Oban Sea School

3 Successful Visits

2011-08-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

St Kilda is not exactly the easiest place to get to and to stay but this year it seems to have worked out very well. I am just back from the third visit where we had a pleasant smooth crossing to the Outer Hebrides and stayed at Hellisay - Gighay anchorage just N of Barra. Sailed from there up the west of uist to the Monach islands and the day cleared to bright skies and great views and scenery. Hundreds of grey seals in the waters and on the beaches and a wild island to explore. Light winds the following day meant motoring out with little sea to Boreray and the stacks where we spent a good time pottering and taking in the towering scenery and life in this wild place. We left for Hirta and circum navigated anti clockwise to arrive in Village Bay in very calm conditions. Time ashore in the village that evening and the following day a perfect day with little wind and sunny and warm when we all got some good walks around the wilds and summits.
A strong wind was on the cards and a gale warning from Stornoway CG had the others scurrying away. We laid a plan to head for shelter in Berneray, Sound of Harris and had a bit of motoring to start and then a pleasant close reach in a starry moonlit night and calm sea to arrive at daybreak to anchor and await a higher tide prior to entering the harbour and shelter from the impending blow from the SE veering SW.
Some other highlights from the trip were the 50 or more Risso dolphins off the SE of Barra and the spinnaker reach towards Iona with the inquisitive basking shark visiting us several times with open mouth for all to see. Little rain on the trip in daytime and it only poured on arrival in Oban.

2011-05-04T13:48:00.000-07:00

The sailing season is well underway and so far the weather has been surprisingly good if a little lacking in wind on one or two occasions.
Bookings were reasonable to start with, and then it went very quiet and it looked like it was going to be a bit patchy. In the past month there has been a lot of interest and the start of the season has been good with weeks well filled and this continues into the summer.
Three trip to St Kilda this year and there are only two places left one on 26/6 for 12 days and the other on 14/8 for 10 days. Apart from one space on 12th June the first available spaces are on 24/July.
If interested do not leave it too late or you will have missed out.

2010-08-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

The summer is flying by. The longer cruises are now all in the past and I have had my summer break. The Ireland trip went well with some good winds to initially get there and then a mix of winds but generally good weather and we got down to Inishboffin and Clare islands which were good to visit. I have just got back from the Orkney trip which started at Scrabster and we visited many places on Orkney mainland, Egilsay, Papa Westray, N Ronaldsay and the towns of Stromness and Kirkwall. We also got up to Fair Isle with some super weather if a bit lacking in wind. The return journey was very easy and we stopped in at the Shiant isles, West Skye, and then on to Canna and Rum. We only spent a few hours beating to windward on the whole 12 days which was rather amazeing.

I am looking for ideas of what people would be interested in for 2011 for longer cruises and running some training trips away from the usual Oban start place. Possible starts are Inverness and Barra giving the possibility of exploring Orkney and the Hebrides on these ventures. Another idea is a Shetland trip with a good few days in these islands around midsummer time.
Any ideas you have and dates would be good to throw in the melting pot at this stage. It would be good to hear from you.
Robert

2010-05-13T02:01:00.000-07:00

STRANGE YEAR!
It has been a slow start to the year, whether this has been cause by the election or the cold prolonged winter I do not know but it seems like a lot of businesses are feeling it similarly. The summer is looking good and is well filled which is pleasing and reasuring as well. I only have 2 spaces on the Ireland trip-30th May, one on the Orkney cruise to Oban- 24th July, then spaces start to appear 15th & 29th Aug and 12th Sept and onwards.
Though spring has been a bit slow it is due to get back to normal temperatures in a day or so. Brian is on Aquila next week and I look after my father in law for a few days. Some great sailing to be had over the summer.

2010-03-24T04:48:00.000-07:00

March 24th
Aquila went on the water on Monday and I start the season on Sunday with a full boat. There are still options on places in April and May and some during the summer for RYA practicals.

Two cruises to see great places and get a good number of miles in.
A cruise to the west of Ireland for 12 days starts on 30th May which still has places and offers some great sailing in a place not many venture to.
24th July is another cruise of 12 days and will explore the Orkney islands and then make passage to Oban via the W of Scotland. This starts in Scrabster which is not difficult to get to as is a busy ferry port and close to Thurso with rail link to Inverness.
good sailing Robert

2010-01-23T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone
Bookings are always a little slow in the first week of January and then slowly pick up. This year they have picked up rather well and there has been a flourish of activity, 6 weeks are totally full which is great but does restrict the choice of those that come later to picking a date. The first few weeks are a little bit thin but there is still time for that to progress.
The cruise to Ireland to visit the north and west coasts as weather permits starting 30th May has two people on it so there is still space for you on this 12 day cruise to places that few go to explore but has a wild remote appeal.
Early summer is filling fast so don't leave it too late if that is your preferred time.
Work on Aquila was halted in the cold spell but things are now moving forwards again and the days are lengthening as well with a full 5 year survey prior to crane in.
Good Sailing Robert

2009-08-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

I am just back from two trips away in the Orkney Islands. The first was from Oban up the west coast to explore Orkney and finish at Scrabster where I brought the crew south by vehicle. The second crew started in a vehicle to Scrabster to join Aquila and then cruise Orkney and return via the west coast and Hebrides. The weather was very kind throughout with little rain and no really adverse winds and we saw a great amount with some very clear weather. I think everyone was well pleased with what they did and will have some special memories of certain times and places. Robert

2009-06-11T04:51:00.000-07:00

The weather is still perfect. It was for the 10 day St Kilda trip, not always warm but plenty of sun and sailing.
AVAILABLE are 5th July RYA training trip, one place remains on 1st August Orkney 12 day trip. Training weeks 30th August, 6th & 13th Sept have spaces available.

2009-05-24T03:33:00.000-07:00

Well I am off to sea today having been ashore with the broken leg recovering. Fortunately Brian has been able to stand in for me and he took the Hebrides exploration cruise for 12 days with some shocking weather for the first few days but lovely and sunny laterly. They went to Eigg, Isle Ornsay, Kyleakin, Rona, Stornoway, Loch Shell, Shiant Islands, L.Maddy, L. Skipport, Sanna and back down the sound of Mull. This was not what was intended but forecasts of winds up to 10 rather determine a more sheltered approach.
Spaces remain on weeks 14 June, 5th July, for RYA 5 day trips. There is one place left on the 1st August 12 day Orkney / Shetland trip. 30th Aug and onwards have spaces available.

St Kilda cruise

2009-03-27T09:51:00.001-07:00

Fancy a taste of the wild west? I have two remaining places on the trip 31st May to 10th June from Oban. This is the north end of Boreray and Hirta in the background. Its a special place to visit by sail, and the scenery is just Dramatic!

2009-03-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

This was the initial launch of Aquila Spring 2005 a pleasant calm day unlike 2009 which was a blustery NW 5-6. The Copper epoxy coating which was not working very well has been overpainted with an eroding antifoul - International uno to see how well it performs.

Afloat again

2009-03-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

This is the first posting on the new blog. Its all new to me but having been advised it is a good way to go I am happy to give it a try.
Some news:- Aquila my yacht is now afloat for the season and lying on the mooring awaiting a bit of attention to tidy up some loose ends. The first sailing will be on the 12th April with Brian Morrison. Why! well I broke my leg on the 10th of March and am out of action until May when I should be a lot more mobile. I have had to forgo a few weeks of action due to my skiing tumble. Time will heal.