Fairwinds 2005

The Crinan Canal For Me . . .

Kathy and I went down to Ardrishaig on Wednesday lunchtime (13th April) to meet friends bringing their new (to them) Mirage 36 up from Ardrossan to spend the season on her mooring at Seil Island.

Colin and Julia hadn't done the canal before, whereas I am an old hand and Kathy has done the Caley and the Crinan once each with me. We soon got into the swing of things, and Jacobea's crew were left in peace to handle the lines and worry about the new fenders getting scratched.

We only got as far as Cairnbaan, as last locking is 4 o'clock until May. Total chaos getting moored up there as it was launch day for the Cairnbaan yard and there were boats rafted up both sides on the pontoons. I pulled a raft  consisting of a Sigma 33 and a Sigma 38 forward a little to squeeze Jacobea in and discovered that the 38 on the outside had its stern line laid on the 33's side deck near the cleat but not actually fastened to anything, so tied up whoever's boat that was for them then got Jacobea snugged in. We were warned that mast craning and further lift-ins could be expected first thing, so an early start was in order. We were bought a very pleasant meal in the hotel, had a couple of pints of Piper's Gold and retired to Jacobea's forepeak to sleep in thermals and big sleeping bags.

Lock 12, Dunardry 

Thursday we started up the flight at Cairnbaan at 08:30 and were sitting on the pointoon at the top just before ten eating breakfast. 11:30 saw us at the top of the Dunardry flight, and even though all the locks were set against us Kathy and I had Jacobea down through the five locks and the bridge in an hour and a half. The basin at Crinan was reached in time for a leisurely lunch before locking out as the tide turned.

Jacobea and the Vital Spark in Crinan Basin

Kathy took the car home, while I  helmed Jacobea through the Dorus Mor. She was surprisingly eager to go for such a beamy, heavy boat. First time I had sailed a ketch, but the excitement didn't last as once through the DOrus Mor the wind was on th enose all the way to Seil and some very chilly motoring was in order. The 3-pot 40 horse Yanmar made short work of the journey, and we were soon tied up alongside Nick Hunter's pontoon and off to the Oyster Brewery for some Oyster Gold.

The Song of the Puffermen

Oh! The Crinan Canal for me,
I don't like the wild raging sea,
It would be too terrific to cross the Pacific,
Or sail to Japan or Fiji.
A life on the Spanish Main,
I think would drive me insane,
The big foaming breakers would give me the shakers,
The Crinan Canal for me.

Chorus:

Oh! The Crinan Canal for me,
I don't like the wild raging sea,
The big foaming breakers would give me the shakers,
The Crinan Canal for me.

It's the Crinan Canal for me,
From sea terrors there you are free,
There's no shark or whale that would make you turn pale,
Or shiver or shake at the knee.
I would nae like leavin' ma bones,
In a locker beside Davy Jones,
From Ardrishaig to Crinan's the best trip A'hve bin in,
The Crinan Canal for me.

Chorus:

Aye the Crinan Canal for me,
It's neither too big nor too wee,
Oh! It's lovely and calm when you're frying your ham,
Or makin' a nice cup of tea.
You can go for a stroll on its banks,
To loosen your muscle bound shanks,
You can darn your socks while you're still in its locks,
The Crinan Canal for me.

Chorus: