Final Summer time our eldest son did his RYA Day Skipper qualification (which you are able to do when you flip 16) with Go West Crusing and our plan this yr had been for him to do the following step up – his RYA Coastal Skipper. You do must fairly a little bit of research for this however, within the lead-up to the vacation, he had so many different pressures – his Maths A-level which he was taking a yr early, the mock exams for his different A-levels that will decide his predictions for College functions, his driving check principle, some work expertise and extra, that we determined it might be finest if we simply handled it as extra of a vacation. We might use this yr as an expertise builder, with none stress – in any case, there would at all times be future alternatives to do the RYA-recognised {qualifications}.
So, with this stress apart, we began the day with a security briefing, checked the oil ranges and set off out of Largs Yacht Haven – first below motor as there was little wind, however later the wind got here in and we have been capable of attain speeds of 5 or 6 knots comfortably below sail.
We hadn’t been on the transfer for lengthy earlier than we noticed a seal, earlier than later having fun with various dolphin sightings as we handed between the islands of Nice Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae and on in direction of the southern finish of Bute. As we emerged from between the islands, we might see Arran forward of us and, within the distance to the south, might make out Ailsa Craig, a granite outcrop well-known as a supply of curling stones.
We anchored at Scalpsie Bay off Bute to have lunch earlier than persevering with on, typically below motor, however extra usually below sail, and for the ultimate stretch goose-winging our means downwind in direction of Tarbert (with the mainsail going a method, and the jib the opposite, with the wind behind us).
We arrived at Tarbert harbour, went for a run as much as the fort, freshened up and rewarded ourselves with fish and chips from the Loch Fyne Fish Bar.
Tarbert is a stunning village and has a maritime historical past that goes again many centuries; it has a bustling neighborhood with a ferry hyperlink to Portavadie, in addition to the close by Kennacraig ferry to Islay, and serves because the headquarters for the Loch Fyne fishing fleet.
An energetic household vacation in Scotland:
You may learn the total journey by clicking on any of the hyperlinks beneath:
Day 1: Mossyard
Day 2: Mossyard – Kirroughtree – Glentrool
Day 3: Glentrool
Day 4: Glentrool – Largs
Day 5: Largs – Scalpsie Bay – Tarbert
Day 6: Tarbert – Ardishaig – Otter Ferry
Day 7: Otter Ferry – Ardmarnoch Bay – Portavadie
Day 8: Otter Ferry – Ardmarnoch Bay – Portavadie
Day 9: Portavadie – Largs
Day 10: Largs – Glasgow
Diclosure: Our crusing vacation was sponsored by Go West Crusing.
