Our good friend Geoff Crowley MM5AHO braved snowy roads on January 28th to talk about his Maritime Mobile adventures off the west coast of Scotland in 2014. Geoff, along with Mike Eccles, GM3PPE, and Matt Crowley MM1EUI, actually activated Little Cumbrae Lighthouse after having tried for 2 years in a row. Geoff and Matt then spent a week activating various other lighthouses and exploring more West Scotland coastal hideaways including the isolated West Loch Tarbert on Jura. Geoff’s talk also included his crew’s entry into the notoriously difficult Scottish Islands Peaks Race earlier that year where over half the boats failed to complete the 3 day race which covers 3 islands, 3 mountains, and strenuous sailing between Oban and Troon.
Map of the complete route taken by Geoff and his crew, sailed in a clockwise direction.
It included a stop at Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, just to the south of Rathlin Island.
Geoff’s 10m yacht Contender (photo from earlier report).
Matt Crowley MM1EUI at the helm.
Geoff operating his FT857 transceiver. Photo by his son Matt, using a very wide-angle lens!
The antenna was a 10m high vertical at the stern, loaded against the sea.
The radio results from the seven lighthouse locations, using the callsign GA8VL/MM/Lighthouse.
Due to demand, Geoff operated in DX mode, giving the station information only every 5th QSO or so.
Geoff and Mike GM3PPE from Kelso
Click for Video clip: Off Little Cumbrae
Little Cumbrae Lighthouse now uses LEDs powered by solar panels.
Castle on Little (or “Wee”) Cumbrae, on opposite side of island from lighthouse.
Rough weather at times!
Partially-sunk Oceanflow tidal turbine.
Marconi’s Bar & Bistro at the Marine Hotel, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.
Geoff and his crew just had to stop in there!
The Port Ellen distillery on Islay.
A Dutch boat, almost aground in the shallow water. A week later it did run aground in Oban harbour!
The Lagavulin distillery on Islay.
West Loch Tarbert on Jura – a narrow, shallow sea-loch.
As a precaution, boats enter at low tide and if they do get stuck, they can float off at high tide.
Sailing up West Loch Tarbert.
The Gulf of Corryvreckan between Jura (S) and Scarba (N) has a current of up to 8-9 knots
and is famous for its whirlpool.
Diagram illustrating how the undersea topography and the strong ocean current
generate the famous Corryvreckan whirlpool.
The little island of Easdale near Oban has one of the smallest golf courses in the world.
There are no vehicles on Easdale. Only wheelbarrows are available to move things such as slates,
which were supplied to much of Scotland at one time for roofing houses.
Gamhna Gigha lighthouse, off Gigha, one of the seven lighthouses from which Geoff operated.
Sgat Mor lighthouse in Loch Fyne, south of Portavadie, opposite Tarbert.
Eilean nan Gabhar lighthouse, off Craighouse on Jura.
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Many thanks to Geoff for a great talk, well-illustrated by slides and videos.
Watch this space next year for tales of his proposed cruise to Orkney!