BLUEMOMENT

On Thursday, 25 July, we left Craobh at HW Dover -0440, 09.00 local, which was later than planned, but we had waited for the fuel berth to open for business. We were going to Tayvallich so wanted to be at the entrance to Loch Sween at LW slack.

Our route north had been from Ardfern so had been through Doris Mor and inside of Reisa Mhic Phaidean and Hutcheson Rock so this time I wanted to stay in the main sound.

As we left the light on Reisa an t-Struth 0.2nm to port at HW Dover - 0325, the SOG picked up dramatically with a 5 knt tidal flow, and speed stayed high for the next 5nm, with a highest of 13.3Knts SOG which must have been almost 9Knts of tide.

The up-wellings of water and the mini-whirlpools were fascinating, and the SOG meant that we were ahead of schedule for a while, but it came back so that we rounded Island of Danna at HW Dover – 0140.

It's a pity that it was raining and misty, with no wind, but the sun came out as we motored up Loch Sween.

Ash

We only had a measely 4 knot lift yesterday

We had similar speeds and tide through the Sound of Luing from Kerrera the previous day and arrived in Craighouse much earlier than planned.
Great fun, but persuading Mrs out of bed at 0630 while on holiday to catch the tide was the difficult part.

The trip back up to Crinan on Friday was much slower but just as well in the pea souper we had to get through.

We had a fast run south through the Sound of Luing too on Monday, 29 July. Made all the more 'exciting' by the pot buoy which was being dragged under the surface by the current.

We had left Loch Tarbert, Jura bound for Puilladobhrain, but running late on the tide, and in the pouring rain, a decision to divert to the luxuries of Ardfern seemed like a good call.

I had wimped out of following Aquaplane through The Corryvreckan, and plugged the tide for a couple of hours till we could pass through between Ormsa and Rubha Fiola where we picked up the south going 'moving pavement'.

Ash

Currently sitting in Ardrishaig basin waiting for a better forecast. Think that it will be a second night here!