On the Crinan

We locked into the Crinan basin at about 3.30 and then spent the night just by the lock gates. We got embroiled in a heavy drinking session with John, Paul and Charlie from this boat

S2240024 wooden yacht

S2240023 stern

we worked together to lock through and we arenow about 2.5 miles from Lochilphead - so if the weather hehaves we will be back in the salt water by mid morning.

It is nice to be parked under the trees while the wind blows hard overhead.

S2270014 pool

S2270023 crinan pool

S2270025 view

S2270028 lichen

S2270020 vic

S2270016 sculpture

lock 13

bridge

canal

harmony

loch

This is about Dylan Winter's Blog, Sailing around Britain.

15 Responses to “On the Crinan”

  1. 30 September, 2014 at 10:10 pmEuan Mckenzie says:

    Now your on our side try out the inner basin at lochranza – for boats that can dry out primarily but nicely sheltered

  2. 1 October, 2014 at 4:11 amWarren says:

    I think pic 7 is of the last of the coal fired steam coastal traders. The offer trips I think
    Cool boat
    Warren

  3. 1 October, 2014 at 2:11 pmRon says:

    Is that a ‘Puffer’?

  4. 1 October, 2014 at 4:02 pmLuis says:

    It looks just like the Vital Spark, Para Handy’s boat!

  5. 1 October, 2014 at 6:49 pmAlan says:

    It’s VIC32 if memory serves. Does charters. Stands for victualling inshore craft which were wartime workhorses ferrying back and forth to the fleet on the Clyde and up various west coast hideouts. They are puffers for which the Crinan was designed to avoid the dreaded Mull of Kintyre a long sail and an exposed point.
    How much did your transit of the canal cost?
    I believe there are new “facilities” at Ardrishaig.
    For any boat maintenance requirements there seek Jack,
    Alan

  6. 2 October, 2014 at 6:22 pmSven Lunden says:

    This summer I visited Scotland (by bus) and in Inveraray I spotted “Vital Spark”. She did not look very “vital” though, more forgotten and left to rust in what looked like a closed down maritime museum.

  7. 2 October, 2014 at 10:53 pmRichard says:

    They gave us your mooring spot in the Crinan basin when we were there. Magical night and morning we spent there in September damp, charcoal Atkey fire going, smoke hanging suspended in the stillness. We sat by the window in the Hotel bar drying out, watching our dinner come ashore.

  8. 3 October, 2014 at 1:40 pmPaul says:

    Hi Dylan,

    Many thanks for the scotch on Monday night and for your help with the locks. I have some photos of you leading us into the lock at Cairnbaan Bridge on the Crinan if you would like them.

    Paul

  9. 3 October, 2014 at 9:25 pmdylan winter says:

    love to see them Paul

    [email protected]

  10. 3 October, 2014 at 10:55 pmdylan winter says:

    got em

    cheers P

    D

  11. 19 October, 2014 at 11:40 pmEddie says:

    Hi Dylan, are you in the Clyde ? would like to meet up for a coffee, I’m based in Irvine.

    Best Regards.

    Eddie.

  12. 20 October, 2014 at 12:43 amdylan winter says:

    Harmony is at DRB marine in Gare Loch – she is ashore

    I am planning to come up and do some fettling in November

    I will be on the boat for a week I think so come and drink coffee on the boat and we can watch some paint dry

  13. 25 January, 2015 at 7:18 pmTed Bunker says:

    That’s an amazing short-cut from Juro to Tilp and the Clyde. Binge-viewing your vids and vblogs I’ve been struck by how much of Britain is reachable by water and canals. Here in America they developed the rails to move people and cargo a mere 50-years later than your canal system, and we’ve lost many formerly navigable streams and canals to railroad and road bridges.

  14. 25 January, 2015 at 8:05 pmdylan winter says:

    blimey Ted, you really have been working your way through the films

    and yes, we are dead lucky

    UK canal building started back in Roman times so that predates the railways by a fair bit

    although the real golden age was from 1770 onwards

  15. 22 March, 2015 at 10:12 pmJeffrey Burden says:

    The steamer is the last of the Clyde Puffers.

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