Sailing log August 13-20th 2016
Steve, Ruth, Rob, Dick, Colin, Susie, Eve and Peter
Explorer of Sleat MMSI 235109267

August 13th
Armadale to Borrowdale Is 32 nm Dept 1715 Arr 2030 Motored. A nice anchorage altho we didn’t have time to explore because of the early morning start. Dinner: Rob pasta with anchovies, delicious!
ANCHORAGE:BORROWDALE ISLANDS

14th August
Log 6032 dep 0615 a little later than planned! Passing Sanna Bay Ardnamurchan as I write, calm with little wind so motoring. Forecast for more wind next few days from SE so we’ll go round Mull clockwise, heading For Loch Spelve.
Nice boat Bessie Ellen next to Duart Castle (name on stern)A pleasure was buzzing the Bessie Ellen of Plymouth https://bessie-ellen.com/ at Duart Castle http://www.duartcastle.com/
Into L Spelve NW anchorage, 3 yachts in. Saw a White tailed Eagle swooping into some trees, and an Otter splashing about as we walked.
Another lovely meal by Rob, sliced duck breast in an orange and ginger sauce.
52.6nm 9 hrs 45 so a long day.
ANCHORAGE: LOCH SPELVE, MULL

15th August Departed L Spelve 0915
All sail up but not much wind. Nice views to a Dutch tall ship, Yacht Oosterschelde http://www.oosterschelde.nl/en/ Lunch at Rubh Ardalanish veg soup bread and fruit
Ruth Eve Colin and Susie walked across to Balfours bay while I swore at the outboard which decided to die. Dinner: (Steve) Pork with dried fruit with mash and greens. Concerns as we were rather close to the 0.9m area, but a sounding showed the depth was taken below the keel.
ANCHORAGE TINKERS HOLE, ERRAID with 2 then 3 other yachts after some pretty windy sailing.

16th August
Left Tinkers Hole in beautiful sunshine 20kn SE
Motored up Sound of Iona too windy and waves too big to land (and get back in the absence of a working outboard) so headed to Staffa under foresail. Lots of tourists at Fingals cave. Dick cooked a lovely middle eastern veggie stew with Steve couscous!
33nm 6:22 hrs avg 5.2 max 8.6kn
ANCHORAGE: CRAGAIG, ULVA (MULL)

17th August
Motored but mostly sailed to Sanna Bay. A good and unusual spot in which to anchor as the wind isn’t usually from the east, as it is otherwise subject to large westerly swell.
Broke port lazyjacks at the masthead, so we had to bring the main down in a slight port tack.
Eve venison stew and melon (ran out of gin)
ANCHORAGE: SANNA BAY
25 nm

Thursday 16th
Sanna Bay to Eigg Old Harbour (Poll nam Partan) 12.5nm. Sailed half way and motorsailed the rest in lovely sunshine. Stunning evening tucked in behind Isle Riska, near HRH (but not too near)
Great meal by Dick with Ghanan sardine stew, yum!

ANCHORAGE: LOCH MOIDART (behind Isle Riska and Castle Tioram). L Moidart really is a fabulous place to go!

Of course we had to anchor 100m from Doublet belonging to Princess Anne and Admiral Tim Lawrence! http://www.rustleryachts.com/resources/YW%20Rustler%2044.pdf

19th August
Dept L Moidart with the 0830 tide Off to Armadale to get a new motor, hum. Then Mallaig to drop off Peter then Doune Bay. 21nm 3.75hrs max speed 9.1 so some brisk sailing. Lunch at Armadale moorings, then off to Mallaig and Doune. Mallaig is of course my absolute fav place to go pontoon hunting!
29.7nm in all incl Mallaig and Doune.
ANCHORAGE: DOUNE BAY
Lovely Persian banquet prepared by Penny Robinson one of the former owners of the Yacht Eda Fransen.
Awful night spent with what sounded like the mooring bouncing off my head – which was more or less accurate!

20th August
Early start 0630 to motor over to Armadale. Those taking the train were uplifted by Skye Yachts, who then services Explorer while Dick and I revittled the boat in preparation for the second week.

Mileage for week 1:

Amadale to Borrowdale Is 32
To L Spelve 52.6
To Tinkers Hole 33
To Cragaig 15
To Sanna Bay 25
To Moidart 30
To Armadale/Mallaig and Doune 29.7
To Armadale