Join us aboard the Lady of Avenel for an unforgettable week of Americana music, combining sailing and musical sessions! 

Ace musicians Theo Barnard and Pepita Emmerichs (Rain of Animals) will be sailing with us to deliver workshops, tuition and to lead sessions both aboard and ashore. 

This voyage is perfect for lovers of Bluegrass, Old Time, Country, Swing, and other American music styles.

Sessions and Sail offer another of our Americana/Bluegrass voyages. These differ slightly from our nornal voyages, with the focus being on a more American style of music, which also very popular in Scotland and the UK. These sessions also wirk in a slightly different way.

Whereas a Scottish style session features tunes, or songs, that are generally started by one participant, with the rest of the group joining in to play that tune, Bluegrass sessions will instead see one person starting a tune/song, then giving everyone 'breaks' or solos. These may be passed around the table or around the group, with the tune/song leader choosing who is up next.

For more details on the varying etiquette of our Scottish and our Americana sessions, see the guide sheets on our website!

On this voyage we’ll sail from Oban, exploring the unique region around the south of Mull and the islands and coast of Lorne. Whether you're setting sails, steering the ship, or relaxing on deck while playing tunes as we sail along, this trip offers a perfect mix of music and maritime adventure. In the evenings, you’ll have the chance to participate in sessions aboard the ship or ashore in local venues, with plenty of opportunities for impromptu jams.

With mandolinist/fiddler Pepita Emmerichs and guitarist Theo Barnard as your sail-with tutors, you’ll enjoy a week filled with tunes, strumming, and picking, with the tutors helping to ensure that the music keeps flowing.

The Lady of Avenel offers a welcoming environment with comfortable accommodation in twin-berth cabins. No sailing experience is required, and the trip is open to all levels of musicians. Sign up now for a unique musical voyage blending the rhythms of Americana with the breathtaking scenery of Scotland's west coast.

You  will be allocated a berth aboard the brigantine 'Lady of Avenel',  in one of our six double cabins. For solo  travellers, cabins will be allocated on a same-sex basis; if two people travelling together wish to share a cabin, we recommend booking early to ensure availability.

There are two showers and three toilets in the accommodation; these are shared.

Meals  are prepared in the modern upper deck galley; these are of a high standard and prepared by our own chef. Meals, tea and coffee are included in the price of the trip. 

The upper deck saloon provides an ideal place to socialise and, with the tables cleared away, will be the perfect session space for the evenings we spend aboard. Should the weather be fair enough, we may be able to play sessions on deck.

Oban is connected by bus from Inverness/Fort William and Glasgow – see Citylink for more information. http://www.citylink.co.uk

There are trains  daily from Glasgow www.thetrainline.com/www.scotrail.co.uk 

If you choose to drive, parking in Oban may need to be organised in advance.

  We recommend you bring the following:

• Warm jumper/fleece
• Waterproof jacket and trousers
• Long trousers
• Boots/waterproof footwear
• Sunglasses
• A soft bag (no suitcases please!) 
• Thermal layers 
• A waterproof cover/case for your instrument
• Thick socks
• Sufficient cash to last the week 

You may also be glad to have:

• Binoculars 
• Midgie repellent (we like Smidge) 
• A reusable water bottle
• Sun Cream
• A RYA logbook if you have one.

If you'd like more info on what to bring, there's a handy guide from our regular tutor Tim MacDonald here.

The  Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides  financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel  Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Nisbet Marine Services/Sessions and  Sail, Member Number 5533, , and in the event of their insolvency,  protection is provided for:

 -  Non-flight packages

ABTOT  cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or  repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note  that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when  purchased directly with Nisbet Marine Services/Sessions and Sail.

In  the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our  financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and  advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.

You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made

You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/

Please note that the Lady of Avenel is a ship built in the 1960s - getting around the ship and above and below decks requires a degree of mobility and ability to negotiate stairs. 

If you have mobility issues it is best to check your suitability for this voyage - please send us a message and we'll be happy to advise.

Join your ship, the Lady of Avenel, at the North Pier pontoons in Oban; and enjoy lunch onboard as the rest of the group arrive.

At 2pm the Captain gives a safety talk, then we head out to sea, finding a good anchorage a 2-hour sail from Oban.

After a dinner at anchor, we all get to know one another over a few tunes around the Lady's saloon.

We depart our anchorage after breakfast, and sail south through the island-dotted Sound of Luing. 

Our onboard tutors get a workshop or a session started as we sail down the Sound of Jura, arriving at Crinan mid afternoon;

In the afternoon there's a chance of a walk ashore, perhaps by the Crinan Canal; then after dinner onboard, we all head ashore to the Crinan Hotel, a cosy pub that's always keen to host a Sessions and Sail group for some tunes!

Today we sail on South, all the way to the community-owned island of Gigha.

Underway once more, we take the chance to learn some more about the sails and operation of the ship from  the crew of the Lady of Avenel. Later, our tutors, Pepita Emmerichs and Theo Barnard, teach a tune or workship session in the Lady's saloon.

Late afternoon we arrive at our anchorage off Gigha; heading ashore after dinner we have the opportunity to go ashore and join local musicians for a session

We sail from Gigha, headed for the spectacular Sound of Islay. Catching a favourable tide North through here, we get the tunes going again , either on deck or in the Lady's saloon.

At a stunning anchorage that evening, the session goes on after dinner.

We sail to Colonsay and anchor off Scalasaig in the early afternoon.

Spend the afternoon ashore exploring Colonsasy, or aboard learning a tune or technique from our tutors.

The Colonsay Hotel is all ready to welcome us this evening for a session ashore;

After a high-energy session at the pub we head back to the ship at 11pm for a wind-down session back aboard.

We sail from Colonsay to Eilean Naoimh in the Garvellach Islands; if the weather is calm we may anchor here in the bay.

At this remote and inspiring location we spend our last evening, performing a concert for ourselves around the Lady's saloon table. 

The crew make an early start, getting the anchor up before breakfast. 

We head back to to Oban, having breakfast together on the way. A last tune  or a farewell before leaving the Lady and it's time to set off on the next adventure!