February 2012
8 posts
Low Cloud Cover & Poor Visibility
Due to some recent poor visibility the local inter island plane service has had to alter it’s services. On Sunday Coastal Connection was out to the Island of Coll with some locals who needed to get home. They were lucky enough to see a Sea Eagle sat on the Grey Rocks but didn’t have time to stop and take photos. The forecast was for freshening winds from the South West so they powered...
Private Charter to Mull
Saturday afternoon Struan had a private charter over to Mull. The group wanted to get out on the water and a stop off on Mull. Struan took them to Movern to find the Eagles again but unfortunately they could not find them but the Seals were still waiting on the rocks for them. They headed into Craignure for a Coffee and a drink at the Craignure Inn. On the way back they had a close look at Duart...
Eagles and Lunch
On Saturday Morning Struan was up to the Isle of Eriska Hotel to take some guests on a charter around Lismore Island. The weather was not the best with rain showers passing through but there was the odd glimpse of sunshine. When the boat passed Lismore Lighthouse they saw a pair of Sea Eagles sitting on the rocks, they took off and started to fly over Lismore. As the boat headed to the Movern...
Commercial Chater Round Mull
Today, Coastal Connection had ideal weather for a commercial charter around the Island of Mull. The first stop was the Sound of Iona to survey a Navigation mark which had been battered by the recent stormy weather. The team then headed North round the top of Mull and into Tobermory Bay to survey a mooring for future maintainance. Once the work was completed they had a smooth run down the Sound of...
January 2012
17 posts
Rugby Winners
The Under 15 Argyll & Bute girls rugby team beat Boroughmuir 57-26 in Edinburgh, They will now go into the semi finals. Due to the away game in Edinburgh and the ferry timetable not suiting the girls, Coastal Connection took them across in the evening. The weather was settled with a favourable SE wind. Good luck for the semi finals!
Estate Transfers
Coastal Connection were busy last week with transfers from Kingairloch Estate on the Morvern peninsula to Ardencaple Estate on the Isle of Seil. They took guests from the stalking grounds to the pheasant drives on Seil. The weather was perfect for two of the three days and a bit damp and overcast for the other. The tender Fingal was used to transfer the guests from Rannochmor to the shore. Fingal...
Quick Transfer
Struan had a transfer to Jura last week. The Scottish Hydro Electric required to land on Jura so they could check on some tree damage to their lines. It was a cold and snowy day when they arrived on Jura, with a quick turn around they powered back to the mainland in calm seas.
WatchAn Otter eating next to the Boat
Calm and stunning
With the calm weather Struan and Cameron managed to get back on the water. The charter was transfering guests and their dogs around Lismore for some game shooting. The weather could not have been better, with no wind and sunshine. There were some amazing sights from an otter playing next to the boat to a red deer swimming. Over the couple of days the guests had a great time, The large tender...
New Year's Day Transfer
On New Year’s Day Struan was over to Craignure on the Island of Mull to transfer some passengers to Oban. Due to it being the first of the year the ferries do not run to the Islands.
Struan was also at Oban Airport to carry out some maintance on the marker Buoys which mark the runway. The damage had been caused by the recent poor weather and gales. Hopefully the weather will improve soon.
Watch
Busy end to 2011
The last few days of 2011 were busy for Coastal Connection despite the poor weather. With the Argyll Hotel being demolished they took the wheel house off the ‘FV lady Evelyn’ (the fishing boat tied up to the North Pier for the last 2 years).A day of change in Oban bay.
Cameron had a family from North America, they cruised up the Sound of Mull and spotted some wildlife on the way....
Happy New Year
Coastal Connection wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope you have a good 2012. Looking forward to the forth coming year.
December 2011
8 posts
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from everyone at Coastal Connection Hope Santa is good to you and yours.
Rugby Advert
The day after the Hurricane the team where back on the water. With flat calm seas and snow showers passing by it was amazing to be on the water. The charter was to film the crew of the MV Eigg shouting the countries in the 6 Nations Rugby tournament. It will be great to see the West coast promoted on the BBC during the games.
West Coast Gets Battered
The two photos below were taken 19 hours apart. 70mph gusts where seen in Loch Feochan on the 8th. It is amazing how the weather can change so quickly. Coastal Connection were lucky as they only lost a bow pin during chaos of Hurricane Bawbag. Hopefully that will be it for the Winter, but then again.
Watch1500 on the 08/12/2011 at Loch Feochan
November 2011
13 posts
Photos sent in
Below are a selection of some great photos taken by customers aboard the boats. Coastal Connection would like to thank them for sending in their photos.
With the poor weather it has caused many cancellations of trips and transfers this month but hopefully it will improve in December.
Mull Transfer
Coastal Connection had a quick transfer from Mull to Oban. The Winter ferry timetable did not suit the passenger as there was a six hour gap when the ferry does not run to Oban. The passenger disembarked in oban in plenty of time for his meeting. The conditions were good with a slight brezze from the East.
Transfer to Coll
This week Coastal Connection went out to the Island of Coll. The reason being was to transfer an engineer to the island so the navigation lights on the pier could be upgraded. The weather was not perfect with a strong SE wind blowing into Loch Eeatharna. Once the engineer was safely ashore the teamed head back to base. The return leg was slow going but once in the shelter of Mull it was a good run...
Birthday Celebrations
On Sunday Cameron had a private charter for a 90th birthday celebration. With the seas being flat calm and the sun out is was a perfect day on the water. They cruised across the Firth of Lorne to see Duart Castle and then onwards to Tobermory. On the way back they spotted 2 sea eagles soaring. Coastal Connection wishes their guest a very happy 90th.
October 2011
18 posts
Half Term
With the half term holidays there has been a rise in trips. Finally a calm and dry(ish) day allowed the team to get back on to the water. Struan had a private charter down to the Corryvreckan to see the power of the spring tides running. Cameron had a busy boat up to Tobermory. On the way up they spotted 2 Sea Eagles, Seals and a Porpoise on the return leg. With winter on the way the landscaped...
Buoy Maintenance at Oban Airport
The week Cameron and Struan had a charter to check and maintain the Buoys off Oban Airport which marks the start of the Runway. The team used the 3.5 metre dinghy which allowed them to access the shackles and chains with ease. After a few fly overs the team loaded the dinghy onto Power of Scotland and headed back to base.
The crew also saw the first snow on Ben Cruachan. There is a definite...