Sailing

One of the most perfect anchorages on the West Coast

according to the Imray Pilot Book, Tayvallich is an ideal place for all watersports.

The waters around Tayvallich, Loch Sween, and the Sound of Jura are great for sailing. And if you are cruising in Scotland , you must pay us a visit!

Although there are many anchorages on the West Coast of Scotland, Tayvallich Bay is generally renowned for the great shelter it provides. Brief sailing directions for the bay and the Sound of Jura are available on our page for Visiting Yachts - Info. Local tides are somewhat peculiar, with the bay having two high and two low tides. Information on these is available on our Tidal Info page.

Great places to sail to locally include Ardfern, Jura, the Crinan Canal , Carsaig Bay , and - of course - the famous Corryreckan. If you are considering yachting in the Hebrides (or already do), then there are also many other anchorages within easy reach of Tayvallich.

The Tayvallich Sailing Club has a membership which includes many visitors who return to the area year after year. The sailing club runs Sunday races throughout the season. Visitors are always welcome to join in. They also organise cruises to Jura, Gigha, and other local destinations. Among the highlights of the sailing calendar are the annual Jura race, and Tayvallich Regatta, which attracts entries from far and wide. The Club also has a junior section, the Cygnets.

The sailing club owns 3 Optimists, 2 toppers, a Gull, a Wayfarer and a Lark for the use of Cygnets, and some are available for use by club members (safety restrictions apply), and also owns two rescue boats.

The Tayvallich Bay Association looks after navigation marks in the bay and the head of Loch Sween, and also the moorings in the bay on behalf of the Crown Estate Office. Spaces, when available are allocated according to priority lists as follows :- (1) Local residents, (2) Owners of local holiday homes and caravans, and (3) others.

It has recently rebuilt the jetty alongside the shop, and the millennium saw the installation of a superb pontoon off the jetty, making loading and unloading larger boats a much easier proposition. There is also water available at the pontoon.

There is a slip alongside the jetty suitable for launching smaller boats - who needs marinas!

As well as being a centre for sailing, there are many power boats moored at Tayvallich, and divers and canoeists regularly visit the area. Water skiing is popular in the summer months.

In recent years the Sailing Club has seen the introduction of the Cygnets section for younger members who are taught to row, and then to sail.