Niall's Drascombe Pages

Drascombe sailing on Scotland's West Coast, Clyde Estuary and elsewhere.

Most of these photos were taken on rallies or cruises organised by the Scottish branch of the Drascombe Association.

Rest your cursor over the pictures for a short description.
Click on a picture to view the full size version.

Ardfern rally/ cruise 1998

The rally fleet tied up in Ardfern marina.
L to R: Drifter Wayward Wind, Coaster Sea Fever, Coaster Roller Coaster, Dabber Nokomis,
Drifter Mochras, Scaffie Munsiweet, Coaster Clarach, Drifter Smuggler (masts only visible), Coaster Tangram.

At the mouth of Loch Sween the wind gets up.
Rocks and tidal currents mean time to motor.
Mochras punches into a wave.

Roller Coaster astern of Tangram, mouth of Loch Sween.

Inside Loch Sween the weather brightened up, although it didn't get any less windy.
Wayward Wind, main stowed, still making good speed.

Later in the week, Mochras and Roller Coaster entering West Loch Tarbert, in evening sunshine.

Various other rallies and cruises.

Drascombe 10/30 year 1997 - Scottish Rally rafts up at Port Ramsay, Lismore Island
From L to R: Coaster Tangram,Longboat Cruiser Jonquil,Drifter Festina Lente,Longboat Cruiser Sea Fever,Coaster Dove,Coaster Roller Coaster,Drifter Wayward Wind,Coaster Ceri Anne II,Lugger (unknown),Longboat Orca.

Passing under The Bridge over the Atlantic, Seil Island.

Hauling out at Ardfern Marina, Loch Craignish.
(You don't need one of these to tow a Coaster, but marginal slips are no longer a concern.).

Scottish Drascombe Association Rally visits sea- locked Castle Stalker for tea with the owner.

Carradale Harbour - a beautiful day in Kilbrannan Sound, on passage Lochranza - Campbeltown.

Typical west Coast sailing weather.
Note full sail set so can't be *that* windy.

Easdale Harbour, Easdale Island, showing the last working puffer, Eilean Easdale. At time of this picture, summer 1995, she had just ceased working.
Drascombes are Tangram, Kate, Magic III and Jean.

Tobermory Harbour, Isle of Mull.
A few years ago so I can't remember all the boats, but right foreground is Tangram, behind her the wooden coaster Juniper, and the blue Dabber is Uainthe. The LB cruiser in the centre of the picture is Margaret Rose

Early morning at Creran Moorings, Loch Creran.
Blue Drifter Smuggler, Longboat Cruiser Distant Drum (note bermudan main), white Drifter Festina Lente, Coaster Tangram (cockpit tent in place).

Loch Lomond

Forth and Clyde Canal

Two pictures taken at the Auchinstarry Canal Festival, I think in 1997:

Tangram in the basin with the festival site in the background.

Union Canal - M8 Bridge reopening weekend 5-8 May 2000

Tangram and Gamebird spent the weekend around the main reopening event exploring the then navigable extent of the Union Canal, this being from the A801 crossing in the west to Wester Hailes in Edinburgh in the east.

Tangram crossing the Almond Aquaduct on the way from the launching point at Broxburn towards Linlithgow.

Tangram and Gamebird moored in Manse Road Basin, Linlithgow, headquarters of the Linlithgow Union Canal Society.

Boats gathering at Port Buchan, Broxburn, before setting off in convoy for the M8 bridge.

Boats of all shapes and sizes at Port Buchan, Broxburn, ready for the off.

The fleet assembled at the M8 bridge during the opening ceremony.

Many people during the Sunday wondered aloud where all the boats had come from- this picture shows how it was done!

If you are wondering why there are no photos of the big Forth and Clyde reopening ceremony, this is because British Waterways refused to let us take part! Being one of the very few private boats to support the canal festival years before there was any prospect of restoration counted for nothing - thanks a lot BW!

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