Gigha to Bangor, Northern Ireland

We are approaching Bangor, N.Ireland after a long motoring voyage from the Isle of Gigha.

We passed these two lighthouses located on the Antrim coast

The Maidens lighthouses, on the Maidens in North Channel off County Antrim in Northern Ireland, date from 1829 and were built at the request of merchants and a Royal Navy officer. Lighthouses were built on both rocks; the West Maiden was abandoned in 1903 and the East Maiden was automated in 1977.See Wikipedia for more details.

We had a heavy lunch. Fried eggs, black pudding, bacon, fried potatoes, tomato, peas...
The Scottish courtesy flag has been replaced with the Red ensign - in lack of the one from Ulster.

Tobermory to Gigha

Finally the weather allowed us to depart from Tobermory. We left just before 7AM on the 27th July
and had a fine voyage eastwards  in the Sound of Mull. Rounding Duart point we got a slight NW breeze to help us on our way towards the Sound of Jura. At Corywrechan we picked up speed
as we had a following stream going south and we logged 8,5 knots SOG (Speed Over Ground)

We desceided to anchor 3 hours before reaching Gigha. We found a well sheltered anchorage in the west side, just after entering Loch Caolisport. The anchorage was in a narrow bay under a tall headland, sheltering us from the NW wind. The only neighbours was a herd of sheep on the penninsula east of us.

After anchoring we both had a long missed shower. Grete made us a very nice beef steak, followed by cheesecake. We both fell hard asleep and woke up at 10AM next day.
At 11 - anchors away ! And we continued the remaining 3 hrs to Gigha.

Arriving there we found a good anchorage at Druimyeon Bay on the east side of the island.
Swedish yacht S/Y Amaran arrived there just before us. Judgeing by their blog/Facebook they are
on a longer journey - as we are. We will probably see them often in the coming months.

 We are leaving Gigha early in the morning (28ght) for N.Ireland.

Still at Tobermory

There is a strong persistent wind from the South and we have decided to wait it out. Our next leg goes to Craobh and next the Isle of Gigha. We spent the day yesterday to do our laundry and to walk along Tobermory harbourfront. It 's very busy with tourists and prices are pretty high.
We are mòored at a buoy and it cost 17£ a day. We are self sufficient with electricity with our windgenerator and solar panel and we stilĺ have 300 litres of fresh water.
Weaterforecast says the wind will calm tomorrow, Saturday, when we will continue making our ways southward.

Ornsay to Tobermory

Finally the weather cleared. Wind and sea calm and we set off from Ornsay to sail down past islands of Eigg, Luck and past Ardnamurchan Point to Tobermory. We did a night sail and arrived Tobermory at 0530 UK time. We are on a swing mooring. Lots of yachts here. It's a very busy leisure harbour

Waiting on weather at Ornsay

We are at anchor at Ornsay on the east side of the Isle of Skye.
We left Stornoway Saturday morning and sailed to the Isle of Rona, where we anchored for the night.

Sunday morning we sailed down through Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyle Rhea. Weater forecast was not very nice, so we decided to anchor at Ornsay and wait for better days.

Sunday was rough with gusty gale force winds and rain coming down like the deluge.
It kept on all afternoon and evening - but around 9PM it calmed down and we could
safely go to sleep.

Monday was calm, but the wind returned as forecasted around 10AM and we had gusty winds and rain all day.

Geir had radio contact with LA3ZH/Leif who compiled a forecast for the area for the next days.
Looks like we will be here untill wednesday - when the wind will settle down enough for us to
round Ardnamurchan point and continue south.

Grete baked two nice loafes of bread today. They tasted very nice. So good to feel the smell of freshly baked bread onboard.

There are better days ahead is our motto these day !

From Lochinver to Stornoway

We left Lochinver 9AM in fantastic calm weather and it was sunny and clear all the 36nm across to Stornoway.

Youtube video of the crossing

Stornoway is the largest town on the Hebredies and is located on the northeast side of the Isle of Lewis.
We arrived in a southerly breeze at 4PM 15th July.
The marina is at the town centre very well sheltered in all directions.
We called the Harbourmaster on VHF ch12 and was directed to pontoon 77 which was at a fingerpontoon
which was very nice as we plan to leave Saturday 20th.
The marina will be very full as there is a large Celtic (music) festival this weekend.
The festival area is just across from the marina. We have bought tickets to go there Friday.+

In Lochinver, Sutherland

Had a couple of good days in Lochinver. We got shore power, bought some more provissions
and the weather cleared and dried up. We were able to air beddings/matresses.
We got a visitor, a radio amateur friend of Geir, John Bibby, MM0GGI.
Here is John and Geir in the saloon on Ocean Viking

  John introduced us to Glenmorangie, a very good single malt - Thank you John.

Here's a picture John took of us on the pontoon in Lochinver.

We pedarted Lochinver just before 10AM for Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis
We should be there before 5PM this afternoon.

Summer Isles to Lochinver

We had high expectations for a nice sunny/warm week-end at anchor in wonderfull Summer Isles.
When we arrived another yacht lifted anchor and left us a very nice anchorage in 5-9 m depth.
A bit exiting start (se previous post in this blog) became a wonderful calm, clear and sunny evening.

The blue circle is where we anchored, very sheltered and quiet.

The next 2 days were totally different. Clouds almost down to sea level and/or dense fog. With no heater onboard we felt miserable cold and damp but kept hoping for sunny weather.
Saturday morning we decided to sail to Lochinver which has a marina, shops and electricity.

So here's todays sail from Summer Isle to Lochinver:

Just before we set off, Grete reminded me on mounting/starting the GoPro camera.
It was a nice clear video - but sadly very short...  I managed to push the start button twice. That means start/stop ;)

We will stay in Lochinver until Monday, when we sail west to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.

Anchored in Summer Isles

We left Gairloch at 10AM for Summer Isles. Grete cooked a very nice Scottish breakfast for us which we had out in the cockpit. It has been a overcast but mild day. Voyage was smooth in flat sea and no wind. Our trusted Volvo did it's magic and took us afe almost all the way (more later).

Half an hour before arriving Tanera Beg (where we are anchored) these small "Dolphins" paid us a short visit. Filming animals isn't easy.

 

Our first anchor attempt failed as there was no hold. At the same time the engine controll failed

and the boat was locked in reverse and kept backing towards the shore. Geir stopped the engine and went below to find the manouver wire had loosened from the bracket. It was a easy quick fix, and order and calm returned. We then did a 2nd attempt and anchored safely at 9m deep.

The tide here is 4m so that leaves us 5 meters deep at low tide. 

We celebrated the succsess by opening to large bottles of cold beer that we were given by

some scottish yachtties in Gairloch.

Oh by the way. We had dinner at the Old Inn in Gairloch. Very good food in a cozy restaurant.

Portree to Gairloch

Todays sail went well. Left Portree around 8AM and arrived in Gairloch 12:45PM.
Weather was wet but calm. After passing island of Rona we got some tail wind which saved us some diesel. Was a bit worried about not getting a berth on the pontoon at Gairloch, as it is rather small.
Tried to call harbour master on the phone and VHF but no answer. Turned out he had closed down his office and gone on holidays. We were lucky. There was enough space for us. A 22m long dutch sailing vessel had just left leaving us plenty of space.  Later we were joined by a british sailyacht that rafted up on our port side.
We will stay here untill Thursday. Weather forecast is for yet more rain - but the comeing weekend should be sunny. The picture above is a snap from Marine traffic, showing our sail from Armadale via Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree, and todays sail from there to Garloch.
No coverage of 4G here, but found BTWifi and bought 1 day coverage as a test.

Update from Portree, Isle of Skye

Have had a few start problems getting this blog going. The position links should be OK now.
We have been updating our Facebook page with our progress.

Here is a picture from today of the boat on a swing mooring in Portree at Isle of Skye.

Had a great experience today. We went ashore to fill up 2 large drinkwater cans and to purchase new butan gas bottles. When asking at the harbourmasters office a guy jumped up and said: "I'll drive you there" He took us to a shop a mile from there and also suggested to take us to Co-Op supermarket.
Very greatful and nice to meet such a kind person. Turned out he was a cox-swain on Portree Lifeboat. Tomorrow we are doing a short sail to Gairloch - which is only 25nm NE of here.