A wet start to the Hebrides

On Wednesday we had our day being a canal boat, very strange cruising along a narrow waterway at maximum 4 knots with not a ripple on the water. The lock staff and bridge staff were very efficient, ringing ahead when we passed through so the next lock/bridge was ready for us. We only had one lock to operate ourselves, when the lock keepers had gone to lunch. The whole process would have been much slower if we had to do them all ourselves. As we approached Crinan there was more traffic coming the other way, which meant a little wait to ensure that as we came out of a lock there was a boat coming the other way ready to go into it.

Ardrishaig sea lock and bridge.

Lacerta as a canal boat.

The only DIY lock we attempted.

At Crinan we topped up with water and were lowered down in the sea lock back into salt water, our introduction to the Hebrides and guess what? It started to rain! As there was no wind to add to the drizzle and poor visibility we decided on a short trip in Loch Craignish to Ardfern Yacht Centre where we picked up one of their swinging moorings and settled down to Robyn's excellent curry and an early night, we wanted showers and to top up the diesel in the morning but needed an early get away to have a fair tide through Dorus Moor and the Sound of Luing, heading for Loch Spelve on Mull.
We were in the showers at 0815 on Thursday morning and were ready for the fuel berth at 0945. Unfortunately we had to wait for a motor sailor, topping up 2 large tanks and then washing spilt diesel off their decks, not very eco friendly and very time consuming. We had a bit of breeze in Loch Craignish and made it through Dorus Moor with a fair tide but the forecast South Easterly breeze deserted us, replaced with drizzle, in the Sound of Luing so we needed the engine to make against the tide.
Our last visit to Loch Spelve was in 1977, our first charter, when we had brilliant sunshine. This time we had mist and drizzle but the place still had some magic about it. OK, there were now fish farms on the Loch but when we anchored at the South end there was only the sound of birds and sheep to keep us company and, as the light faded, total silence and wild scenery surrounding us.

A drizzly, windless, Loch Spelve.

This morning we left at 0900 heading to Tobermory via the Sound of Mull to avoid the forecast force 5 to 6 SE breeze. What we actually had was light and variable winds and pouring rain. The Admiral decided there was enough work to do down below to prevent her coming on deck, leaving the Vice Admiral and Skipper to do the wet stuff! She did keep us fed and watered!
We didn't achieve much sailing until we were in the Sound of Mull, with a fair tide under us. We could afford to drift through the light patches. We experienced winds from all directions and from calm to 21 knots for a while, all in the rain. The best bit of the day was as we approached Tobermory with the weather clearing and the sun coming out, tempting the Admiral on deck. We anchored inshore of the visitor moorings and the girls rowed ashore for an exploratory foray in the town while the wet gear was spread over the cockpit to dry.

Foray ashore in Tobermory.

We are now ashore in a pub, the only source of wifi to write the blog, as if we needed an excuse to go to the pub! Heading further North tomorrow with strong winds forecast.

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