Craobh Haven Argyll Scotland

BV entering Simon and Sally’s bay from the north (photo by Simon Currin)

We left Achanarnich Bay early on the morning of Saturday 6 August, partly to ensure we had fair tide up to Craobh Haven Marina and partly because we wanted to arrive early enough to get a space.  Even flying just the genoa, we made good time, but when Nicky called the marina ‘first thing’ as previously directed (ie at about 0830), she was told that the staff do a check of berths at 0900 and that we should call back once that was complete.  So we took a bit of a sail around, looking into Lock Melfort and returning to ‘Simon and Sally’s Bay’.

BV approaching Craobh Haven Marina (photo by Simon Currin)

We rang the marina again at 0930, probably a little earlier than they were likely to be expecting us to call but……  Happily, the lady I spoke to said that we could have a berth on A pontoon, which saved us another half hour’s circling.

Moored at Craobh Haven Marina.  We found Westward, the newest Rustler 42, berthed just forward and to
starboard of us (right, stern towards us with beige canvaswork)

With the wind blowing from the south, it was rather tight to get into our berth if expecting to make the approach directly from the marina entrance.  However, by going past the berth and turning in a pool to the north of the pontoon run, I was able to make a nice accurate approach to the finger pontoon so that Nicky could step off and neatly side-step the dog (from the next-door boat) that was pacing up and down on the finger.

Views behind our berth at Craobh Haven Marina.  Top: the rocky point which hampered our swinging room
to turn directly into our berth. Bottom: the pool in which I turned BV and from which I made the
approach to our allocated berth

Westward.  Commissioned only 18 months ago she has carbon fibre spars,
lithium batteries, a large inverter, 2x 160Ah alternators on the main engine
and a Watt and Sea generator.  Her interior is also significantly reconfigured
compared to the standard layout and includes a bow deck locker, no forward
heads, no pilot berth, a large aft heads with separate shower and a
reconfigured wet locker/machinery space area.  
See https://www.rustleryachts.com/rustler-42-owner-review-sketchley/

Ahead of us in the marina we saw Westward the newest Rustler 42, which was Rustler’s display yacht at last year’s Southampton Boat Show and, we found out, will be displayed this year too.  We popped across to say hello to David and Michaela and ended up having a full tour of the boat with David showing us all the changes made from the standard layout.  He’s incredibly happy with his yacht (as the article linked above will testify) and we have no doubt that many new prospective owners will be specifying similar changes.

Not the warmest of days for a barbecue but at least it dried out nicely!

Simon and Sally Currin had invited OCC members to join them at their house for a barbecue from early afternoon.  We walked up from the marina – a nice stroll through the woods along the shoreline followed by a half kilometre dash along a surprisingly busy road.  It was a lovely afternoon with a good turn-out of around 30 OCC members.  Our friend, John Blair, whom we had met in the Caribbean in 2018 and with whom we shared Net-controller duties in 2020 as we crossed back across the Atlantic became the newest member of the OCC at the event.

The survivors’ photo.  Taken rather late in the day because we were all enjoying ourselves too much to remember
 to take any photos so several people had already gone home by this point.  [Ed:  Reg looks surprised that he
made it to the survivors’ photo!]

As is always the case at OCC gatherings, we met lots of interesting people who have undertaken fascinating passages.  In comparison, our travels seem remarkably tame.  The conversation flowed and with the distraction of talking sailing the barbecue was left rather later than might have originally been planned. However, I helped out with the cooking, the potluck supper theme worked well and we all enjoyed a lovely meal.  We could have stayed all evening talking and, indeed, as the rain set in again we did extend our stay to let it pass.  As ever, the day was over far too soon and we’re sure that there are people we didn’t get to speak to or with whom we would like to speak at greater length to pick their brains on routes and countries and passage-making ideas.  But we’re all members of the same club and so, worst case, can get in touch via email or phone.  Best case, we’ll meet again out on the water somewhere.

Craobh Haven, Argyll, Scotland