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.
