20th August Oban - Trip with Kieran & Gerard

Started morning with no wind and still water. Motored out off linnie and past Port appin. Shortly afterwards let genoa out in 12 knts of wind. Wind picked up very quickly and coast guard announced force 7 to 8 plus due. So decided to head to oban. Rain and wind arrived visability disappeared! Got into oban and got place in marine. And not so long after did the sun not come out. Bizzare! Went over to oban for walk about,beer etc.. .saw this great yacht, you would think we were in the med!
Kieran bought some mussels which we had followed by curry!!! More wind has arrived ( nothing to do with meal!) can hear it howling out side and the waves are hitting the boat like a hammer. Hope I can get some sleep much creaking, slapping & howling and that's just the neighbours!

22nd July Thursday

Got a away from Canna Thursday am in 20 knots of wind from the North East = Good sailing.  The sun came out and the wind calmed down a bit, dying for a while but then picked up again to circa 12 knots from behind. Decide not to stop at Tobermory ( been there to many times and in looked busy as we sailed past) so carried on down the Mull to the mooring, Getting in just after 8.00pm ( 12hrs sailing) and we tied up and launched the dinghy in record time to get to the local restaurant to catch last orders for food  at 8.45.

21st July Wednesday -Isle of Canna

What a night!!! From the wonderful previous evening, by 01.00am the weather turned quite nasty. Winds increased to force 6/7 with gusts of 34 knots (Gale 8). Got up at 02.30am to check boat was holding on it's anchor. It was, phew!! BUT it was not the same case for some others who, had started to drift and, boats were drifting about the anchorage trying to get their anchors back in. I decided to stay up on deck to keep an eye on things, as i didn't fancy  someone hitting us or us starting to drift. However my recently designed and purchased riding sail stopped the boat from yawing about and potentially, pulling the anchor up as it has the potential to do. Best spent money !  Morning came but the wind continued all day! But by now i was confident we weren't going any where.  That was until some boats arrived late after noon from the Clyde cruising club ( what they were doing out in that weather i don't know)  But with all the boats already in and the wind still blowing that had a night mare trying to anchor as the only spots left had a lot of weed, (not good for Anchoring)  Some were taking over an hour to anchor dropping and lifting the anchor several  times. One guy  was still at it 2.5 hours later and finally gave up and tied up the ferry terminal.  Another night was with me on anchor watch in case other drifted as by now i was more confident we were staying still. All was well !

20th July Tuesday -Isle Of Canna

Finally escaped Dunvegan, with another early start along with  the local fishermen. Have seen enough of Skye for at least 10 years!!! -  Again very little wind, so motor sailed most of way.  Got to Canna mid afternoon, and there was only a handful of boats ( that Changed - as did the weather, from this lovely view) Had a great walk about the island. Which now has about 20 folk on it down from, the 436 in it's hey day!, but they have 4 Churchs to look after their souls. BUT they had a recently open  restaurant, which was very nice.  Got back t the boat, later by which stage we had been joined by others.

19th July Monday -Dunvegan

Returned car this morning and the lady ran us down by car to the bus stop. Avis never do anything like that for me! In fact all the folk we have come across have been great, willing to help, suggest places have a chat. The weather starting to look better so stocked boat up with fuel and water as planning an early start. Then lay about reading/sleeping /fishing. In the sun. Planning on going to Canna tomorrow .