Caledonian Macbrayne
It is Monday, 30th December and – unusually for the winter – we have two sailings from Oban to Coll and Tiree. Due to previous weather disruptions, an amended timetable operated today. In the winter there is no sailing on a Friday and due to the strength of the wind and sea conditions both Saturday […]
Read more "The Hours of Darkness"It is not by any accident that the MV Clansman is known as ‘The Mighty One’ and today, Wednesday 19th December 2019, under Skipper Lewis MacKenzie she was ‘the Mighty Conqueror’. Under the winter timetable, when vessels take their turn to go for their annual overhaul, there are only 5 crossings a week to the […]
Read more "The Mighty Conqueror"The south easterly wind had steadily risen over night and by the time Tuesday’s ferry was due the wind was gusting up to 41mph. These are challenging conditions for any ferry wanting to berth at Tiree. Real skill is required. High tide had not long past but at least it was a falling tide. The […]
Read more "Impressive Seamanship"“It’s just island life.” Sometimes the phrase is a reference to the weather. Sometimes it relates to Tiree’s transport links to the Mainland. And sometimes it is a combination of both. It is November and while parts of the UK have experienced devastating floods, here on Tiree we have enjoyed some truly sunny days. However […]
Read more "Island Life"Once again there was a lull before the storm. It was only late on Sunday evening that the wind began to rise and around 5:00am the gusts peaked at 64mph. Those relying on the ferry had been advised to sail on either Saturday or Sunday’s crossing. Throughout the morning the wind speed and gusts decreased […]
Read more "Perseverance Determination and Success"We arrived at the pier just as the MV Clansman was preparing to berth. Due to the weather and anticipated sea conditions she had departed Oban Ferry Terminal at 6:15am, an hour earlier than timetabled. Sailing under a revised timetable she berthed at Coll at 8:47 and subsequently departed at 9:15 bound for Tiree. Her […]
Read more "With A Rattling and Rumbling"On Friday 27th September 2019 the ships’s horn of the MV Clansman sounded as it pulled away from the pier and headed out to sea. The action was a salute to ‘Anne’ who has been in charge of the pier office for 24+ years. She was approached to take up the role by the former […]
Read more "A Salute To Anne"