Welcome to the News Page  

Thank you for clicking on 'News'.    This page is updated in the summer between cruises by Melville, the skipper and at regular intervals during the winter - last up-dated on Friday 27 August.        Next up-date will be on Tuesday 7 September.

Emmaus has completed a further 2 Cruises

Cruise 3 covered 173 miles in 6 days.    Cruise 4 covered only 115 miles in 4 days due to adverse weather forecasts.    Details of each cruise are given below.

The calm of the Summer Isles at sunset

Skipper's Commercial Certificate

Having passed the age of 65, Melville is required to undergo a full medical examination each year to update his qualification.     This was undertaken successfully on 12 August so the Certificate is valid for a further 12 months.

This is not free on the NHS!    It cost £75.75 with a further £30 payable to the RYA for the paperwork.

Work for Churches

Work for Mallaig & Arisaig Churches is in abeyance whilst they raise the necessary funds.

Programme for the remainder of 2010

Weekend of 3/5 September:     A short cruise for a men's group.

Later  in September:                 The possibility of a short cruise to end the season.

Details of the Cruises in 2010

Cruise One

Girvan MacCorkell, formerly of the focus Trust, used Emmaus from Friday 28 May to Saturday 5 June.   On board were a group of men from the High Kirk in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.   Most of them have cruised together for many years on their own Moody 38, "Focus of Carrick", so they are familiar with the yacht.

In rather mixed weather, they visited Tobermory, Puilladobhrain (pronounced Pulldoran),  Loch Tarbert (Jura), Gigha, Port Ellen (Islay), Craobh Haven Marina, Oban Marina and back to Bishops Bay.    They covered 236 miles and used the engine for 33 hours.

Cruise Two

Melville, the skipper for Christian Discovery Trust, had to prove that after a hip operation in February, he was fully capable of sailing the yacht and performing all the tasks.   A training cruise seemed sensible before embarking on further cruises in the summer.    He was joined by Joe Atkinson, himself an owner of a yacht and who has sailed on Emmaus on many previous occasions, to test out the yacht and the skipper!

Day 1:  Sunday 1 August.
Immediately after attending Church, we were on board by 14.30 and left Bishops Bay at 15.23 under engine whilst we enjoyed a late lunch.   Once out in Loch Linnhe, the wind picked up to NW4 with a few gusts.    We hoisted the mainsail with 2 reefs and the full genoa and switched off the engine.   Two hours later, we entered the Sound of Mull where the wind changed direction and fell light, so we used the engine to reach Loch Aline for the night arriving at 17.30.   We settled down to dinner and appreciated a quiet and calm night.    27 miles for the first day.

Day 2:
We were up early, enjoyed porridge and a cooked breakfast and weighed anchor at 08.33.   Winds were very light and variable, so much of the day required the use of the engine.   We passed Ardnamurchan Light House at 11.50.   At 12.35 we hoisted the mainsail to help steady the yacht in the rolling Atlantic swell.    At 17.15, we entered Kyle Rhea, the narrow passage between Skye and the mainland.    We arrived half an hour early before the tide started to run north.    At one point, we had 3 knots of tide against us.   Half an hour later, we entered Loch Alsh where the wind picked up to S4, so we hoisted the full genoa, switched off the engine and sailed under the Skye Bridge.    At 20.15, we anchored in a pleasant little bay called Poll Domhain just south of Applecross.    After a 12 hour passage, we enjoyed sitting down to a meal of roast lamb followed by fresh strawberries, and again enjoyed a very calm night in this sheltered anchorage.   A healthy 72 miles today - not bad with a crew of just 2.

Day 3:
Away at 09.18, we travelled north in waters known as the Inner Sound to the east of Skye.   Winds were light for the first 2 hours so we motor sailed until the wind settled down to W, force 4 to 5.     As we approached the headland north of Gairloch called Rhuba Reidh, with the tide in our favour, we reached speeds of 8 knots.   Rounding the headland at 13.45, the wind swung to WSW5 and we tacked downwind in moderate seas all the way to the Summer Isles, anchoring at 16.45 in a bay to the NE of Tanera Mhor.   Roast beef for dinner tonight with fresh raspberries to follow.    Despite the strong wind, we were sheltered and appreciated another quite and peaceful night.   47 miles today.

Day 4:
A longer lie this morning as we had to delay departure to make best use of a favourable tide to head north to the headland at Rhuba Coigeach.    When we lifted the anchor at 10.00, it was covered in masses of seaweed.    It took 15 minutes with the boathook to clear it.   We got going at 10.15 with full mainsail and a reefed genoa to match the SW wind which was generally force 5 gusting 6.   We rounded the headland at 11.40 and headed northeast towards Lochinver.    Rather than tie up to a pontoon there in a strong cross wind, we chose another sheltered anchorage, Loch Roe about 3 miles north of Lochinver.   It has a narrow entrance with a few rocks as hazards, so we dropped sail before entering and engaged the engine.    We motored along the shore line for 5 minutes to ensure that we had found the correct entrance.    We crept in and anchored at 12.45.    Whilst stowing the sails, we saw the Lochinver Lifeboat appear.    Because of the rocks, they  chose not to enter the bay but called us up on the radio.    Someone on shore had seen us motoring back and forward, thought we were in trouble and too close to the shore, and had 'phoned Stornoway Coastguard who called out the lifeboat to rescue us!     We assured them that we were OK and thanked them for their surveillance.   This was our shortest day - just 13 miles, so we enjoyed a lazy afternoon before settling down to dinner of fish pie.

Day 5:
We had the anchor up at 09.08 planning to head further north.    We found that the echo sounder was failing to record the depth.    Our first inclination was to head for Lochinver and attempt to find the fault.    However, we soon found a loose plug which restored the readings so we hoisted  full sail and set off to sail north past Stoer Point and the 'Old Man of Stoer'.    The winds was WSW force 3 to 4.    The tide was against us and in addition to the swell from the wind, there was a slow Atlantic swell coming in from a different direction - what one might describe as 'lumpy'.   At Stoer Point, we waved to the crew of a Canadian yacht heading south.    We admired 'The Old Man of Stoer' and wondered when it might fall over.

After leaving Kyle of Loch Alsh, we generally saw just one other yacht each day.  This may have been due to the fact that West Highland Week was taking place in the Oban area with around 100 yachts participating.   At 12.30, we reached Handa Island, now a nature reserve.   We had hope to anchor for lunch but the swell was running into the bay.    We continued sailing through Handa Sound and entered Loch Laxford at 13.20.   In calmer water, we enjoyed a 3 mile sail to the head of the loch to anchor in Weaver Bay at 14.15 for lunch.   It took 2 attempts to get the anchor to hold.    We got caught in a heavy shower - virtually the only rain that we had all week.   Loch Laxford is just about 20 miles south of Cape Wrath and apart from Kinlochbervie, is about the last place to shelter before reaching the Cape.   At 15.30, we weighed anchor and sailed out of the loch, turned south back through Handa Sound, and entered and anchored in the beautiful Loch Nedd at 17.55.   This is a marvellous haven sheltered from any direction of the wind.   Roast beef again tonight and another calm and peaceful night.    42 miles today with much satisfaction at getting so far north.

Day 6:
We had hoped to spend 4 days returning home with a stop at Gairloch to top up on water and diesel as previous indications showed NW winds for 3 days.   However, the situation changed with just 2 days of NW wind and then a return to SW wind which would make getting round Ardnamurchan difficult.   So we were faced with 2 long passages.

Up at 06.20 and away at 07.45.    With winds very variable, E2, ESE3, ENE2, NE3, SSW3, WSW3, NW3, N3 NNW3 and W3, it was a day of mainsail up all day, genoa up and down and engine off and on.    We got round Rubha Reidh at 12.15 just before the tide turned against us, passed under the Skye Bridge at 19.15 and chose a sheltered bay called Avernish in Loch Alsh to spend the night arriving there at 20.18.    In twelve and a half hours we covered 78 miles and enjoyed to sitting down to a bowl of soup and more roast lamb.

Day 7:
This was a beautiful day with warm sunshine and fresh winds between N and NW of around force 4 to 5.   Up again at 06.20 and weigh anchor at .7.55.   It took 7 minutes to clear it of all the seaweed.    We left under full sail and headed for the narrow gap at Kyle Rhea when the tide running south was at its strongest.    Speed over the ground reached 11.1 knots.   With the wind at force 5, we had a very fast sail down to Mallaig at 11.00 and the island of Eigg at 12.35.    We rounded Ardnamurchan Point at 14.19 with the tide slightly against us.    The wind dropped so we motor sailed to reach the Tobermory area at 15.54.    We had thought to sop here for water and diesel but go somewhere else for the night to get more shelter from the NW wind having had very calm anchorages up until now.    Being ambitious and with warm sunshine and fair winds, we chose to continue sailing down the Sound of Mull, round Duart Point and across to Easdale Harbour which we managed to negotiate under full sail.   We reached the Cuan Sound at 20.30 with an hour to spare for a favourable tide.    We lost the wind here so dropped the genoa and started the engine.   Once through the Sound, the wind returned to NNW5 so we sailed the rest of the way to Craobh Haven and tied up to the Fuel berth at 21.30 just as it was getting dark.   We had our evening meal as we sailed past Duart Point - salmon fillets in a white sauce.    This was our record day for distance - 82 miles in 13.5 hours - possible when the weather and wind were so favourable.

Day 8:
We were up promptly to fill the water tanks and await the arrival of staff to fill up the diesel tank.    It took 123 litres - with marine diesel at 78p per litre that cost £99.   Some of that was used for running the heating system.    For the first 3 or 4 mornings and evenings, it was cold enough to warrant heating.    The diesel generator also used up some of the fuel  so we possibly used about £80 for the main engine.    At £40 each for the distance we travelled, that didn't seem so bad.   The diesel generator worked well until the second last day when to refused to start.    When we returned to Bishops Bay, we checked all the wiring and concluded that its starter battery had given up.    A new battery has now been fitted ready for the next cruise.

Our final day was again warm and sunny, but despite the marine forecast, the winds were light, so we motored all the way back home leaving at 09.42 and returning to Bishops Bay at 15.30.    Then it was a case of clearing up and getting ashore and back home for a hot bath!

Our total distance for the week was 399.6 miles - we could have gone round in circles for 5 minutes to make it 400!   The total use of the engine was 36 hours - not much more than the previous Irish cruise covering just 236 miles against our 399.6.

The yacht performed really well despite being 16 years old - but still looks like new.    The skipper was delighted to find that he could also perform well after a hip operation and could carry out all the tasks on board with ease even on the 3 days when we exceeded 72 miles and kept going for over 12 hours.

Cruise Three

A couple from Glasgow with sailing experience came on board on the evening of Friday 13 August in calm and sunny conditions.

Day 1:     We had to wait until 10.23 for the Spring high tide to drop sufficiently to get under the Ballachulish Bridge.   We made it with a few inches to spare.    Winds were very light and variable from the south so we had to use the engine for the whole passage of 30 miles to Loch Spelve in Mull.   We arrived there at 15.05 in time for afternoon tea in the cockpit in a bright and sunny afternoon.

Day 2:    The forecast promised winds of variable 3 becoming s 3 to 4 but again it was a day of relying on the engine.   We left at 10.07 with the ebb tide taking us out of Loch Spelve.    At 12.30, we anchored at the Garvelloch Islands and sat in the sunshine enjoying our lunch.    The crew went ashore to view the monastic remains on the island, whilst the skipper went swimming with the sea temperature at 14.5 C.   We motored off at 14.43 and headed for Loch Tarbert on the west side of the island of Jura.    Carefully following the leading lines to enter the loch, we anchored at 18.00 and enjoyed another calm and peaceful night.     This was our longest day at 34 miles.

Day 3:    With the prospect of a south wind, we weighed anchor at 09.32 and headed for the Sound of Islay where the ebb tide runs strongly to the SE.   At 10.35, we hoisted full sail and tacked our way through the Sound of Islay with our speed over the ground reaching 11 knots.   In just over 2 hours, we had covered 16 miles thanks to the effect of the tide.   We continued sailing up the Sound of Jura and at 13.52 picked up a mooring at Craighouse.     It was coming to the end of the season as most of the 20 moorings were unoccupied.     The bay can be very uncomfortable if there is any east in the wind, but we enjoyed a pleasant stay as the wind conveniently swung round to the NW and became very strong during the night reaching force 6.     24 miles today, but just 20 through the water.

Day 4:     We waited until 12.15 when the wind had become less severe and set off north in the Sound of Jura against the tide.    With the wind at WNW 5, we had one reef in the mainsail and made good speed to combat the tide which at times was 2 knots against us.    When we drew level with the Gulf of Corryvreckan, the wind reached force 6 and the tide was 4 knots against us.   Just before 17.30, we entered Craobh Haven Marina, topped up the diesel and water tanks and enjoyed the use of the shower facilities ashore.    28 miles today.

Day 5:     Winds were very light today so with the mainsail hoisted we still had to use the engine.   Leaving the Marina at 09.58, we passed through Cuan Sound and Easdale Harbour and headed north to the Sound of Mull.   We anchored in Loch Aline at 14.05 in time for lunch in the cockpit.    There were only 2 other manned yachts in the Loch for the night - another indication of the season drawing to a close with the Scottish School holidays over.   25 miles today.

Day 6:    Winds were between force 3 and 5 today, so we were able to sail back the 28 miles to Bishop's Bay.    Leaving Loch Aline at 08.05 with the last of the ebb tide, we made used of the flood tide up Loch Linnhe and picked up our mooring in Bishop's Bay at 13.25.   We sat down to our main meal of the day and then packed up and came ashore.

We covered 173 miles in the 6 days and had to use the engine for 3 days, clocking up 18 hours.

Cruise Four

This cruise was organised by Tony Mitchell from Stirling along with 2 friends.    It was planned to start on the evening of Friday 20 August.    SW winds were forecast up to force 10 or 11 which would have made boarding impossible in Bishop's Bay and very difficult conditions in Loch Linnhe the next day.    The start of the cruise was put back by 24 hours when conditions eased, so the crew boarded on the afternoon of Saturday 21 August.

Day 1:    Good winds were forecast but it was one of these days when it didn't work out.    We left Bishop's Bay under engine with the mainsail hosted at 09.55.   Against a light SW wind, we motored all the way down Loch Linnhe thinking that the SW wind would be excellent for a passage up the Sound of Mull - but not so.    Turning into the Sound, the wind was NW strongly against us.    Rather than tack all the way to Tobermory against the wind and tide, we opted to enter Loch Aline where we anchored at 12.50.    It was a pleasant day so the skipper and one crew member went swimming before settling down to enjoy lunch in the cockpit.   The water temperature was 15.5.    So many rivers enter the loch, that it is almost like swimming in fresh water with a brown peaty tinge.    Where we were anchored in the loch, the wind was SSW force 2 compared with NW force 5 outside.    27 miles today.

Day 2:    Very strong winds forecast for later in the day.    We waited until 11.52 to leave to have the benefit of the flood tide in the Sound of Mull.    This was a very wet day.    With the ESE 5 wind behind us, we goose-winged up the Sound at great speed, turned into Loch Sunart and anchored at 14.40 on the north side of Oronsay Island.    It remained wet all day so there was no enthusiasm for swimming or a trip ashore.    We all had books and magazines to read.    Only 16 miles today.

Day 3:    The wind forecast for the day was NW force 5 to 7, so it was a day for staying in sheltered waters.    We weighed anchor at 10.00 and sailed to the head of Loch Sunart and picked up a mooring at 13.10 for lunch.    The navigation in the loch is interesting with 3 transit lines to follow to avoid hidden rocks.   At 14.50, we left the mooring under full sail.   It wasn't long before we had to reef the mainsail as we tacked against a force 4 wind.    At a narrow stretch of the loch, we made numerous tacks with the tide against us but achieved success.    We then had a stretch of free sailing before a further bout of tacking.   At this point we spotted a tear in the edge of the genoa sail, so we rolled it up and put on the engine.    For a change of anchorage, we headed for the south side of Oronsay island into to Loch Drumbuie anchoring there at 18.45.    Before dinner, we unrolled the genoa and lowered it on the the deck.   In doing so, it caught the wind and the tear extended to about 8 feet in length.    We patched it as best we could with repair tape, hosted it and rolled it away.    We sailed 32 miles today with much tacking activity which the crew enjoyed.

Day 4:    We set off in a flat calm at 08.35 with the ebb tide assisting us down the Sound of Mull.   We turned into Loch Linnhe at 11.20 where there was a little wind so we hoisted the mainsail.   At 13.40 the wind became S force 3, so we were able to unroll and genoa and switch off the engine.    We were pleased to find that our repair was successful.   As we approached Loch Leven, the wind dropped so at 14.58, the genoa was rolled away and the engine started.    At 15.43, we picked up our mooring in Bishop's Bay after covering 40 miles.    With a high spring tide at 19.00 we made 3 trips to the house with 7 water cans and topped up the tank ready for the next cruise.    We enjoyed our dinner with smoked salmon and an award winning steak pie from the butcher in Drymen.

Having to remain in sheltered waters with a series of low pressures bombarding the UK, we sailed a mere 115 miles in 4 days but enjoyed it never the less.

The genoa sail is now with the sailmaker for examination.    It may be possible to cut off a length of the trailing edge and attach a new UV strip.    The sail is 11 years old and has clocked up around 30,000 miles so it may be that the sailcloth has become brittle and not worth repairing which will entail an expensive replacement.

The Final Memorable Cruise in 2003 - Quite Fantastic

The final 10-day cruise for the season clocked up over 500 miles with unbelievable weather conditions.    5 teenage boys returned for their annual school mid term holiday.   Last year we went to Ireland - this year the winds were just right for heading north.   On the first day with a strong SE wind we had the fastest ever sail up the Sound of Mull to get to Sanna bay before dark.   Approaching Ardnamurchan, a vicious gust blew the spinnaker sail to shreds, but we had a calm night in Sanna.    Fair winds the next day took us all the way to Portree arriving just as it got dark.    It was an early start in the dark the next morning for favourable tides to reach Stornoway by early afternoon - in time to buy the famous Stornoway black pudding and visit the Coastguard station.   No wind to-day, so it was engine all the way with a brief look at the impressive Shiant Islands on the way past.     Normally the islands throng with birds, but they seem to have migrated for the winter.     With settled conditions forecast, we then set off north to round the Butt of Lewis - boys lying on the deck sunbathing in mid October.   The notorious Butt was in docile mood with virtually no wind.    We managed a little sailing down the Atlantic coast of Lewis to enter East Loch Roag and anchor between Great Bernera and Little Bernera.    There was just time to get ashore before dark and experience the magnificent sandy beaches.    Now half way through the cruise having clocked up long passages, it was time for a more restful day of just 19 miles to visit the Callanish Standing Stones and then motor round into West Loch Roag.    The afternoon was spent playing and swimming on a sandy beach almost a mile long.    Strong NE winds the next day gave us a fast and exhilarating sail down to Taransay Island.   Arriving early afternoon gave ample time to explore the island and sit on a hill top looking out over blue sea to the Flannan Isles on the horizon.   The strong NE winds continued the next day for an interesting passage through the Sound of Harris with a very frisky sail across the Little Minch and down the west side of Skye to finish up on Loch Scavaig where all was peaceful and serene.    The usual spectacular waterfall was non existent after 10 days of dry weather.    The forecast for the next day promised north winds, force 4, but they failed to materialise, so the engine had to be used for a passage south to Ardnamurchan, down the west side of Mull, with an inspection of Fingal's cave at Staffa, on past Iona and round to anchor in David Balfeur's bay for the night - another calm and beautiful experience. NE winds of force 5 to 6 did materialise the next morning for a fast and bumpy ride across the Firth of Lorne - rough seas with wind against tide, but on sailing through Corryvreckan at slack water, it was like a mill pond!      The next 2 hours were spent with some fine tacking northwards to Craobh Haven Marina - hot showers, top up water and fuel and prepare for the final day's sailing back to base at Onich.    The strong NE winds continued so it was a case of tacking all the way through Cuan Sound, Easdale Harbour and up the Sound of Kerrara to pick up a mooring in Oban bay for a spot of lunch.   We then tacked all the way north to Shuna island.    Loch Linnhe was in fierce mood with the NE wind funnelling down it.    We motor sailed for a spell to try to make more headway before hoisting the genoa to sail into Loch Leven in the dark.   We crept into Bishop's Bay, picked up our mooring and sat down to enjoy smoked salmon followed by sirloin steaks for a celebration meal to reflect on our 508 miles - wonderful weather, wonderful scenery - the place to ourselves - for 8 days, we never saw another yacht.   The boys responded to a spirit of adventure and handled the rough passages magnificently.    A great end to a fantastic season.    Roll on 2004!

 

Recent Quotes from the Visitors' Book

From Teenagers:

"The greatest holiday in my life."

"The food was great, the cruise was great and I haven’t been fed so well, ever."

"Excellent cruise; wonderful weather; St. Kilda was spectacular. I’ll be back."

From Adults:

"Excellent experience. The food was brill, and man – the sea is totally freezing!"

"An excellent week - superb food and really good company - lots of laughs!"

"I had a fantastic time – first experience of sailing, so realise what I’ve been missing."

"Thank you for another wonderful week. Beautiful anchorages every night. The cruise exceeded all my expectations."

Videos

Two videos are available to borrow free of charge apart from the cost of return postage.   The first video illustrates the activities of Discovery Cruising in a typical year and runs for 23 minutes. The second video designed for supporters and friends is extended to 28 minutes.      These can be requested by e-mail to info@discoverycruising.co.uk.

Achievements

During this year, the thirteenth one for Emmaus, weather conditions were mixed.   Comparative figures for 12 years are -

1996 season    18 trips 115 days at sea           covering 3,986 miles       118 crew

1997 season     19 trips 119 days at sea          covering 3,640 miles       119 crew

1998 season     19 trips 120 days at sea          covering 4,120 miles       108 crew

1999 season      21 trips 114 days at sea         covering 4,000 miles       125 crew

2000 season      23 trips 119 days at sea         covering 4,198 miles       142 crew   A record year

2001 season      21 trips 105 days at sea         covering 3,663 miles        140 crew

2002 season      16 trips 101 days at sea         covering  3,701 miles        109 crew

2003 season      16 trips  109 days at sea        covering  3,854 miles        107 crew 

2004 season      13 trips  83 days at sea          covering  2,724 miles          74 crew

2005 season       11 trips  74 days at sea         covering 2,250 miles           63 crew

2006 season       12 trips  79 days at sea         covering 2,688 miles           72 crew

2007 season       10 trips  70days at sea          covering 2,500 miles           63 crew

2008 season        9 trips  63 days at sea          covering 2,105 miles           43 crew

2009 season       9 trips 57 days at sea        covering 1,603 miles         39 crew

From the middle of March until the end of September, this programme is the maximum that is possible with a one-man operation allowing time for maintenance, repairs, food preparation, cleaning and time off.

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2009

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