Meanwhile, at sea...

[4String.]

I have always been intrigued by the number of wrecks off Argyll, I bought https://www.scottishshipwrecks.com/argyll-shipwrecks/ when it came out, though now I know the waters, I can appreciate how difficult it was in the past to accurately navigate through a storm in rock strewn waters pre chartplotters.

The freakiest thing I ever saw was on a wildlife trip around the Corryvreckan aboard a rib operated by a company called Seafari.
The tide was running quite hard and at one point we were looking at a step in the surface of the water . Having been brought up to know that the surface of the sea is more or less two dimensional, it was mind blowing to realise that there was so much water trying to move through the area that the sea was quite literally forming a waterfall! Used to see it daily at the Falls of Lora underneath the Connel Bridge but that was caused in part by the rock pinnacles that came up from the bottom and broke the surface at low water. Always a strange experience to be sat in a boat that was stationary but had an indicated speed of 30 knots.

 

[Rannsachair]

The freakiest thing I ever saw was on a wildlife trip around the Corryvreckan aboard a rib operated by a company called Seafari.
The tide was running quite hard and at one point we were looking at a step in the surface of the water . Having been brought up to know that the surface of the sea is more or less two dimensional, it was mind blowing to realise that there was so much water trying to move through the area that the sea was quite literally forming a waterfall! Used to see it daily at the Falls of Lora underneath the Connel Bridge but that was caused in part by the rock pinnacles that came up from the bottom and broke the surface at low water. Always a strange experience to be sat in a boat that was stationary but had an indicated speed of 30 knots.

Aye been through a few times, mentioned on here before the most memorable time:

When the tidal race goes through one way you get the whirlpool the other direction you get a 15 foot standing wave. I once took a shortcut through returning fro a trip to Coll and Tiree, Getting over the standing wave was quite an experience, flat out in a 40 knot RIB but only travelling at under 20 knots. My ex-wife never forgave me for the experience.

Think at least one ship sank there, I heard the Navy classed it as unnavigable, George Orwell had a close shave there too.

During a stormy tidal race you can hear the whirlpool on the mainland at Crinan which is 7 miles from me.

 

[stormin]

Aye been through a few times, mentioned on here before the most memorable time:

When the tidal race goes through one way you get the whirlpool the other direction you get a 15 foot standing wave. I once took a shortcut through returning fro a trip to Coll and Tiree, Getting over the standing wave was quite an experience, flat out in a 40 knot RIB but only travelling at under 20 knots. My ex-wife never forgave me for the experience.

Think at least one ship sank there, I heard the Navy classed it as unnavigable, George Orwell had a close shave there too.

During a stormy tidal race you can hear the whirlpool on the mainland at Crinan which is 7 miles from me.

But isn't there a nearer whirlpool formed at Dorus Mor that may be more likely heard at Crinan?

 

[cheb]

One thing I was told to be wary about at sea using GPS and electronic charts is that some of the info on the charts will be from the 1800's lead line surveys, and therefore might be dubious.

 

[Rannsachair]

But isn't there a nearer whirlpool formed at Dorus Mor that may be more likely heard at Crinan?

I have seen the small whirlpools around Doras Mor: I suppose it is possible though since I was a small kid my Grandfather would take us to Crinan if there was a gale to hear Corryvreckan. I have a friend who lived in Crinan for years and works for Calmac, will ask him his thoughts.

 

[Shox Dr]

Ive been in a riptide off the Isle of Whithorn, in a Shetland. The father in law had crossed it before so was used to the currents. He’d seen boats pulled under in seconds that had anchored up in the wrong place.

 

[Wightsparks]

You can waste more than a few hours on here http://www.cargolaw.com/gallery.html (scroll down) sadly no longer updated it would appear but there are thousands of photo's and factual information about all kinds of maritime and aviation incidents.

 

[4String.]

Aye been through a few times, mentioned on here before the most memorable time:

When the tidal race goes through one way you get the whirlpool the other direction you get a 15 foot standing wave. I once took a shortcut through returning fro a trip to Coll and Tiree, Getting over the standing wave was quite an experience, flat out in a 40 knot RIB but only travelling at under 20 knots. My ex-wife never forgave me for the experience.

Think at least one ship sank there, I heard the Navy classed it as unnavigable, George Orwell had a close shave there too.

During a stormy tidal race you can hear the whirlpool on the mainland at Crinan which is 7 miles from me.

Dave Ainsley who operates a wildlife and diving charter boat out of Seil Island has dived the rock pinnacle on many occasions.

The very top of the rock has been scoured into a bowl shape by the water and has small pebbles in it which can't escape, and the tide is so unpredictable that when diving it the only way you know that it's time to go up is when your exhaust bubbles start to go down instead of up .

The Falls of Lora are supposed to be similar to that and because of all the nutrient rich water that sweeps the area (almost...) twice a day, the phenomenon of gigantism occurs, whereby all the plant life grows to epic proportions. Have also seen it on documentaries about the Bay of Fundy in Canada which iirc has the highest tidal range in the world and supports incredible colonies of sea life.

 

[Rannsachair]

But isn't there a nearer whirlpool formed at Dorus Mor that may be more likely heard at Crinan?

My friend got back to me, in Crinan it is commonly believed they can hear Corryvreckan in a severe storm depending on the wind direction. He used to be a fisherman and also said he once passed a massive hole in the water at Dorus Mhor and needed clean underwear after that...

 

[bricol]

You can waste more than a few hours on here http://www.cargolaw.com/gallery.html (scroll down) sadly no longer updated it would appear but there are thousands of photo's and factual information about all kinds of maritime and aviation incidents.

I used to just do that - some of them are just unbelievable!

Some of the writeups - couldn't decide if they were deliberately or accidently humourous

 

[addjunkie]

One thing I was told to be wary about at sea using GPS and electronic charts is that some of the info on the charts will be from the 1800's lead line surveys, and therefore might be dubious.

You would be correct in some remote locations. What is even more dubious is been out with a gps and electronic charts, with no electrical power. It does happen now and again especially in the cloth engine brigade. Personally though a fan of electronic charts and gps I like a bit of paper and a pencil just in case. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but if you note your position down every half our or so, when it all goes breasts up, you have half a chance of getting where your going by dead reckoning and a paper chart.

 

[Shox Dr]

You would be correct in some remote locations. What is even more dubious is been out with a gps and electronic charts, with no electrical power. It does happen now and again especially in the cloth engine brigade. Personally though a fan of electronic charts and gps I like a bit of paper and a pencil just in case. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but if you note your position down every half our or so, when it all goes breasts up, you have half a chance of getting where your going by dead reckoning and a paper chart.

First time I went out with the FIL, I asked if he had, VHF, Spare motor, flares, and jackets.

Get out the harbour, and I see no radio; Oh its in the Garage
Life jackets were cork
The seagull was siezed.
And the flares were 20yrs out of date. Some dont work when they are new

 

[addjunkie]

First time I went out with the FIL, I asked if he had, VHF, Spare motor, flares, and jackets.

Get out the harbour, and I see no radio; Oh its in the Garage
Life jackets were cork
The seagull was siezed.
And the flares were 20yrs out of date. Some dont work when they are new

That doesnt surprise me at all.
An old friend of mine bought a 36 foot motor cruiser to entertain his extra lady friend on board. Only here from him when hes needing an alibi...you know the storey. So he say

Dave, you can navigate, yes I says, so off we went to ipswich to collect said boat, very nice. But I wouldnt leave with out a paper chart. The big screen chart plotter was superb, but had it died in the dark, id not have been happy. So with a North sea chart and my old fellas hand held gps, and a hand bearing compass I was happy with a back up. Trip passed off with out event apart from an early stop for fuel.

 

[Cobbler]

First time I went out with the FIL, I asked if he had, VHF, Spare motor,........The seagull was siezed.

Bloody awful things, go every time when you don’t need them, will never go when you do!

 

[Rannsachair]

You would be correct in some remote locations. What is even more dubious is been out with a gps and electronic charts, with no electrical power. It does happen now and again especially in the cloth engine brigade. Personally though a fan of electronic charts and gps I like a bit of paper and a pencil just in case. Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but if you note your position down every half our or so, when it all goes breasts up, you have half a chance of getting where your going by dead reckoning and a paper chart.

I have always been belt and braces: Main Chartplotter, Backup chartplotter with built in rechargeable battery, 2 boat batteries, Voltmeter and backup admiralty charts - just in case. When you are out of site of land it all seems very sensible.