– TMF –
– Tiree Music Festival –
or
– Tension Mounts Fast –

This weekend witnesses the 10th Tiree Music Festival.
The Big Top has arrived and is being erected.
The weather forecast is looking promising.
But today there have been no flights.
The issue has been low cloud.

In the afternoon the tension mounted.
The MV Clansman had technical problems.
She was late in arriving in Oban from Colonsay.

Could the technical issue be resolved?
The alert warned of delay and possible cancellation.
After a successful sea trial the ferry departed Oban at 18:10.
Her original timetabled departure time from Oban had been 15:00.

The consequence of her late departure was an amended timetable.
She was expected to arrive Coll at 20:50
Then to depart Coll at 21:00 (21:10)
Then to arrive at Tiree at 21:50
And depart Tiree at 22:30
Arrival in Oban is on Wednesday at 05:15

Passengers from Coll and Tiree have been warned
that they will have an overnight stay aboard the Clansman.
However they were also advised
that if they wished to change to Wednesday’s sailings
there is space available on both sailings out of Coll and Tiree.

The 05:15 arrival is no doubt due to the need for crew down time.
Also no staff are on duty at Oban before that time.
The ‘Clansman’ is due to depart again at 06:15.
This is to enable two sailings to Tiree.

The pressure to have a Tuesday sailing must have been immense.
The crew must have been working under considerable pressure.
Thanks are due to them and to the pier staff for their efforts.

This is Life on Tiree reporting.