adjust from the line load. The result reduces winching effort by 50%. The Trimmer is 100% mechanical, more affordable than an electric winch and gives safety and comfort in any conditions.

Four different gears

Understanding Pontos winch sizes:

The mechanical advantage of a winch is calculated as a power ratio which compares the effort applied to the winch handle to the force that the winch exerts on the rope, in its lowest gear. With a Size 40 winch, a 10kg force applied to the handle will typically result in a 400kg pull on the rope.

Power ratios have been used for some time to describe the size of winches, e.g. Size 28, Size 45, Size 52 etc., with physically larger winches generally having higher power ratios.  However Pontos winches have now upset this convention, as the Pontos range packs far more pulling power than other winches of a similar physical size.

With a Pontos Trimmer 40, the first two gears you use will be very similar to a conventional Size 40, but the Trimmer’s two additional gear ratios are much lower.  A Pontos Trimmer 40, in its lowest gear, has an incredible power ratio of 112.9, giving a huge mechanical advantage for the size of the winch.

With a Pontos Grinder 40, the lowest power ratio is more similar to conventional Size 40 winches from other manufacturers. The Grinder’s advantage lies in the additional two gears which aid fast line retrieval.

Full details of the Pontos Winch range power specifications can be found on our website.

Grinder rapid line recovery

The Pontos Compact, typically the same physical size as a conventional Size 28, provides the same pulling power as a conventional Size 45 in its lower gear ratio!   The Compact is ideally suited to smaller boats, but could well be the solution when there is not enough room to fit a Grinder or Trimmer on some larger boats. Close attention should be paid to the likely working loads involved and professional advice sought about installation.

We have a full Pontos Winch section on our website with technical details, downloadable specifications and current prices for each of the winches. You call also read what the press thought about these revolutionary new designs having completed testing at the end of last year.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR 2016

Aharr me harties! Ardfern Annual Pirate Parade
(www.craignish.info)

With the New year looming and thoughts turning to the cruising itinerary for 2016 we thought it would be a good time to share just a wee glimpse of the events on offer to those enjoying the waters of Scotland's West Coast in 2016.  

The Mendelssohn on Mull Concert
(www.crowdfunder.co.uk/The-Mendelssohn-on-Mull-Music-Festival)

Mull Music Festival

Start: Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April

The Mull Music Festival is a weekend of Scottish music featuring folk-rock bands, traditional fiddle & accordion dance and ceilidh bands, and Gaelic singers. It takes place largely in Mull's public houses spread around the island, plenty of variety is offered within Tobermory which has excellent facilities for those arriving by sea.  The events aren't ticketed, and most are very crowded!
FIND OUT MORE

Piping the runners ashore.
(www.facebook.com/sipeaksrace/photos/)

Scottish Islands Peak Race

Start: Friday 20th May (Finish entirely down to weather and crew!)

This adventure race is for teams of Sailors and Fell Runners (both adult and teenage) and is held annually on and around the most beautiful parts of the West Coast of Bonny Scotland.

The Race starts in Oban with a short hill run, then a sail to Salen on Mull, run over Ben More, sail to Craighouse on Jura, run the Paps, sail to Arran, run Goat Fell, then sail to Troon. The Race takes 3 to 4 Days and caters for Multihulls, Racers and Cruisers.

Each team consists of 5 (usually 2 runners and 3 sailors), there is also an all-rounders class for sailors that can run and a class for young people (with the assistance of a few adults).

FIND OUT MORE

Scottish Series 2015 winners 'Fools Gold'
(www.clyde.org/scottish-series/)

Scottish Series

Start: Friday 27th – Monday 30th May

Ever thought of taking part in Scotland’s biggest regatta?

It’s not all about the race boats with the black sails and experienced race crews. Many people take part just for craic of it. The event in Tarbert Loch Fyne is open to all and for some can just be a great weekend away with you friends relaxing with passage sailing in between the parties. Come and see what you are missing!

FIND OUT MORE

FyneFest Festival

Start: Friday 10th  - Sunday 12th June

Over the past few years Fynefest's reputation as one of the most popular beer festivals in Scotland has been spreading far and wide. From small beginnings in the brewery courtyard to a big marquee in one field, camping in another the festival has just got bigger & better. Filled with quality craft beer, locally sourced food and excellent music in beautiful Argyll. All this to enjoy at your leisure over the full weekend based around the Fyne Ales Brewery at the head of Loch Fyne, next to Loch Fyne Oysters.
FIND OUT MORE

The rugged west coast of the Western Isles
(www.sailscotland.co.uk)

St Kilda Yacht Race Launches

Start: Thursday 9th - Saturday 11th June

On June 10th the gun will sound on the first ever edition of the St Kilda Challenge, the ultimate Round the Island Race!

St Kilda is a remote beacon of the British Isles; a group of islands shrouded in mystery which have fascinated generations. For many yachtsmen and women, these distant isles are a long-held dream, for many it is perhaps something they thought they may never achieve. Now, though, the collective expertise of an event advisory board, consisting of national collaborating partners and relevant maritime organisations like the RNLI and Coastguard, has been assembled to mount a race and event program which can satisfy this desire to adventure to the edge – and back. 

Beginning with the arrival of the fleet on June 9, the program opens with shoreside cultural treats in North Uist’s main settlement of Lochmaddy. Yachts will also be required to register and undergo scrutineering to ensure they meet strict participation criteria.

But it is on June 10 when lines will be cast, sails hoisted and crew readied for a parade of sail leading to the race start line in the Sound of Harris.

The fleet will journey over a total of more than 100 nautical miles of open sea, famed for its wildness, wildlife and unpredictability with the St Kilda archipelago as its goal.

Using the islands as their turning point, the yachts will make a rounding and then return to the finish line in the Sound of Harris. If some crews wish to, they can stop their clock and venture ashore briefly before continuing with the race.

By no means lengthy in terms of open water racing, its relatively short distance belies the significant challenges which could be faced by the vessels and crews involved in the June 2016 event.

As well as a racing fleet, the regatta will also incorporate a cruise-in-company to allow non-racing yachts to become involved in the excitement of the event. FIND OUT MORE

RMR15 Under spinnaker with Iona Abbey astern
(www.facebook.com/RoundMullRace)

Round Mull Race 

Start: Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd July

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. 

FIND OUT MORE

Sun, Sand & Sea at the Tiree Music Festival
(www.facebook.com/TireeMusicFestival)

Tiree Music Festival  

Start: Friday 15th - Sunday 17th July

The set list of local, national and international music acts is just one of the huge draws of TMF – come prepared for a true island adventure. Think picture-perfect white sands. World-famous surf. Deserted roads lined with lush greenery and wild flowers. Not forgetting more sunshine than practically anywhere else in the UK. It’s little wonder that the tiny Hebridean island of Tiree is nicknamed the ‘Hawaii of the North’.

Add to this three separate campsites – the main campsite, family campsite and campervan area – and the now famous Community Village with its many stalls and events, and TMF guarantees you an authentic flavour of Tiree. Which, in a nutshell, is the whole idea behind the festival.

TMF has gained wide spread acclaim since its inception in 2010 since when it has won Best Small Festival at the Scottish Event Awards (2012 & 2013) and Best Cultural Event at both the Highland & Island Tourism Awards (2013) and Scottish Thistle Awards (2013). Evidence, if ever it was needed, that small can indeed be beautiful.

FIND OUT MORE

WHYW Fleet running under spinnakers
(www.whyw.co.uk)

West Highland Week

Start: Saturday 1st - Friday 7th August

The historic and unique sailing regatta is now in its 67th year. It has evolved into the West Coast's biggest sailing event taking in 3 venues, Craobh, Oban and Tobermory. 1000+ competitors from around the world enjoy national and local media coverage. The event has evolved a distinctive blend of competitive racing combined with a varied and full programme of family social events.
FIND OUT MORE

Winners in the 2015 Round Shuna Race collect their trophies
(Picture - Tom Allen)

Round Shuna Race & Feeder Races

Dates to be announced 

Run by the Clyde Corithian Yacht Club the Shuna race weekend is a fun filled weekend after the Scottish Schools return from the summer break. The weekend starts with feeder races from Oban and Ardfern to Craobh where boats muster for the next days round Shuna race. Unusual in its format the race around Shuna is a pursuit race with a prolonged start sequence seeing the slowest boat setting off first and the fastest last; to add to the fun its entirely the skipper's (or perhaps willful crew) decision which way round the island is circumnavigated.

Keep an eye on the blog for further updates

Craignish Arts Festival - People sculptures by Claire McNiven
(www.craignish.info)

Craignish Arts Festival

Dates to be announced (normally mid August)

Primarily a visual arts festival in the West Highland community of Craignish, Ardfern, the festival also encompasses a variety of live music nights at our local pub The Galley of Lorne Inn and The Lords of the Isles in Craobh Haven, storytelling sessions, markets, sporting competitions, guided walks and family events, in particular a range of arts workshops and the incredibly popular Pirate Parade.

Treacherous Orchestra at Mull of Kintyre Music Festival 2015
(www.mokfest.com)

Mull of Kintyre Music Festival

Start: Wednesday 17th - Sunday 21rd August

Enjoy the best in traditional and contemporary Celtic music and this popular annual music festival held in the scenic area immortalised in Paul McCartney’s 1977 hit song Mull of Kintyre.

Established in 1992 in the west coast town of Campbeltown, the Mull of Kintyre Music Festival showcases the finest talent in Scottish and Irish traditional music with a fantastic programme of concerts, ceilidhs, jam sessions, workshops, free outdoor events. This is accompanied by other exciting events which range from children’s entertainment to heritage and cultural tours and parades. Watch excellent local ceilidh bands, Gaelic choirs, pipe bands, brass bands Highland dancers perform alongside acclaimed international acts which in recent years have included Altan, Davy Spillane, Four men and a Dog, the Tannahill Weavers, Jerry Holland and Dave McIsaac, Dougie McLean, the Micahel McGoldrick Band, the Full Moon Ensemble, Arty McGlynn and Nollaig Cassidy. This family-friendly event is held every August across a range of venues and is a must for all lovers of traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

FIND OUT MORE

Best of the West Festival

Start: Friday 9th- Sunday 11th September

Set in the stunning venue of the ground of  Inveraray Castle, this family friendly festival highlights the best in food, drink, crafts, music and entertainments from the West of Scotland. From fine crafts to fine food and from local pipe bands to world famous headline music acts, the programme offers something for everyone, including a range of children's activities, horse riding, archery and survival skills to tire the kids out. 

Live music in the Isle of Jura Cooperage
(www.islayjura.com)

Jura Music Festival 

Dates to be announced 

The Jura Music Festival is a firm favourite on the festival calendar. It's a fantastic weekend of traditional Scottish Music in a beautiful, remote island setting. 

As well as a great line-up of musicians, there are also workshops and sessions to encourage up-and-coming talent. From the Friday night ceilidh right through to the Sunday night concert in the distillery co-operage, this is a foot-stomping weekend for music lovers, easily reachable under sail from Ardfern.

FIND OUT MORE

These are only a highlight of the many events happening around Scotland's west coast during 2016. If your looking for more information on events to be enjoyed afloat the CYCA 2016 Event Calander is an vital resource, even if its only to avoid being in the same anchorage as a race fleet! Locally the Ardfern community is very active and during the year there are many events going on within the Craignish area open to all, the Craignish Village Hall website and the Craignish Info website have details of events going on within the hall.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2016!