Our Summer Voyage

Our plans so far:

please note that all dates are vague, approximate and liable to alteration, variation and obfuscation without prior or subsequent notice, apology, excuse or justification. This makes this blog pretty accurate by my standards.

13^th  June:

Leave dog and home (Essex) and travel to Arisaig (Scotland) where the boat awaits us.

15^th June – 4^th July

Leave Arisaig and explore Canna, Barra (Castlebay), South and North Uist, Harris and Lewis.  

Possibly meet Angela and Martin* in Stornoway, sail “around the back of Lewis” and explore the “best beaches in the world”. 

If weather completely perfect (which it will be) and if we can put a flotilla together (unlikely) consider quick trip to St Kilda.****

Return to Arisaig via assorted beautiful islands.

The Outer Hebrides is the bit between Butt of Lewis and Mingulay ***

5 July – 7^th July

Meet John, Penny and Pat in Arisaig. Sail northwards to Mallaig or Kyle of Lochalsh or Portree with them.

Possibly Mallaig

10^th July – 17th July

Sara and Judith hopefully join us to continue our exploration (I fancy a trip to the Shiant Islands).

The Shiant Islands

19^th July – 3^rd August

Leave boat in Arisaig

Home. Feed dog. Cut the grass. Family wedding.

4^th August – onwards

Return to Arisaig for more sailing

5^th August – 12^th August

Explore "the small isles” with Richard and Gwen

16^th  August – 23^rd August or so

Epic Sailing adventure with Martin **

Eventually, leave boat in Troon

Go home, feed dog, cut the grass, prepare for winter.

Martin*  and Martin** are entirely different people (but have similar names, obviously). I regret any confusion or distress this may cause.

*** map included for the convenience of anyone who is uncertain about the exact location of the Western Isles.

**** please leave a comment on this blog if you are planning to sail to St Kilda this Summer or call me on VHF MMSI 235072092  

Sailing with dogs

As a keen boater with an interest in canine psychopathology, my reader(s) will not be surprised to hear that I am frequently* asked about marine-related dog mental health problems.

There are many reasons why dog owners may send their loved one to sea:

• What better way of getting rid of the bloody hound quietly?  
• Yapping, barking, biting and other canine unpleasantries can become a thing of the past once your canine friend is safely embarked to warmer climes (actually, any climes will normally do).

What is more of a mystery is why dogs sometimes take their masters sailing.

The disadvantages of having a dog on board are obvious:

1.    You have a dog on the boat
2.    Dogs often generate methane while sailing
3.    Dogs, in general, are very poor helmsmen.

The advantages of having a dog afloat are more subtle:

     1.   Your dog will no longer be at home
     2.    Dogs may be used to sniff their way through the densest of fog

     3.   A dog’s bark may be used as an alternative to the fog horn if your own horn’s pressurised gas supply  is low.  “Dog horn training” however, may take several years and is not always entirely successful.

     4.    A dog at sea is unlikely to be distracted by canines of the opposite sex, and is therefore easier to train and to counsel whilst in the marine environment.  It is a generally unappreciated** fact that a dog is more likely to finish reading his (or her) first serious novel while sailing than when he is on land.

     5.     Dogs can be good at geography.

A dog life jacket.  (Please note the absence of a dog)

The mental health of dogs.

This is of course, a deeply challenging and controversial subject. 

How such a small-brained mammal can be expected to appreciate the complexity The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea is difficult to comprehend, even for us experts.

. 

Suffice it to say, dogs may be unhappy at sea and are much better left at home.

*may one day be asked

** and under-reported

Ardnamurchan, Arisaig and home

Rested and victualed in Tobermory, we set off  north again.

Ardnamuchan point was easy.
The forecast wasn't very good.
We went straight to Arisaig.

View from our mooring at Arisaig.

We had a nice trip home via family and friends, ready to face the dog again.

Onwards and northwards

Leaving the bustle of Oban, we headed north.
There are indeed strong tidal streams just south of the Sound of Mull.
Jean and I had a pleasant sail to Tobermory.

Tobermory

Tobermory is good.
We were welcomed by the Harbour Master. There is excellent shelter.  The loos and showers are luxurious. The pontoons are intact. The wifi works.  Electricity is included in the price   .....   and all this for £15.   And the sun shone.

Eat your heart out Oban.

On Friday we took the bus to Dervaig for lunch at the Ballachroy Hotel.

The Ballachroy Hotel in Dervaig on Mull (Scotland, Europe *).

Salmon and cream cheese sandwiches and a glass of beer. A walk around the beautiful village in warm spring sunshine. A chat with the hotel's new proprietors and a lift with them back to Tobermory.
What could be better?

There follows some important advice for sailors visiting Mull:

1.  Berth at Tobermory
2. Catch the bus to Dervaig
3. Have lunch at the Bellachroy Hotel
4. Go for a short walk around the village
5. Catch the 3 o'clock bus back the Tobermory.

You will not be disappointed.

Tomorrow ....... Ardnamurchan point.

* This blog has been edited to facilitate comprehension by US citizens.

Our Spring Cruise

Our Easter Cruise

Troon is. Little more can be said on the matter.
We rigged and readied Albatross and together we said "Farewell" to Footloose.

We had a day in hand before Professor Edwards was due so we wizzed up to Arisaig and left the trusty Skoda there.
The train trip back to Troon was long, cheap and very pretty.

The day before our planned departure for Campbeltown was,  as is traditional, spent mending water pumps.

27th March
We sailed to  Campbeltown.  Jib alone. F4 easterly.
Campbeltown marina pontoon had been fitted with special anti-gull netting.  Fortunately, my beloved spotted this before attempting to leap onto the pontoon and no injuries were sustained.
There was no sign of Mr Salmond in Campbeltown that day.

28th March
We sailed to Port Ellen.  It was windier than expected.  Albatross hit 11.5 knots rounding the Mull of Kintyre. Unfortunately the wind made much of our singing inaudible. This was disappointing.
We made it to Port Ellen in 5 hours. This was remarkable, possibly improbable, certainly unlikely, but in retrospect, comprehensible.

We like Port Ellen.The weather however,  was crap.
The marina wasn't open when we arrived.
Fortunately, my beloved spotted a cleverly concealed rope across the pontoons,  and yet again saved the day.

Port Ellen Marina, Islay

A very nice man from the volunteer marina committee switched on the electricity and water and informed us that there would be no charge for our visit because the marina wasn't open. We were however, allowed to leave a donation at the Spar Shop.

For the next 2 days the weather was unchanged.  Too windy for sailing.
Al took us to an excellent meal at The Islay Hotel. We went for walks (mainly to the Co-op), and generally complained about the weather (which was crap).
We even had an exciting taxi ride to the town of Bowmore, mainly so that Al could check out their whisky.

Eventually Monday, the last day of March,  broke and, armed with yet another inaccurate weather forecast (East or South East,  force 4 to 5 maybe 6), we set off in trepidation into a Northeasterly,  force 2 to 6 for Ardfern.
We motored much of the way,  arriving at 1730 in style, leaving a slightly bigger dent in our bow than in their pontoon.

Supper was fish and chips in the pub.  We liked the pub.

After considerable discussion and analysis we decided that the day's adventure did not quite constitute an epic but was otherwise entirely satisfactory.

April 1st dawned with the news that medical researchers were now recommending a daily intake of at least 7 pieces of fruit or veg and that, as a result,  some laxtive manufacturers faced bankruptcy.
We set off for Oban confident that the weather forecast would be wrong.

Al was confident about the weather. 

Our trip across Dorus Moor and up the Sound of Luing was remarkably sedate when one considers the precise meaning of the expression  " equinoctal spring tide".

Oban marina had changed little since our last visit.  The broken pontoon is perhaps rather more broken,  the broken washing machine has gone, the loos and showers are still, well  ..... loos and  showers. The wifi is somewhat frail but the shuttle boat to Oban is excellent.  There is still little shelter from an easterly.
The wind that night was a strong easterly.

We said goodbye to Al and went shopping. We bought a pair of trowsers, a long handled scrubbing brush and four fish cakes.