Day opens overcast with rain and a breezy Southerly. We had about
twelve other yachts sharing the anchorage with us at Puilladobhrain
last night, two nationalities we hadn't seen before are the Danish and
New Zealand boats pictured. Bit of a contrast in the comfort levels
between the two.
We set off under main alone and despite the adverse tide made brisk
passage towards the Sound of Mull past the Island of Bach. We turned
the corner at Duart Castle then the wind died and we found ourselves
heading east at about a knot with the tide. While there the castle
were firing off cannons, fortunately only flashes and sounds of
thunder no signs of splashes in the adjacent water.
The wind picked up again and we were on to Loch Aline and through the
narrow entrance that opens out into this spectacular and sheltered
loch. There is a sand mine to port as you come in with apparently 30
miles of underground caves. On up to the top of the loch and anchored
in 6 metres, only the sound of burn in spate and the wind in the
trees. Why would you want to sail and live anywhere else?
Forecast is positively optimistic for tomorrow, lets hope its right.

On my own for the day as Lynne has headed back to the city to return
next week. The good news is that Julie is driving up from Glasgow to
join me tonight, so I won't be solo for long. I sailed down to
Puilladorbhrian watching many other yachts heading into Oban ready for
the big dinner tonight, I believe in the boat shed at the marina.
As in previous days I noticed many of the yachts motoring in. I don't
understand why so many yachts seem reluctant to sail, if that is what
you are going to do most of the time then why not bite the bullet and
buy a motor boat. Particularly surprising has been the number of
yachts we have seen recently motoring down wind, with the tide, maybe
doing about the same speed if they could be bothered to pull out the
genoa. And another thing, blue ensigns, what's that all about? Is it
that they are too posh to be seen flying the red duster? Seems to be
more than ever around here, I'm starting to get into the minority,
maybe someone in authority needs to do a warrant check.
The picture was taken a few moments ago, looking north through the
drizzle towards Oban. WInd is howling in the rigging and it hasn't
stopped raining since I dropped the hook. Who'd want to sail in this
part of the world?

This was what is was supposed to be like

Up at the crack to catch a fair tide back down the Sound of Mull, dry
and the wind still from the NW so we motored up to and went through
the North entrance to Tobermoray. I bottled out going through the
South end entrance, maybe when I've seen it dried out.

The wind stayed from the NW all the way so we gybed our way down the
Mull zig zagging so that we could keep both sails full. This boat
doesn't really like going downwind, which is a bit tragic. Then
miracles, the sun broke out and we passed the South of Lismore in
glorious warm weather with a following wind all the way into Oban,
where we picked up a mooring over on the mainland side.

After a walk of many many miles we returned to the boat to a meal of
veggies and a glass of wine to watch the sun fall behind the mountains
of Mull. Why would you want to live or sail anywhere else?

Onward west.

Day opens overcast with "Irish" rain, steady heavy drizzle. We moved
over to the yacht club pontoon on the mainland to fill up with water,
strangely despite the vast amounts of water that has fallen on this
part of the world recently the marina still doesn't have sufficient
water on the Island to allow them to connect up the hoses on the
pontoons. We then set off via the North entrance to the Bay and set
full sail for the South of Lismore in a brisk southerly. Few if any
other yachts in company.

Approaching the Sound of Mull we watched the porpoises swim past as we
wallowed in the calm that had overcome us, at one point we started to
move back towards Oban with the tide. Then the wind got up from the
North West, so we hardened sheets and sailed all the way to Tobermoray
hard to windward all the way, at least the tide was with us. Oh did I
mention that the rain came with the wind, nearly all the way, I'm sure
the views are stunning.

8 hours after setting off from Oban we arrived in Tobermoray, but
there was no room at the moorings or the anchorage so we anchored
right down at the south end at Doirlinn, on our own. Which it has
been for most of the day as we didn't see any other mugs beating to
windward all the way here. Day ends partly cloudy but without the
precipitation. Only sheep and the sound of the wind here to disturb
us. The lights of the flesh pots in town are on the horizon there to
tempt us but the mile and a bit row is too much to countenance.

July weather moving into August

Joined today late afternoon with new and keen crew member Lynne. Have
to leave here tomorrow to make room for the Clyde Cruising Club
members doing there celebration cruise of the West Coast. Not too
sure where to go but will decide in the morning when we see where the
wind is blowing from. Presently Southerly F4 with rain showers and
choppy seas under the stern. Wind whistling in the rigging.

Crew Required.
I find myself short handed next week.  Anyone who is free and fancies taking on the West Coast of Scotland from next Tuesday 27th July for a few days from Oban please get in touch.  No pay, poor prospects and little chance of promotion.  Young and fit applicants will be readily accepted.

Visitors

This is my brother Keith, and his girlfriend Kris, with Eva (5) and Felix (1). They are one of the few tourists that come to Scotland and don't really mind the weather, it is generally just as bad over on their side of the North Sea so they are kind of used to it. Bless them.

Fine end to the day

Keith, Kris and family are here for the evening. The tranquil scenes
shown here in the pictures belies the mayhem below decks with two
youngsters that are determined to stay awake.
Day ends quietly as they are now asleep and everyone is whispering
lest they wake up.

Just arrived at the boat and noticed these guys at the end of the pontoons. I guess that this must be due to global warming.

Ever Optimistic
I am aware that the Clyde Cruising Club is scheduled to arrive in Oban later this month and that I need to move away from my berth in the marina to make room for them all. There are about 180 yachts involved.  I went onto the CCC site to check the dates and was amused to read after the details that "all we need is fair weather and good winds."  Which given that the club has been around for a hundred years or so must be a triumph of hope over experience.
I'm heading up to Oban tomorrow to check that the boat is still intact and to await my brother and family who are over here on holiday.  They are all staying on board for the one night, so there will be three adults, one girl 5 and one boy 1 in that confined space.  Lovely to see them all but I'm glad that it's just the one night.
Can anyone point to an optimistic weather forecast for this part of the world for the next month?

Waverley Visit
I dropped by on the Waverley office this morning to see the folks there, in particular to catch up with my worthy replacement Maria, who is being kept busy by all her work colleagues.  They had a hazardous occurrence on the Balmoral earlier in the week, fortunately no one hurt and no damage to either vessel but if you go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-10647150 then you will appreciate it could have been otherwise.

Sailing, such a joy.
My friend Tony called from his boat this morning.  He is trying to head west to Dartmouth from the Solent and so far has got to Portsmouth.  Last night was spent bouncing around alongside a pontoon in Gosport Marina as a Force 8 came through.  Remind me why we think that sailing is a good hobby?

Woken this morning at 5:30 with the sound of the rain battering off the hatch above my bunk.  This is backed up by a strong NE wind that builds up a bit of a sea across the Bay from the town.
I moved berths yesterday and then the maintenance schedule fell down as I got in with Scott on the boat next to me.  As you can see he hails from America having sailed across from Bermuda, being his fourth circumnavigation.  He had a bottle of Barbados rum and I had a bottle of local brew so we didn't get that much done work wise.
Heading back to Glasgow today on the bus, only £10 and it drops me off 5 minutes away from home.

Just across from us in the Marina there is an old wooden double ender, two bows, with a crew of Swedish Scouts on board. It must be fairly "cosy" on board as there is a lot of them.  I feel embarrassed that we are subjecting them to our weather. 

This is the boat berthed next door to me, a lovely much cared for wooden job, lovely too look at but I couldn't bare to keep up with the work involved.  

By two this afternoon the cloud had lifted and the wind abated so that it all turned out beautiful again.  What a strange country, in so many ways.

Tied up

Saturday morning started with sunshine and a glassy sea, only a baby
seal to break the waters. Anchor aweigh at 10:00 and a large amount
of grey oozy mud to wash off the deck and chain, still it proved to be
good holding ground so mustn't complain. We motored the short 7' up
to Oban Bay via Kerrera Sound and found a berth at the marina here at
the north end of the island. http://www.obanmarina.com/ It seems to
be a fairly casual affair with the lady in office advising "take any
space that you find available". I am going to leave the boat here and
return to Glasgow on Wednesday.
We had a walk along the west coast of the island with fabulous views
over to Mull and Lismore. About 4 in the afternoon the rain returned,
with fire hose qualities drenching everything. There is a seafood
restaurant at the top of the gangway, well I say restaurant it is a
tent with some wooden tables and chairs. We thought a few oysters and
a glass of something would be rather nice to watch the rain come down
but it wasn't to be they were fully booked serving up raw and cooked
oysters and langoustines etc. and didn't think we could get a table
that night. All local produce freshly killed one presumes.

Small steps north

Friday 10th. Day opened with rain of biblical proportions, ironically
this is the same day that the hosepipe ban comes into force in
Cumbria. We had considered going for a sail but the sound of the
battering of water off the cabin roof dispelled all those thoughts, so
we hunkered down and read a few more chapters of our books. By two in
the afternoon it had passed and the sun shone so we rowed ashore and
walked over the hill to the Bridge over the Atlantic, so called
because the tide runs both ways under it as Seil is an Island. There
is also the famous Tighna Truish Pub, so named as the place where
highlanders, forced by the English from wearing their skirts kilts
changed out of their trousers when heading onto the Island. We spent
the night at anchor and watched the sun dip below the mountains of
Mull. What a wonderful country, how could we live anywhere else?

Moving On

Left Ardfern at the crack of dawn, well 8:00 am which is pretty good
for us. Off under engine down Loch Craignish into a stiff F6 coming
straight up the Loch so we were only making about 4 knots. As soon as
we entered the Dorus Mor we had the wind on the beam, let the headsail
out, engine off and set off at a smart lick off up the Sound of Luing,
touching 9 knots over the ground briefly. Past the Gulf of
Corryvechan and the Grey Dog channel and once clear of Fladda Island
we were in the Atlantic swell rolling in, still making good speed
though up the West coast of Seil. Round the North end of the Island
and then into the narrow confines of Pulldoren where we anchored in 6m
along with the other yachts that have been sheltering here from the
gales. Only took us 3 and a half hours to cover the 21 miles but it
does help having wind and tide with us. Weather is still mixed to say
the least.

Storm bound, again

Day opens with gales but no rain.  Vessel rolling easily alongside at Ardfern Yacht Centre in the shelter, heaven knows what it must be like out in the open seas.  We had mussels for dinner at the Galley of Lorne Hotel and watched the football on the wide screen TV.  Can't say that the holiday is going quite as planned!  We are aiming to head off tomorrow morning first thing to get the tide round the Dorus Mor and then up through the Sound of Luing then on to find an anchorage somewhere.  The weather does look like it is abating so hopefully we'll get a little sailing in.  Drying out and a bit of cleaning and maintenance today.

Another safe haven

Monday afternoon and evening was berthed at Crinan.  We spent the time watching the boats queuing up to come into the shelter of the canal and the odd hardy folk heading out into the white water, presumably determined to press on regardless.  The fair weather sailors, us, celebrated the sun coming out with a Pimm's and lemonade.  The forecast is for SE 8 later on tomorrow so our plan is to get away in the morning and to run for the next safe haven.

Tuesday morning and we get away at the crack, well 11:00 but J reckons that is early enough.  We then had a great wee sail with a following wind up Loch Craignish arriving at Ardfern and managing to berth just in time before the first rain squall passed through and now in the late afternoon the wind is once again whistling in the rigging.  For the day 6'.  

Onwards ever more to the North and West

Monday 5^th.We had a very pleasant evening in the Carinbaan Hotel spent in the company of two other yacht crews.  So many salty tales, never let the facts stand in the way of a good story etc.  Met up with Scott Raeburn and family, a previous customer at Bowling Harbour, he owns a classic wooden yacht Melora designed by Alfred Milne

Morning broke with tropical rain showers, at least the canal people are happy that their reservoirs are full again.  We set off on our own which involved a bit of extra work for the deck crew.  Run up, open lock gates, take boat mooring lines, close aft gates, close sluice. open forward sluice gently, let boat rise/sink and then open gates, close sluices, let boat mooring lines go, close gates run to next lock, repeat.  I don't know what she's worried about, all the fresh air and stunning views, when the clouds lift that is.  It's hard work on the boat too, with all the navigation to think about.

Onto a nice wee berth on the final reach before Crinan Basin, sun shining and wind still howling so lots to look at as other yachts make a run in here from the latest gale warning. Ah July in Scotland don't you love it? 

No Wi-Fi or Vodafone signal in Crinan,  hence a day late in my update. 

Wild and wet.

We are now much wiser in the ways of locks and bridges having made it to Cairnbaan on a pontoon between locks 7 & 8.  This is going to be our berth for the night being both pretty damp and knackered from navigating the locks up to here.  We are almost at the summit of the canal so after Nos. 8 lock it is all downhill and somewhat easier.  The shore crew has been excellent, though there is room for improvement in the line throwing division, and we need a new port hand light forward.

As ever the weather has played quite a part in the proceedings as there has been tremendous squalls coming through with really heavy showers but in between there was the odd sunny spell which was delightful.  Off to have a wee dram in the hotel this evening.  For the day a measly 4' and the trip so far 44'

Day opens with torrential rain and the sound of the wind screaming in the rigging.  Vessel rolling easily alongside the pontoon.  The forecasters have got it wrong again, it isn't blowing any more than an 8 gusting 9 never the Force 10 predicted, though when a saw a wave breaking over the breakwater that must have been a good gust. 

We had some visitors yesterday who know the local area so we have taken on a pilot cadet for the canal transit, seems to know what she is doing but she has problems with her line of sight, despite standing on a stool. 

After a motor down to the bottom of the West Kyle, into the wind, we
turned to starboard and pulled out a teeny weeny bit of genoa and set
off up Loch Fyne. Shortly afterwards we were met by the delightful
British Waterway's ladies at the sea lock at Ardrishaig who have let
us into the tranquil waters of the Basin, where we will spend the
night. Never less than 6 knots all the way up here, so a good day's
sail.
We noticed this boat really close in to the Tighnabruaich shore and
wondered if anyone recognised her? Maybe used to be in blue, and a lot
further out.
Day ends with heavy rain and a forecast of Force 10 tomorrow!  For the day 23' and the trip 38'

July, height of summer. Day opens overcast with wind whistling in the
rigging. Forecast is South or southwest 4 or 5, backing southeast 6
to gale 8 later, with tomorrow up to F9. We are going to make a run
round Ardlamont and try to get up to Ardrishaig before it gets any
worse. Should be all right once we're in the canal.

Loaded the boat till she is "full and down" Plimsoll mark is just
showing. Forecast is SW 5 occ 6 and presently blowing 25 knots in the
marina. Had a cup of tea and discussed the need to go anywhere, so we
sat in the sun and read our books. At 17:00 finally plucked up the
courage at seeing the Lasers, here for the World Championships, going
out and decided that if they could go out then our 37' should survive.
Set off into the maelstrom, for a brisk sail over to the East Kyles
of Bute with the vessel rolling around heavily in the seas coming up
the Firth, strangely the only vessel around. As expected, further up
the Kyle the wind died away, though we persevered until Colintraive
when we pulled the sails down and motored into Caladh harbour to join
the one other boat there. Day ends overcast with heavy rain and not a
breath of wind in here. Corned Beef Surprise for tea, thanks for the
recipe John. For the day 15' and for the trip 15'

Full of expectation for the coming voyage.  Day opens overcast with heavy rain, forecast is for SE 6 increasing to 7.  Today's trip has been to Lidl and Makro to load up with victuals.  Going to pub to drown sorrows.  For the day 0' and the voyage 0'