The passage ‘through’ the Isles
Mist rising from Loch Sunnart
Having made the decision not to round Cape Wrath and head south a ridge of High Pressure built and the last week has seen some glorious settled weather. I made a dash to Rum from Skye and from there to the Loch Sunnart opposite Mull. I found the classic anchorage, Drumbruie and watched a spectacular sunset. Next morning, another warning of the coming autumn, fog. I left the anchorage for the Sound of Mull only to be confronted by thick fog that took an hour or so for the sun to burn off. As I was making the passage I heard the fog horn of a passing ship and returned the call with my own horn. It was the Lord of Isles Ferry which I could see from the Automated Identification System (AIS) that is displayed on the chart plotter. The system is simplicity itself, big boys have to transmit their identification, position, speed and other relevant information on the VHF bandwidth. Small boys, like me, can then receive the signal by splitting off from the VHF radio ariel and plot the data onto the chartplotter. It takes a lot of the guess-work out of collision avoidance decisions.
I spent a couple of days in Oban, doing some walking and touring. I lingered because, although I knew I was making
Mull and the splendid views
the right choice I was racked by indecision. Should I go south back the way I had come then round the Mull of Kintyre or should I go through the Crinan canal. I’ve never done a canal trip in a sailing yacht so that tipped the balance. Being single-handed managing the locks would have been a long and arduous task so when Mike, a local canal pilot offered his services I thought the fee would offset the inevitable costs of the gel coat repairs I would incur if I were alone. The stone walls of the locks are unforgiving to the unprotected plastic fantastic.
The stone walls are unforgiving, if the fenders are not well placed
The last leg was across Loch Fyne to the relatively new Clyde Marina at Ardrossan, Ayrshire. As if to rebuke my decision to stop the voyage the beat out of the Loch was heavenly, steady light airs and smooth sea. Ardrossan is where the boat will winter. A handy spot 1 hour train trip from Glasgow Central and half an hour from Glasgow airport. The harbour is also host to the Aran ferry. That’s the third island called Aran of my journey. I took the ferry over to Aran on a day trip to sneek a preview of next year’s adventure.
