THE ROUTE




    THE FIRST LEG
Starting from Rothesay Dock in Clydebank where some of the greatest ships in the world were built -The Queens and the QE2 - we head West down the River Clyde towards the Erskine Bridge. Here the River starts to open out to a wide estuary and soon we pass Dumbarton, the Ancient capital of Scotland. The buoyed and dredged part of the river is behind us we pass Greenock and enter the Firth of Clyde. We turn South at the Cloch light and head for Toward Point where we pass Rothesay and have the option of going through the Kyles of Bute or continuing down the Firth to Garroch head at the South end of the Isle of Bute. Once we have navigated around Bute we head West again around Ardlamont past Skate Island and head North for the first time past Tarbert to Ardrishaig where the Crinan Canal starts. Our arrival  will mark the end of this stage - total distance 55nm.

    THE SECOND LEG
This involves a leisurely and sheltered passage through the canal to Crinan where the whole of the West Coast of Scotland opens up. We will, row, tow or sail through the Canal but expect quite a few friends to join us to operate the locks  and it promises to be a festive occasion. - total distance 8nm

    THE THIRD LEG
We begin to enter dangerous and strong tidal waters. The Dorus Mor (the big gateway) beckons us West through its swirling 6 knot tides and North to Seil Island and the Bridge over the Atlantic under which we will be able to pass before heading North inside the island of Kerrerra to Oban. We will head West once again passing the Lismore lighthouse and head past Duart Castle and on up through the Sound of Mull to the colourful town of Tobermory - total distance 55nm

     THE FOURTH LEG
The most dangerous by far. We have to pass the most westerly point on mainland Britain.. It is open to full power of the Atlantic and I have seen 5m swells here with the seas breaking over the lighthouse. The backwash off the headland and the mix of tides at the headland make this son dangerous that we need a safety boat. We will have to coax a yacht or a fishing boat to escort us around this headland in case anything goes wrong. A capsize hers would be life threatening. But once round we head past the small isles of Muck, Rum, Canna and Eigg heading North towards the magical Isle of Skye. We have to work our tides through Kyle Rhea where they can run at up to 8knots springs and once we are extruded from this narrow channel we find ourselves in Kyleakin  65nm

     THE FINAL LEG
Again we work the tide through Kyleakin and pass under the Skye bridge. We are nearing home now and with Cuillins of Skye on our portside we turn East up Loch Carron past Cat Island and the sheltered bay of Plockton. Total distance 12nm