A Rough Return to Campbeltown

With the Covid-19 pandemic halting any planned sailings for the majority of 2020 it had been January 2020 since I had last stepped aboard the Isle of Arran (video linked here:    • Clyde River Steamer Club Isle of Arra...   ) but with the final Campbeltown sailing of the season taking place I thought what better time to get back on her!

The weather forecast for the sailing was not brilliant to say the least with strong winds and rain forecast, the sailing had been placed on a yellow warning so there was uncertainty if the sailing would go ahead, and that topped off with a long winded journey to Ardrossan consisting of two trains and a bus due to Scotrail strike action made the journey even longer!

But sure enough as Caledonian Isles departed Ardrossan and the MV Isle of Arran approached she rounded the breakwater and berthed alongside expertly and it was time to board. The staff in the Calmac office at Ardrossan had confirmed the sailing would go ahead but they did suggest that on the return sailing the vessel would sail north of the island adding to the journey time, this however did not happen, and as we set out of Ardrossan the wind was up but the sun was out leading to a pleasant but blustery sailing. Sadly the sun didn't stay out for the whole trip and as we approached Davaar Island on the exit of Campbeltown Loch the wind had picked up and the rain was closing in.

Upon berthing at Campbeltown there was a quick turnaround before we set off back to Ardrossan, however as we left the confines of Campbeltown Loch the weather had really closed in, with the wind up and the rain on it made filming a challenge and by the time we had reached the Island of Pladda off the Arran coast visibility was poor making filming near impossible! The return into Ardrossan was skillfully done as darkness had arrived and with the wind still relentless the master brought the Isle of Arran alongside Ardrossan as if it was a calm summers day.

This is not the usual type of video for a trip like this as I'd usually include photos and music however this is the second attempt at uploading this after the first one was blocked for the music so I decided to strip it back and try something different, let me know if you like it or if you prefer the old style!

Hope you enjoy the video!