Ardfern is at the top of Loch Craignish
half way up there is a perfect anchorage just tucked into a tiny bay in one of the islands
as you can see it is perfect
there is a small hut just by the bay and a pair of mooring bouys - often attached to which is a small plastic clinker tender
the other day the three of us decided to stop for lunch so we prepared to drop the anchor in this sheltered spot
a very angry man came out of the hut gesturing at us and shouting
"do you really have to anchor there"
we upped the hook and moved
was that the right thing to do?
what would you have done?
I did ask one of the blokes in the boatyard about him
he is apparently from Edinburgh and therefore worse than the English
the Scottish access regulations are marvelous
Principles – the Code is based on three key principles:
• Respect the interests of other people.
Acting with courtesy, consideration and awareness is very important. If you are exercising access rights, make sure that you respect the privacy, safety and livelihoods of those living or working in the outdoors, and the needs of other people enjoying the outdoors. If you are a land manager, respect people’s use of the outdoors and their need for a safe and enjoyable visit.
• Care for the environment.
If you are exercising access rights, look after the places you visit and enjoy, and leave the land as you find it. If you are a land manager, help maintain the natural and cultural features which make the outdoors attractive to visit and enjoy.
• Take responsibility for your own actions.
If you are exercising access rights, remember that the outdoors cannot be made risk-free and act with care at all times for your own safety and that of others. If you are a land manager, act with care at all times for people’s safety.
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?457494-A-small-Scottish-incident-with-an-anchor-what-would-you-have-done/page4#yvIXmzGGEbZX5f4o.99
I would have asked him if he liked sex and travel. If he said yes then I would have told him what to do.
But then I am not as polite as you are, Dylan.
You did the right thing. Not for his benefit, you understand. Its just that how could you then enjoy the place knowing that sour old p**** was watching you. Just ruins a good day for no reason.
It is just so sad that when you have somewhere so glorious that someone would not enjoy sharing it with others
Answer -” Yes I would like to to anchor here” Might be the start of an interesting conversation? He could have a genuine reason if not then I’d anchor there just to annoy him. Don’t give in to bullying.
You don’t have a cannon on the foredeck?
On the other hand you might have invited him for lunch?
On Cheaspeake Bay, given a choice I try not to anchor right in front of somebody’s house or dock. I don’t like to think of them looking at me or me interfering with their view. Espically if they cleared a viewing path in the trees. If I’m just stopping for lunch I don’t worry so much. If there is decent space in same anchorage I’ll go there if stopping overnight.
I wonder how many boats he gets anchoring there on a regular basis? I doubt it would be many so he could put up with a change of view for a day, but I would have picked a spot if possible so I did not have to have MY view spoiled by his ugly little shed!
Warren
Ps it was of course exceedingly rude for him to yell at you. If you were jet skis….different story.
our initial plan was to anchor, inflate the dinghy and go for a bit of an amble
that would really of got him wild
D
pump out the holding tank into his little clinker tender
you are a delightfully evil man
Right to move on. Why make an enemy when you don’t need to?
Were you close to the ground tackle of his mooring buoys? It’s the only reason I can think of that would be an acceptable objection. In all probability he was just an anti-social, miserable git. He probably starts every conversation with a challenging statement. If he was big, strong, fit and Scottish you made the right decision.
that is a possibility – but if we were then his tackle extended a long way – and should an individual really be covering a well known anchorage with his own personal gubbins
I think he just did not want to have his view spoiled by my ugly Centaur
http://www.viking-mythology.com/images/The_Vikings_were_hated_everywhere.jpg
“Oh! Lord, save us from the Fury of the M.O.B.”
In some ways I prefer the Bulieu arrangement when a polite boy in a skiff comes up and asks for money – at least I was not made to feel unwelcome
Anchor up and go skinny dipping.
aaaaaaagh!
I would have stayed put. This man was wrong in so many ways! It would have been very entertaining to see how he would defend his castle!
Here in Scotland, the law is very clear on right to roam and we have groups that will defend that right.
The law is also very clear on where you can build a residential property! ;)
Just act deaf, forcing him to row out and confront you face to face. Chances are he wouldn’t bother to spend the effort.
Interesting… Argyll and Bute council do not appear to have received a planning application for Mr Angry’s cabin!
Oops. His bad.
Bazzer, Sorry we missed you prior to your departure, Nice to have met you. The wild one and his lady started up north yesterday – with a boat on the roof!
Wouldn’t it be more honest to claim the need to make an indicate repair and that you will leave as soon as the repair is made. Stop for a leisurely lunch..oh that is a repass, not a repair, well never mind.
Sorry immediate repair, spellcheck !
Firstly, if you are half the fellow I think you are, then you’ll be back there armed to the teeth with cameras & tackle. Unless this is a seriously eccentric Laird then all we have is a chap in possession of a tiny rowing boat and a chicken shed. Secondly, how dare you refer to the Centaur as ugly? My old faithful 1971 model is without doubt the scourge of the Solent and harbourmasters groan and wring their hands whenever they clap eyes on us. She’s beautiful.
It isn’t that I’m a coward but such encounters leave a very sour taste and spoil a day so I’d have moved on too. Being bloody minded and right seldom actually makes things better but often worse. At least the sorry g*t can be left to his own miserable company whilst you can continue with your mates to have a lovely day and Scotland has lots of beautiful places to go instead.
Captain Cook would have made peace with the natives and offered them trinkets, maybe an old mobile phone with busted battery, CB Radio without a Twig or perhaps a Betamax Video Recorder. Whatever you do don’t do what Captain Cook did next……… turn his back to them! You might end up like him but with a Doner Kebab, hot chilli and garlic sauce thrown all over you. Be careful in future!
I agree – although I am a coward and alwaysback off when people are angry at me – and this bloke was incandescent
Whistle working in the States, I once rented a Rhodes 19 for an afternoon and anchored off Billy Joel’s huge 10+ bedroom mansion in Oyster Bay (N.Y.) and didn’t see a soul anywhere. I suppose you win some and lose some.
What I absolutely love about this whole event is that you’ve published it on KTL. You’ve shown us all exactly the location. We should all take pleasure anchoring there from now on for picnics, overnight stays or even – come on chaps – a KTL rally!
Take care to take nothing with you and leave only footprints, behave courteously and make this chap wish he’d never have tampered with so powerful a group as a bunch of mild mannered MOB’s.
Ooh… I could tear a tissue.
G
of course none of the above will happen – there will be nothing more than a digital tsk and the situation will remain unchanged with an angry bloke chasing people off a legitimate anchorage – it is not my scrap. I have had scraps with our local landowners over illegal clay pigeon shoots, buildings and micro-light airports. It was all deeply unpleasant and two or three people are still refusing to talk to me. This is one for the locals to sort out.
To answer your actual question, If I’m absolutely honest I would have done precisely the same as you. I would have upped the hook, moved on and fumed about it later. I think initially I would have been so surprised at his outraged assertion I wouldn’t have stopped to consider his rights to the anchorage, but as a visitor I would have assumed that he had some rights.
Only afterwards, after a few beers and in hindsight, would I have realised that he was just being an antisocial, unreasonable a******e. He had no more rights to the anchorage than anyone else and he was behaving in a manner well known in these parts (Essex/Suffolk border) – selfish, brazen and egocentric – especially in mobo’s. (Not all I hasten to add – some are very nice people – especially the chap who gave me a tow some years ago when I had a catastrophic rigging failure.)
Rant over…
I hope the locals do take him on. Live and let live is the only reasonable philosophy.
You asked ‘What would you do?’ I would have done the same as you……. moved on! He’s already brought unpleasantness into the day no need to fester in it. Good on you Dylan, ‘Carry on Sailing’
Ray and Kay, sorry I missed you on my last day in England. I had some nice wine (not boxed) and some marvelous local cheeses I hoped the six of us could share in Jill’s lovely garden. I will be back next spring with my wife Jean. Here is my email, give me a shout. [email protected]
“It has been reported that Argyll authorities have carried out a drone strike on a property without planning permission in the Ardfen area. A spokesperson for the council said that this had been a long running dispute and that the owner Jock McTavish had ignored directives to dismantle the stucture. McTavish also had a history of harassing visiting yachtsmen ………….”
