Hi all,
Weather looks good so I hope to trail our Mac to Loch Lomond Saturday morning. For the overnight I plan have a go at beaching the boat on one of the islands there. I understand they are nice shallow sandy beaches and of course Loch Lomond is not tidal and the winds are forecast to be light. An ideal set of circumstances perhaps!
So, does anyone have any pointers for how to go about this?
—
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Before you use a powered vessel on Loch Lomond you need to register with the National Park Authority. You also need to display your registration number while you are on the water. Suitable display boards are available at a very reasonable cost when you register. The slip at the Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway is still my favourite. The wheels of the car barely get wet as the boat floats off the trailer.
The beach at the SW corner of Inchcailloch (in Port Bawn) is nice. You are not meant to tie-up to the jetty there for any length of time as the Park Ranger's boat and a passenger ferry call in during the day.
Other beaches on the many islands are also well worth a visit. You can buy a guide to navigation from the Office at the slipway too.
If you're feeling peckish, I can recommend a bacon roll from the snack bar in Luss.
The further north you get on the loch, the more rugged the scenery gets but places to tie-up or anchor get further apart. The marina at Ardlui has good facilities but you will need to pay for them.
Have a great time on the Loch - it's my favourite place to sail.
Pat Saddler
GladNick 26M
Thanks Pat.
That is useful.
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Hi David
Hi David
I have not logged in for a while. Hope you had a good time on the Loch. I was there 26th to 29th , no wind first day so went looking for Wallabies on Inchconnachan island and then spent the night in Port bawn on Inchcailloch. The ferry stops running about 4.30 and does not start again till 10.30am so you can moor on the jetty (unofficially). Very windy next day but I had good crew and had cracking 3hr sail beating back with full reef .
If you come again send me a message, I could meet up if I was on board. I have a berth in Cameron marina.
For another time Inchmoan has long beaches on both north and south sides shelter depends on the wind direction. Inside the islands mid week it is peacefull in The Haven, a sheltered bay on south end of Inchconnachan but gets busy at weekends.
There is a restaurant with jetties on Inchmurrin and a jetty halfway up the loch belonging to the Rowardennan Hotel but as the loch gets narrower and the mountains higher the winds are less predictable.
Annneke Wallace
Rahui 26X
The only practical things I can suggest for beaching are:
If you have an onshore wind or it is likely by the time you wish to get off the beach then dropping an anchor a short way out to give yourself a stable way to hold the boat as you get prepared to sail off or can be helpful to get the engine in enough depth to motor off.
N/A in this case but think about the tide and consider a running mooring rigged between an anchor some way off and a kedge used as a beach hook so you can run the boat out into deeper water and bring it back in when you are ready to board.
Dave.
Dave Newton Sailbadthesinner
Hello Anneke,
Thanks for your comments. We went the weekend before you I guess and what a wonderful time we had, only marred by the fact that there was no wind at all.
We launched on Saturday morning (very busy at the slipway and trailer parking was a bit fraught but we got there in the end). We motored about a bit and decided to anchor off the south side of Inchmoan. We spotted another Mac 26X beached there but being a novice I decided it was safer to Anchor in the shallow waters for the night.
The next morning we went to Luss and tied up on the pier while we waited our passengers for the day. Then we set back off for the Inchmoan, gently motoring through the islands. We had heard about the Wallabies, and we kept our eyes peeled for them, but no sightings.
Copying the other Mac 26X we motored near the beach (with centre board and rudders up and one finger on the engine tilt button) and then dropped our bow anchor. Dispatching "son-in-law" over the side with a stern rope, he waded to the shore and tied it to a tree. Hauling in the stern while letting out the bow anchor brought our stern virtually to the shore line.
We spread our towels on the beach and let the grand children play happily in the water.
The best bit for me was when my wife (she's always a been a bit cautious about the whole sailing thing) said, "We have definitely bought the right boat this time). And I agree.
Mac 26X Glissando at Loch Lomond
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland