Cruise of 2006

Our 2006 cruise was quite a late start with us setting off on the first weekend in September, hoping to avoid all the school holiday crowds, this we certainly did, but the down side was the occasional gale that we had to dodge.

We had four weeks with an objective of exploring more of the Outer Hebrides maybe as far as Lewis. We actually managed S.Uist before we made the decision to head back inside Skye due to potential strong winds being forecast from the remnants of hurricane coming across the Atlantic. 

 
Cairnbaan
 The cruise started with a trip through the Crinan canal stopping at Bellanoch Bridge for the night. Passing though the Crinan canal is difficult when there are only two on board so we enlisted help from Donald McTavish who provided able assistance through to Crinan.
Day 2
Passing though the canal to Crinan then locking out and headed up the Sound of Luig and the Sound of Mull to a very quiet evening and night in Loch Aline anchoring in the South West corner. There are permanent moorings here but there is room enough to anchor and we had a very settled night.		 


Loch Aline
 
 
Sound of Mull
 Day 3
Forecast is for SE 5/6. The wind in Loch Aline almost non but once we cleared the entrance the wind soon picked up to 25 knots gusting 30 knots with heavy rain. With the wind from the ESE we just set the Genoa and enjoyed a wet but fast down wind sail up the sound of Mull to Tobermory. The photo on the left was taken the following day.
Day 4/5
Stopped at Tobermory hired car for the day, saw otters and spotted a couple of Golden Eagles.		   
 
Canna
 Day 6
Wind NW or Variable 3/4. Decided to head for Canna with a plan to head for the Outer Hebrides the next day. The wind was sort of against us so we had a bit of a beat but we eventually arrived in Canna Harbour with a sighting of a whale as we approached Canna.

Day 7
Decided to spend two nights at Canna taking a walk ashore and some rather nice evening illumination of Rhum.

Day 8
Wind SE 4/5. Left Canna for Loch Skipport on South Uist. We were just about on a broad reach but we were gald to arrive at Skipport as the sea was building as the wind freshened. Loch Skipport proved to be very windy with gusts coming down the mountain but we had no problems with the anchor holding. 

 
Canna

 
  Day 9
Wind still from the SE force 5. Left Skipport for Loch Maddy and picked up mooring buoy.This picture of our boat was sent to us by Hector a local.
Day 10/11/12/13
Decide to stay a few days so we hired a car and explored Harris and Lewis. Picture to right is of the Butt of Lewis. Stopped overnight in a B&B then headed back to Loch Maddy		 
 
Butt of Lewis.
We didn't want to leave our dinghy on the shore when we hired the car we put the dinghy in the car boot. On returning we could not get out to the boat due a strong onshore wind so we had to find another night in a B&B. Unfortunately the only place available was a rather expense but very nice Lodge. The next day the wind had abated and we could safely get back on board.
Day 14
Forecast was for SW 3/4. Weather was a beautifully clear day so we set off for Gairloch on the mainland. We had a wonderful sail round the top of Skye with a broad reach nearly all the way and tide with us most of the time.		 
 
Setting off for Gairloch over the top of Skye
 

Badachro

 

Day 14 continued
Badachro offered a safe a sheltered anchorage through in the end we picked up a hotel mooring buoy. That evening we went ashore for a meal at the Badachro Inn and enjoyed some of the best scallops. So this day we had fine weather, fantastic sail and superb sea food - a perfect day! (and the beer was pretty good also).

 

There are many aspects to sailing in Scotland that we enjoy. Top of the list is good sailing in amongst some of the best scenery in the UK if not, anywhere in the world with a good chance of still finding a deserted anchorage. A close second is fresh seafood and the West Coast of Scotland seafood is second to non.