During July , 2010, the Clyde Cruising Club (CCC) celebrated the founding of the Club 100 years ago. To join them, members were invited from the Royal Cruising Club (RCC), the Royal Highland Yacht Club (RHYC), the Cruising Club of America (CCA), the Irish Cruising Club (ICC) and the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC). A cruise program was developed covering 13 days to begin with registration and dinner at Ardfern on the west coast of the Scotland mainland followed by several other major events including a sunflower raft at Loch Drumbuie, a Beach barbecue at Vatersay in the Hebrides, a mussel supper at Loch Spelve, distillery Tours at Oban, and a final reception and closing dinner at Kerrera. In between the major events, participating boats were free to cruise targets of their own selection.

183 boats participated overall with 28 boats from the Cruising Club of America. The Pacific Northwest Station was represented on 4 boats. Joyce & Tad Lhamon, Alan Buchan and Bill Whitney chartered a 44 foot Bavaria sloop, "Ayla", from Argyll Yacht Charters located at Bellanoch Marina on the Crinan Canal. The boat performed well with a new set of sails and the only problem encountered was a malfunction of one of the heads and the charterer promptly dispatched a new replacement unit to Tobermory which the crew installed.

Each boat chose their own cruise route and even which major events they wished to attend. The following is a brief summary of the cruise Ayla sailed.

The Ayla crew chose to to go to Ardfern for registration and the initial event on the 1st day. They then went to Tobermory for the CCA reception on the 2nd day. They chose not to participate in the sunflower raft but to view the raft from a neighboring hill on the 3rd day. On the 4th day they returned to Tobermory to pick up the replacement head toilet unit and to refuel. On the 5th day they cruised to Canna in preparation for the crossing to the Outer Hebrides. They crossed the Minch on the 6th day to an anchorage at Fuiay island in the Outer Hebrides. On the 7th day, after getting water at North Bay and reconnoitering Castle Bay, they cruised through thick fog to Vatersay Bay. On the 8th day, after the beach barbecue at Vatersay, it was to Castle Bay for the night. On the 9th day they had a beautiful sail across the Minch to Breachacha on Coll island. They cruised by Staffa island with Fingal's cave and then onward to Ulva Sound on the 10th day.. The next day, enroute to Tinker's Hole anchorage, they stopped at the small town of Bunessan to sample pub food and replenish the dinghy fuel via taxi and a jerry jug. They sailed close by Iona, viewing its famous St. Columba Abbey. On the 12th day they cruised to the ruins on Naoimh island in the Garvellach group where they went ashore and inspected the ruins before proceeding to Spelve Bay for the cruise mussel party. On the 13th day they returned their charter boat to the Crinan Canal and attended the final cruise dinner at Oban/ Kerrera by auto transportation. The crew reports that the cruise was all they had expected and more.

Overall cruise route of the vessel Ayla

The following webpage presentations have been prepared by Joyce Lhamon and Bill Whitney and present photos taken by the Ayla crew during the cruise. The presentations are given by days of the cruise.

CRUISE DAY 1
CRINAN TO ARDFERN
Sunday, July 18, 2010

On the first day of the cruise, Ayla left the charter company moorage at Bellanoch Marina on the Crinan Canal and headed north in the canal and exited into Loch Craignish and on to the upper end and the yacht center at Ardfern.

After registration the Ayla crew were warmly greeted by their Buddy boat hosts, Pippa and Gavin Shanks and enjoyed cocktails at the Shanks weekend home overlooking the bay at Ardfern. Afterward they all returned to the marina for the opening dinner event.

CRUISE DAY 2
ARDFERN TO TOBERMORY
Monday, July 19, 2010

After spending the night at Ardfern, Ayla cruised northward to Tobermory to attend the CCA reception party at the Westen Isles Hotel which overlooks the Tobermory harbor. After the reception they joined several other CCA members for a dinner at a local restaurant.

CRUISE DAY 3
TOBERMORY TO ORONSAY
Tuesday, July 20 , 2010

The Ayla crew decided not to participate in the sunflower raft exercise to be held in Loch Drumbuie but rather to go to a bay (Sailean Mor)on the north side of Oransay island which would permit them to climb hills overlooking Drumbuie Bay and the sunflower raft event.

They were successful in their objective and actually obtained valuable photos of the raft since the weather precluded scheduled aerial photos. Although the hills were quite small, the climb through dense heather and rocks was a rather strenuous outing.

CRUISE DAY 4
ORANSAY TO TOBERMORY
Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Early in the morning, Tad and Joyce explored abandoned ruins of a crofter's cottage and outbuildings overlooking Sailean Mor.

Following Tad and Joyce's early morning exploration hike, Ayla returned to Tobermory to pick up a replacement toilet assembly for the aft head. The toilet unit had been replaced a new one before leaving the charter base but it began leaking badly and it was evident that the manufacturer had omitted a critical seal ring. While waiting on delivery of the replacement unit, the Ayla crew toured Tobermory'. The factory new unit arrived and was easily installed.

During the afternoon, the wind came up and the harbor was very lumpy, especially at the dock.

CRUISE DAY 5
TOBERMORY TO CANNA
Thursday, July 22 2010

On the fifth day Ayla headed for Canna island to provide a good jump off point for crossing the Minch to reach the Hebrides. The shore of Mull island was very scenic and it was a great sail with favorable winds. Upon reaching the anchorage at Canna, the crew hiked up the hill south of the harbor and enjoyed some outstanding views of St. Edward's Chapel and other historic sites.