Inverness

Firstly you must call Inverness Port Control on #12 before entering and leaving the Port
The approach will have you scratching your head and pounding the calculator!!

The problem is that you really need to be in a position about three or four miles away from Fort George halfway through the flood; there's no point in attempting to peg the tide through the Chanonry Narrows and it will take you a good hour to an hour and a half to make it to the River Ness before the tide turns. On top of that you must allow a bit of time in case the port authority delays you to allow commercial traffic to overtake before the Kessock Bridge.

In future years you might have to start being a bit carefull in the area of the Riff Bank South SCM (in the South Channel approach) as there are massive plans for the developement of the old Ardersier Port which will possibly impact navigation through the South Channel.

Once you have passed through the Chanonry Narrows (and said hello to the dolphins) make for the Munlochy buoy (R/W SWM) which is prominent and easy to pick up, and after that you need to look for the Meikle Mee SHM. Don't worry if you can't pick it out at first, just head for the football stadium which is a fairly prominent white building at the SE end of the bridge you'll pass the Petty Bank PHM off Alturlie Bay and if you look towards football stadium you should be able to see the Meikle Mee green buoy; it is important to leave that to Starboard; seems obvious I know but the Meikle Mee bank extends right out into the middle of the bay so you have to skirt round that buoy before making for the centre span of the bridge.

After that it's a doddle; pass under the middle span of the bridge keeping quite close to port or even between the tall tower and the first of the piers on the south side of the bridge (there's plenty of water there) and make for the entry of the River Ness. The reason for staying to port is that you'll have a fairly strong current under you and if you have to cross it from the North side you'll be halfway to the Canal entrance before you know it!! If making your approach in the dark (pretty difficult in the summer as there are only about four hours of darkness at that time of year!) the channel is well marked, just make sure that you identify both the Q.R perches on the port side before the Fl.R at the entrance to the Marina (which you may well see before the perches) You will note that there is a Fl R 4s at the near corner of the marina and a Fl R 3s on the next bend; best make sure which is which!!.

There is now a NCM laid to mark the outer end of the bank extending out from Carnac Point on the West side of the entrance to the port. It's position is 57° 29.886'N 004°14.200W and it's a standard NCM BY buoy with a Q flash light at Night and NCM top markings. This NCM is on the Admiralty Chart in our Chart Gallery (top right)

Alternatively you may want to come along the deep channel on the North West side of Inverness Firth after passing Chanonry Point; that's fine but be aware as you close the Kessock Bridge that there is shallow water between you and the bridge and if you are in any doubt about the depth of the water you should turn South and lay a course to round the Meikle Mee buoy to starboard (remember that the depths over that bank were last surveyed twenty years ago)

The reverse trip is entirely different, especially in a Nor'easter; you'll be departing on the ebb so it's shallow and the current plus any wind can set up some quite choppy conditions as you leave the R. Ness. Give the Meikle Bank respect; again it'll be quite shallow and the currents will set up a chop. Once clear of that bank you are ok to head straight for Fort George and the open sea (saying goodbye to the dolphins this time!)

The other thing to be careful of is, if you are transiting to or from the Caledonian Canal Sea Lock; that bank off Carnac Point (west side of the entrance to the R.Ness) goes out a long, long way. Coming from the Canal is not so bad, just keep well out and head for the bridge when it is just north of east from you and, leaving the new NCM to starboard, turn in when the river entrance is well open on the starboard quarter you can turn back in for it. Going from the Marina to the Canal you must hold on to a NE heading for the bridge until past the new NCM before turning west along the Beauly Firth. After that until the west side of the entrance to the Clachnaharry Sea Lock is opening from the East side it's not really safe to turn in southwards and you're best off making a long sweep round to approach that from the WNW. Keep an eye on the echo sounder because it shelves quite rapidly from deep water to no water on the Southern edge of the Kessock Roads.