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Tiree Twosome A Tale of Two Sailings

There has been no sailing to Tiree in the past week due to the weather and related sea conditions. In 10 days time on Monday 24th of February Tiree's linkspan will close for four weeks. During the replacement of the linkspan there will be no vehicular traffic between Tiree and the Mainland. So it was that on Thursday (13/02) there was an additional sailing.

The MV Isle of Mull enters Gott Bay (Tiree) with the Isle of Mull in the background

The first sailing was timetabled as an additional sailing to Tiree and departed Oban at 5:15am. It sailed directly to the island and returned directly to Oban. It especially gave additional capacity for commercial vehicles, in particular articulated lorries.

MV Isle of Mull

The MV Isle of Mull which normally sails between and Craignure on Mull was the vessel covering the first sailing to Tiree. Thankfully the weather and sea conditions were such that this particular vessel could be deployed.

Preparing to berth

With an appointment to honour at 9:00am it was helpful that the MV Isle of Mull berthed alongside Tiree's pier early at 8:41am. Just sufficient time to watch her enter Gott Bay and see her prepare to berth.

Oban Bound

Having kept my appointment I arrived back at the pier just in time to see the MV Isle of Mull head out to sea bound for Oban where she then returned to her normal duties. On my way to the pier I met several of the commercial vehicles that had just arrived on the island.

MV Lord of the Isles

The second sailing was scheduled to leave Oban at 10:30am instead of the normal 7:15am The MV Lord of the Isles is the replacement vessel for the MV Clansman which is in dry dock at Greenock. LOTI departed Oban about 10 minutes late and sailed first to the Isle of Coll. After Tiree she made her normal return visit to Coll on the way back to Oban.

MV Lord of the Isles with Ben More on Mull as a backdrop

With an afternoon appointment there was no time to watch 'LOTI' berth at Tiree. Thankfully the cloud which hid Ben More from view in the morning and disappeared. So it was 'the vessel had a snow capped Ben More as a backdrop.

Loti

With no sailing to Tiree on a Friday in the winter timetable and with Saturday's sailing cancelled due to Storm Dennis many were grateful to be able to travel back to Tiree for Monday's return to school after the half-term break. It is highly unlikely that there will be a sailing on Sunday and Monday's looks extremely doubtful.

Gott Bay

With only 10 days to go until the closure of the linkspan when the crossing to Tiree becomes a foot passenger service can we expect additional sailings not week. Local hauliers have been counting on every crossing and already we have lost 4 sailings and with the loss of at least a further 3 at the weekend. It will be interesting to see how next week unfolds.

Created By
Alan Millar
Appreciate

Credits:

Photos copyright to Alan Millar