Sheltered waters in Loch Fyne

We are now moored in East Loch Tarbert, last visited for the Scottish Series races in Sir Jasper III some eight years ago, things have changed quite a bit since then, more pontoons and better facilities.

We left Bangor in NI at 10.00 on Friday morning. We would have liked to have stayed there longer as we didn't get chance to see any of the town and the marina had excellent facilities, good showers, on site laundry etc. But, as in all things, you get what you pay for, it wasn't the cheapest place we have stayed at. In any case we needed to take advantage of the forecast East or South East wind.

As it turned out the wind was easterly so we could sail as soon as we left the marina. We had 12 to 14 knots of wind on the beam for the next 4 hours and with the tide on our lee bow we quickly crossed to the Scottish side of the North Channel. One thing we were lacking was sunshine, it was a distinctly grey day, eventually turning to rain. Another thing we could have done with less of is commercial shipping. With ferries between Belfast and Cairnryan or Glasgow and tankers and cargo ships heading up and down the North Channel or to and from Glasgow and Belfast they seemed to be coming at us from all angles! At least they were all obeying the collision regs. We did not have to alter course for anything, even a large tanker avoided us, although a passing distance of 300m looked very close, closer than we would have liked. It seemed that with our AIS transmitter ships were able to identify us and our course from some way away and were making small alterations of course to avoid us.

Shipping in the North Channel.

This tanker got a bit close for comfort!

Eventually the wind deserted us as the rain came and we had to revert to the engine. At least with the engine on we could use the autopilot all the time without worrying about draining the batteries. Steering under engine is very boring! As the sea was flat and we weren't heeling at all Debbie kept out of the rain by preparing dinner!

The skipper has a well earned rest!

At 19.00 we were rounding Davaar Island, at the entrance to Campbletown Loch and were anchored East of the commercial Harbour by 19.30. We were well fed and nicely settled down with a wee dram to celebrate our arrival in Scotland when the wind picked up from the NE and blew us around so that, at low water, about 21.45, we just touched the bottom. We could have waited for the tide to lift us off and would have left the next morning before the next low water but we were concerned that if the ferry went out its wash would have us banging on the bottom so, at 22.00, it was back into wet weather gear to up anchor and move, in the dark and rain, a bit further away from the Harbour and in slightly deeper water. All accomplished and back down below in the warm by 22.50.

Our second anchorage in Campbeltown Loch!

This morning we awoke to bright sunshine and a westerly breeze in the loch and were underway, under sail by 10.15. The wind lasted for half an hour! As we passed out of Campbletown Loch and into Kilbrannan Sound the wind died completely so we furled the Genoa and motored North up the Sound. After an hour and a half, off Carradale Bay, a 10 knot NW breeze sprang up so we were able to sail again. The breeze gradually settled and increased a little so we had a brilliant sail, in bright sunshine and blue skies withe fantastic backdrop of the hills on Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. This was what we had come to the Western Isles for!

Arran hIlls.

The Mull of Kintyre.

 

The weather held, allowing us to sail right up to the entrance to East Loch Tarbert and we were tied up to a finger pontoon by 16.35, time enough for us to get the sail covers on and have a cold beer sat in the cockpit in the sunshine. All good things come to an end though. By the time we had had a walk around the Harbour grey clouds were building up and by the time we were back on the boat it was raining.

Peacefully moored in Tarbert Harbour.

Another depression will be affecting us by tomorrow so our plan is to stay put for a day then move into the Kyles of Bute where there are plenty of places we can anchor sheltered from the weather.

 

Posted with Blogsy