Last time I was at Mylor for a Swallow event it occurred to me that Dunstaffnage Marina www.dunstaffnagemarina.co.uk and the adjacent Wide Mouthed Frog Hotel would be a good place to have a gathering of Swallow owners which is more accessible to those of us who are based North of "Watford Gap".
Over the last 4 years a small group of us have cruised together in the Oban area and have visited many of the lovely anchorages ranging from Loch Ness, N of Mallaig, to The Sound of Iona, West of Mull, in our BR 20 boats. In doing so we have never come across any other Swallows and are keen to share some of our knowledge with others.
The biggest problem that we have come across is to find a good base from which to explore the area where there is secure parking for cars and trailers close to a slipway. Dunstaffnage Marina does tick this box and the facilities at "The Frog" make it an excellent venue for socialising in the manner of Mylor gatherings. I am offering to co-ordinate an informal meet there in the week beginning Sunday May 17th or the following Monday. The date is chosen as it leads up to Sail Caledonia which starts on the 23rd and which usually includes a Swallow or two.
As an informal meet there will be no racing, no safety boat nor fixed programme but shore based advice on many of the places that can be explored from Dunstaffnage. I have retired from the rigours of the 'wild camping' enjoyed over the last 4 years and Mary will be my crew (as long as the weather is reasonable) and we will be based at The Frog each night.
I am posting this proposal now as I would like to find out how many owners might be interested in trailing to Dunstaffnage for a gathering of this sort next May. The Frog Hotel opens its bookings at the beginning of November each year and they say that they get booked up quickly for May being well before the worst of the infamous Scottish Midge season! Depending on the level of interest I can explore the option of set menus at The Frog etc.
If you are interested in joining in such a meet, please indicate through this S Y Forum. It will be up to each owner to book for their own needs but I may be able to negotiate group rates in advance if there is enough interest. An expression of interest will of course not be binding and anyway I will not be crystallizing any arrangements before mid October.
Rory C BRe 25 Gobhlan-Gaoithe
Hi Rory
I'm interested. I've launched frequently from Dunstaffnage, although I noticed quite a lot of demand for pontoon space this week. We'd be live aboard rather than shore based. Keep me posted as plans and dates develop. I'm Cumbria based but most of my sailing is west coast Scotland .
Cheers,
Mike
Hi Rory
A great idea! We'll come. Thanks.
John
Thanks for co-coordinating this event Rory. Dunstaffnage is a great base to explore the inland seas and Lochs east of Mull.
I hope to bring Mrs Peacock and although we will join social events at the Wide Mouthed Frog we will find our own local accommodation on shore when not camping on the boat over-night in one of the many lovely wild anchorages in the area.
Matthew
BR20 Gladys
Rory,
What a brilliant idea - and thanks for organising it. Sadly, I'm boatless but would like to take part - would anyone offer me a crew space?
Rob J
Rory
Had planned to sail out of Largs in May (for the first time) but would be happy to change venue so please count me in. Never sailed north of the border so far so would be great to be in company.
Will stay tuned over the Winter,
Cheers
Mark Bradshaw
BRe #76 "Franziska"
Rory,
I'm definitely up for it. Our circumnavigation of Mull in 2017 was one of the highlights of my ownership of Turaco (so far).
Sounds wonderful, but in the middle of the mayfly season. Any possibility of making it the week after Sail Caledonia instead of before?
Sorry Charles, I am committed to the week before Sail Caledonia for a number of reasons as I believe are some of the other 'seasoned' supporters. Rory.
Thanks for that Rory, I thought it was probably too much of an ask! Even so, I may still be interested, so put me on the "maybe" list for the time being.
Expression of interest, at the moment! Sounds a great idea, I just need to start thinking about 2020 plans ;)
:) A quick up-date to say that Mary and I are booked in to stay at "the Frog" from Sunday evening (May 17) until the following Saturday morning. If all goes to the current plan we'll launch on Sunday afternoon ready for a sail on Monday morning.
As indicated before, the intention is to be very informal with Gobhlan doing day sails on each day that the weather is reasonable. Others may feel the call of peaceful anchorages to spend nights away and there is no obligation to spend time in Dunstaffnage but it would be good to get together for at least one evening together to share Swallow based yarns over the odd jar!
It's nice to see that a number of folk have already expressed interest. If you are still considering it and are looking for further information on where you can explore look at Imray chart C65. If you splash out on the Clyde Cruising Club "Kintyre to Ardnamurchan" Pilot you will be convinced that one day you must bring your boat to these waters!
The winter solstice is less than a month away so now is the time to plan for next season.
Rory
Mark and Suzanne of "Pippin", wooden Bayraider 20 based on the Dart, also expressing interest.
We had planned to explore visiting friends on Muck that week and could well work this in prior to Sail Caledonia (with brothers again). Keep us in the loop.
MarkDarley@mac.com
Hi, we've just purchased BRE 43 from Reedham and will be based in Mylor, the meet sounds really interesting and so, tentatively we'd like to come along, just need to look at how we can arrange it all. Be back in contact after the new year to confirm. Martin and Julie
Quote from: Rob Johnstone on 28 Aug 2019, 21:32
Rory,
What a brilliant idea - and thanks for organising it. Sadly, I'm boatless but would like to take part - would anyone offer me a crew space?
Rob J
Hi Rob I'm going to Dunstaffnage and would be delighted for you to join me on Papagena for all or some of the days, Tim
Hi Tim,
Thanks for the offer. That would be great!
Can we discuss arrangements in a slightly more private space - email me on rob.johnstone AT btinternet.com.
Rob J
Hi Rory
You write 'It will be up to each owner to book for their own needs but I may be able to negotiate group rates in advance if there is enough interest.'
Any further thoughts on this? How do you think we might best proceed? Will you contact the marina re a block booking? Or would you prefer us to make bookings individually?
Many thanks
John
Looking ahead to "Dunstaffnage week" it would be very helpful to get a better idea of the number of skippers who are definitely intending to come so that I can at least try to get a better than standard deal with the Marina. Their standard terms are:
Summer Daily berthing costs per metre is £3.00, Weekly summer rate is £18.00 per metre
Car & trailer parking daily is £7.00, car & trailer parking weekly rate is £36.00
Car or trailer only parking is daily £5.00 or weekly £25.00
Please note that if you are staying at "The Frog" you will probably park your car there.
Hoping that you do plan to come, please can you indicate either through this page or by personal message how many days that you hope to be there so I can prepare a guide plan for the marina arrangements.
The Marina team just need to know how many to expect nearer the time.
The Frog room bookings need to be done direct by each crew though sometime after Easter I'll ask folk to indicate on which days they will want meals there so that we can enjoy as communal dining as possible.
Roll on May!
:)
Hi Rory, I'll be there from Sunday evening till Saturday morning.
Thank you for organising this, Tim
Hi Rory, we've just finished the purchase of BRe43 and have organised to come up to Dunstaffnage for the meeting in May. We are booked in to an Airbnb apartment in Connel with the intention of doing some sailing and exploring by car if the weather is not good and will be there for 10 days from 15th to 25th May. We will need to leave the boat at Dunstaffnage during that period and I'm happy to make arrangements with the marina myself if that makes it easier for you. If there is a bit of a "group" discount, that would be useful. Martin and Julie
Hi Rory,
I am just in the course of purchasing BC23 26 and I'm interested in coming to Dunstaffnage in May. I would sleep on board, but would be keen to meet up for some meals (incidentally the food in the Falls of Lora Hotel up the road is pretty good). I am new to water ballasted boats and I'm hoping to pick up some useful tips from others.
I have been in contact with the marina and given them a preliminary number of possible visitors based on those who have expressed interest here on the forum. I tried to get a group discount without success but they have agreed to provide us with a designated area for the trailer storage which means that we should be able to ensure that trailers don't get blocked in awkward areas. I think it would be useful if I could have any keys to trailer locks while you are there so that we can move them around if necessary to keep things as compact as possible. A dozen trailers can take up a lot of space!
I will be reminding the "Harbour Master" (their term) of this much nearer the time when I give them the numbers expected but if you will need trailer parking before or after that week please let me know or make arrangements with the marina directly.
Rory
I'm not usually a pessimist but in the light of the latest Government Instructions and reports of The Highlands and Islands Council clearly asking folk not to visit the area until further notice, I want to say that we will probably have to postpone the meet until May 2021. Mary and I will go to Dunstaffnage as planned if we're allowed to at short notice because it fits with a booking we have at the B&B on Canna the following weekend.
I'll keep you informed of any developments as they occur.
I'm not even sure about the sensibility of getting Gobhlan back home from the farm for some "front garden sailing" yet.
Best wishes to all at this frustrating time.
Rory
Hi Rory
Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
Take care.
Best wishes
John
I am sorry to say that as a consequence of COVID-19 uncertainties and the fact that by the end of May I'll be in my 80th year, I am unwilling to organise a postponed event in 2021. I hope that those who expressed interest in the past will not be too disappointed.
Dunstaffnage Marina is a good base for exploring the Inner Hebrides and feel sure that other skippers will plan to meet there to explore together once the effects of the pandemic have subsided.
Rory Clarke
Rory
Thanks for letting us know.
All the best
John
Hi Rory
Thank you for all your work preparing for Dunstaffnage and other meetings. Your work is a great foundation for further enjoyable Scottish meetings in the future. You certainly deserve a long and happy retirement!
We wish you calm seas and gentle breezes.
Matthew
BR20 Gladys