We met a couple who were also on the distillery tour. They were up from London having decided to have an environmentally low impact holiday – travelling by public transport, walking, camping and cooking their own meals. They were a bit depressed as the rain was getting the better of them and having decided to take a night in the hotel, discovered it was fully booked. Their next concession was a taxi back to the tent. We hoped the weather would improve and their good intentions would be rewarded and wished them well.
To Craighouse, Jura Friday 6th July
We left Port Ellen at 1225 with showers and a westerly wind. This was good so we sailed all the way arriving at 1620. What was bad was that the wind was increasing and veering NW, bringing rain. A lively pick up of the mooring buoy was needed, having abandoned the idea of trying out our new, huge Fisherman’s anchor.
The cockpit tent was erected and all notions of going ashore were also abandoned. Still we were snug, warm, dry and had plenty of good food, drink (including a bottle of Ardbeg malt) and entertainment.
The cockpit tent was erected and all notions of going ashore were also abandoned. Still we were snug, warm, dry and had plenty of good food, drink (including a bottle of Ardbeg malt) and entertainment.
To Ardfern Saturday 7th July
The tide called for a departure around 0900 – very civilised. With wind NW F3/4 we had a super sail and rare sightings of the sun. David took us all the way there with aplomb.
The tide called for a departure around 0900 – very civilised. With wind NW F3/4 we had a super sail and rare sightings of the sun. David took us all the way there with aplomb.
We arrived at 1310 and had lunch in the cockpit – without the cockpit tent. What joy – summer at last
Er.... The Paps of Jura are somewhere in there
North to Ardfern
The sun at last in Ardfern
That night the naughty cupboard was visited and Minnie B’s dance floor was put to the test. Hmm, we now have a boat with a conservatory and a dance floor. Some boat.
We decided on a walk to Craobh Haven to use up some of the lunchtime calorie consumption. Having taken vague directions we set off. Hm, junction in the path – right or straight on? Straight on looked like someone’s driveway, so right it was. This took us round a very nice but small lake over some hills, through areas of bracken, through a wood and an hour later we were about 1000 metres from where we turned right. So straight on it should have been – note to self: always take a map.
The views north and south from Craobh Haven were lovely and Norma and I resolved to return and go north from there next year.
Dinner was at the Galley of Lorne pub and restaurant. Norma and Phil had been back in 1996 on ‘Sirius’, a Sigma 33 and the pub and restaurant had lots of character. Unfortunately, and architect-free zone had been added to increase the dining capacity. It was an enormous, pine-clad, soulless barn of a place – the food was fine and the pub part was still good, but you do wonder if restaurateurs ever visit other restaurants to see what works.
North to Ardfern
An appropriate division of labour
Not the shortcut from Ardfern to Craobh Haven
North west towards Mull
Looking south from Craobh Haven
To Gigha Sunday 8th July
We motored away from Ardfern at 1005 and used the S F3 to sail toward the north end off Jura. A quick check of the tides showed we were out of luck for a passage through the Gulf of Corryvreckan – as if.
By 1330 the wind had eased to F2 and we motored to Ardminish Bay on Gigha.
Again the weather was benign and we saw the Paps of Jura, as well as enjoying a drink outdoors at the Gigha Hotel.
We motored away from Ardfern at 1005 and used the S F3 to sail toward the north end off Jura. A quick check of the tides showed we were out of luck for a passage through the Gulf of Corryvreckan – as if.
By 1330 the wind had eased to F2 and we motored to Ardminish Bay on Gigha.
Again the weather was benign and we saw the Paps of Jura, as well as enjoying a drink outdoors at the Gigha Hotel.
Gigha Monday 9th July
Despite a glorious dawn, the weather forecast was for rain all day – we stayed put and read and relaxed. The evening saw the rain ease off so we went ashore for showers at the Boathouse restaurant and drank some strange bottled beers – dandelion and other plants. It was nowhere near as good as Timothy Taylor’s Landlord brewed in Keighley, Yorkshire and the best beer in the world - curiously it is on sale at Tennents in Byers Road, Glasgow and the Black Bull Inn at Rothesay.
Paps of Jura - the clud lifted
Pottering Again Summer 2007
We visited Minnie B on Thursday 19th July and all was OOK.
We planned a weekend aboard for 28th/29th July. The weather was good but we both felt something was not quite right with Minnie B – then we saw it. The wind generator was missing and the pole was broken – it looked like a stress fracture. We went ahead and had a gentle sail then anchored overnight of Pawle Island – it’s only round the corner from Ringhaddy Sound but by 2000 we had the bay to ourselves. It was just so peaceful. Norma cooked a delightful meal and we drank just enough wine.
Sunday morning was calm and the shore was dotted with heron looking for fish. The sun shone and we were content. We enjoyed the moment and looked forward to much, much more of this.
August and September saw lots of day sails and chilling out on Minnie B.
Some diving friends did a search of the sea bed around out mooring but could only find part of a broken blade. Alubat were great and sent a replacement pole and a new wind generator which was fitted during the winter.
On Saturday 27th October we took Minnie B to Carrickfergus to haul out for the winter. The wind was NW F4/5, so that would be fine until Donaghadee Sound. We headed south through the Narrows at 1300, punching the tide and were at the Bar Pladdy an hour and 25 minutes later, but it took us just three hours from Bar Pladdy to Donaghadee Sound where we needed the engine to counter the 3 knot adverse tide. With the wind still NW and the light fading we decided to put into Bangor Marina. We went across the Carrickfergus a couple of days later and that was our 2007 on the sea.
Gigha
A rare outdoor drink - Gigha
Dawn - Gigha
Cockpit tent works wonders in the rain
To Portpatrick Tuesday 10th July
It was an early departure to get the tides – 0750. The wind was W F2 so we motored until 1145 when the wind veered NW F4. We sailed to Sanda, off the Mull of Kintyre with a view to visiting the pub, The Byron Darnton Tavern, which was opened in 2003 and named after the largest ship to be wrecked on the island (in 1946). We arrived at 1320 and dropped the hook, but with wind gusting to F5 and us on a lee shore we lunched on board but gave the trip ashore a miss. It was a shame but prudence seemed the best approach.
We were off again just after 1400 and once clear of Sanda had a superb downwind sail all the way to Portpatrick, arriving at 1900.
Portpatrick was awful – we have been many times and it has been OK but we vowed never to return. The harbourmaster was not as communicative as he might have been (or maybe we didn’t hear him right), but after tying up near the entrance to the inner harbour he came along and suggested we move. This was no big deal as there was plenty of room but the worst of it was that within a few minutes of tying up a second time, the boat was filthy as dust, dirt, cigarette ends, and other litter cascaded from the top of the harbour onto the boat.
We went to the pub – the Crown Hotel – which is reliable and does very good food. Then back to Minnie B for nightcaps.
Portpatrick was awful – we have been many times and it has been OK but we vowed never to return. The harbourmaster was not as communicative as he might have been (or maybe we didn’t hear him right), but after tying up near the entrance to the inner harbour he came along and suggested we move. This was no big deal as there was plenty of room but the worst of it was that within a few minutes of tying up a second time, the boat was filthy as dust, dirt, cigarette ends, and other litter cascaded from the top of the harbour onto the boat.
We went to the pub – the Crown Hotel – which is reliable and does very good food. Then back to Minnie B for nightcaps.
To Ardglass Wednesday 11th July
We spent the morning trying to clean up Minnie B as best we could without a hose, and had a wander around Portpatrick – it is a nice place and we have fond memories of visiting with Anna and Julia on our Sigma 33, ‘Sirius’. But the harbour … yuk.
We left at 1230 and with the wind still NW F4 we had a fast reach towards the Irish coast. However, by 1400 the wind had died and we were back to motor-sailing. Eventually all wind disappeared and the by 1700 the rain came. We arrived in Ardglass at 1840, tied up in Phenncik Cove marina, and phoned Currans Bar and Seafood Steakhouse to book for dinner. We also phoned for a taxi. A change of clothes and a quick drink prepared us for our much anticipated dinner. Hm, no taxi. Despite several calls, there was no response. The guy at the marina thought the taxi driver must have decided not to bother – er, how does that work? We phoned Currans to cancel the reservation, but they sent a car to collect us and drove us back after our meal. They do excellent steaks. The décor is best described as eclectic but such hospitable people and a great welcome.
It was our last night of the cruise so we just had to see what was in the naughty cupboard.
To Ringhaddy Thursday 12th July
We left at 1230 and with the wind still NW F4 we had a fast reach towards the Irish coast. However, by 1400 the wind had died and we were back to motor-sailing. Eventually all wind disappeared and the by 1700 the rain came. We arrived in Ardglass at 1840, tied up in Phenncik Cove marina, and phoned Currans Bar and Seafood Steakhouse to book for dinner. We also phoned for a taxi. A change of clothes and a quick drink prepared us for our much anticipated dinner. Hm, no taxi. Despite several calls, there was no response. The guy at the marina thought the taxi driver must have decided not to bother – er, how does that work? We phoned Currans to cancel the reservation, but they sent a car to collect us and drove us back after our meal. They do excellent steaks. The décor is best described as eclectic but such hospitable people and a great welcome.
It was our last night of the cruise so we just had to see what was in the naughty cupboard.
To Ringhaddy Thursday 12th July
We cleaned Minnie B to get rid of the Portpatrick filth and the motored round to Ringhaddy as again there was no wind.
We picked up the mooring by 1230 and Julia arrived to collect us as did David and Jackie’s daughter, Jenny. We had a lovely lunch with them and told them all about our adventures. It had been a superb week. The weather was mixed but we took advantage of it when we could and Minnie B was well set up for the rain.
Portpatrick
Julia & Jenny join us for lunch back at RCC
