Clyde Navigation in 1977

THIS "CLYDE NAVIGATION IN 1977" SECTION WILL BE ADDED TO AND UPDATED DAILY

By George Mitchell, Matt and Susan Clarke, Jim McVeigh and Andy Winstanley

We welcome any contributions and comments to this Section, and not only for the Clyde area. Other areas can also be covered.

FOR THE PRESENT DAY OR NEAR PAST if you have any articles, comments or photographs (images) to contribute they can be added to the "Coasts and Waters" section.

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READERS ARE STRONGLY REMINDED THAT

INFORMATION IN THIS SECTION WAS RELEVANT IN 1977 AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TODAY

and

THAT ANY DIAGRAMS ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY AND MUST NOT BE USED FOR NAVIGATION

DEFINITION OF LIGHTS

FIXED ... (Fix.) One showing a steady and continuous light

FLASHING ... (Fl.) Flash(es) or flashing. Light whose duration is less than the dark interval

ISOPHASE ... (Iso.) Light with all durations of light and darkness equal

OCCULTING ... (Occ.) Light whose duration is more than the dark interval

ALTERNATING ... (Alt.) Light that changes colour in each period

GROUP FLASHING ... (Gp Fl) Light giving more than one flash in each period

FIXED and FLASHING ... (F Fl) Fixed light that becomes momentarily more brilliant at regular intervals

FIXED and GROUP FLASHING ... (F. Gp Fl) Fixed light that becomes more brilliant in a group of brighter flashes at regular intervals

GROUP OCCULTING ... (Gp. Occ.) Light that occults more than once in each period

QUICK FLASHING ... (Qk. Fl.) Light in which the rapid alternations are repeated without interruption

INTERRUPTED QUICK FLASHING ... (Int. Qk. Fl) ...Light that flashes more than 60 times a minute with a total eclipse at regular intervals

GROUP INTERRUPTED QUICK FLASHING ... ( Gp. Int. Qk. Fl. ) Groups of quick flashes separated by relatively longer periods of total eclipse which may or may not be equal to the period of the flashes

KYLES OF BUTE

The Kyles of Bute is the name given to the narrow and sheltered stretch of water which separates the Island of Bute from the mainland of Scotland.

From Ardlamont Point and heading generally north to Caladh Harbour and Loch Riddon and Bute's Buttock Point the waterway passes the towns of Kames, Auchenlochan and Tighnabruaich and is called the "West Kyles" and then it turns south east as "East Kyles" through "The Narrows" of the Burnt Isles and past Rhubodach and Colintraive to Ardmaleish Point and Loch Striven.

ARDLAMONT POINT

ETTRICK BAY A mile-long crescent shaped bay at the western side of the Island of Bute, it is very gently shelving to a shoreline of sand, shingle and stones, and backed by low agricultural hills. Two roadways connect Ettrick Bay to the main townships, the shorter road is to Port Bannantyne and the longer road is to Rothesay, the main town on the island.

Ettrick Bay is at the south end of the West Kyles and faces Ardlamont Point, Skipness on Kintyre, the north end of Arran and Inchmarnock Water and the Island of Inchmarnock.

CARRY POINT

KAMES A white fixed light is exhibited on the pierhead when vessels are expected.

AUCHENLOCHAN

RUBHA DUBH

TIGHNABRUAICH

( pronounced "Tyne" - as in River "Tyne" at Newcastle, England

"a" - as in "a" bar of soap

" brew" - as in "brew" a cask of beer, or even "broo"

"ach" - as in the German word "Ach"tung )

So it's "Tyne a broo ach"

CALADH HARBOUR

THE MAIDS OF BUTE

BUTTOCK POINT

LOCH RIDDON

RUBHA na CROICHE

BURNT ISLES

COLINTRAIVE

RHUBODACH

ARDMALEISH POINT

Rothesay, Isle of Bute

Image contributed by Billy Crawford, Greenock.

“Here is a photo of Rothesay Outer Harbour (top)

and Inner Harbour (nearest) around 1970s

There is a Clyde Puffer possibly SPARTAN in the

inner harbour.

At the bottom right hand is the end of Albert Pier where

the coasters and puffers discharged their cargoes.”

DUNOON

Image contributed by Billy Crawford, Greenock.

“Here are photos of Dunoon Pier around 1990s

There is the WAVERLEY arriving in one photo

and in the other either JUNO or JUPITER, vehicle

ferries having left Dunoon for Gourock Pier.

STRONE POINT

CLOCH LIGHT

McINROYS POINT

KEMPOCK POINT

ADMIRALTY PIER, GOUROCK BAY

ADAM'S SHIPYARD, GOUROCK

WHITEFORLAND POINT

ROSNEATH PATCH