What followed was a truly memorable two weeks of sailing around the Inner Hebrides. In midsummer the days are very long in the West of Scotland which really extends daylight sailing hours. We enjoyed the delights of the Crinan Canal, Jura, Islay, Colonsay and Mull. The wildlife in this part of the world is stunning and our sightings included basking sharks, seals, plenty of gannets and a golden eagle. The fishing was good and a few fresh mackerel helped the beach barbeques. Tides can run fast in this part of the world between the islands and you have to make them work for you.
Our favourite anchorage was in Loch Tarbert on Jura underneath the magnificent Paps. The pilotage to get in there was tricky but well worth it. We awoke to absolute calm and stunning reflections of the hills on the water. Graham also saw a long term dream come true when we sailed up Loch Indaal in Islay on a long wild beat. We anchored off the pier at Port Charlotte on Islay, to meet his parents at their home, where Graham had spent many summers messing around in boats. This is where he was hooked by his very first sail in an Enterprise with a family friend when aged about 5. What goes around comes around, and it was a treat to have the owner of the Enterprise on board for a "wee dram" about 45 years after the original event. Graham's daughter and her friend joined us on Islay for a sail up to Jura and on to Oban, where we left Barracuda in the capable hands of the friendly marina staff at Kerera before heading south to catch up with work. Oban is a good centre for connections to Glasgow and beyond.