Every big business needs to train their employees to ensure that they get the best out of them. We think that we have found the training ground for Princess Seafoods and specifically the sardine packing division. It would appear that before they are let loose packing sardines into tins, they pack yachts expertly into lochs and help move them across land. The sardine packers, aka loch keepers, cannot manage this alone and to help Ruffian across a medium she is not happy in, ie land, from the Sound of Jura to Loch Fyne, we had some tremendous crew in the form of Rosemary and Gordon who came up from Edinburgh to coax her along.

Rosemary and Gordon have been our overnight first 'house guests' in our time in Scotland and we had to make the most of this additional company. After they arrived we adjourned directly to the pub and when that closed, we retired to Ruffian for cheese and red wine. Rosemary also bought with her the most remarkable of Scottish gifts, you've heard of Scottish shortcake, you've also heard of Whiskey, well the gift that Rosemary came with surpassed all other Scottish based presents ever. Scottish Parliament tartan chocolate. Amazing. Many thanks Rosemary. They also considered the gift of Whiskey, as Gordon is renowned as the No1 Scottish whiskey scientist, but decided that we were such philistines after our appraisal from the Tallisker Distliiery visit (i.e. whiskey just tastes of peat and wood), that we didn't deserve it, and so we stuck to the grape. Needless to say, the start of the Crinan Canal was therefore a bit damp and fuzzy in more ways than one.

However, before any boat movement could occur into the canal an important competition had to take place. The judging of the homemade marmalades. You'll remember we ran out months ago and have been without decent breakfast fair ever since. We currently have 3 participants so therefore it's not fair to announce the current winner, but there is time for you to put your entry in, all we can say is that the current holder has a vast wealth of Marmalade experience and is a connoisseur himself.

Into the First loch we squeezed with a Swan 441 and a Sigma 38, in torrential rain. This was all quite different from our North bound trip in April whereby we had lochs all to ourselves and all we had to do was pass our lines to the smiling loch keepers. Today, the loch keepers had clearly seen sense as they were hiding from the rain in their cabins, leaving the outside work on the lochs to us amateurs.

In the lochs Rosemary and Gordon came into their own. Not only were they great company, but getting through the lochs just two up would have been a nightmare and our additional crew really saved the day. Gordon took on shore side duty; receiving lines and opening and closing all the lochs whilst Rosemary controlled the bow. These extra pairs of hands ensured that Ruffian got through unscathed and most importantly we got through unstressed. Many many thanks Gordon and Rosemary. This would not have been possible without you.

Halfway along the loch we had a cunning plan. As we had the engine on and therefore nearly limitless electricity, we'd permit ourselves the luxury of our central heating. We'd be able to dry out ourselves, dry out the boat and dry out our kit. So down Iain went and clicked the switch. The switch clicked, but that's all that happened, the motor failed to fire up, no heating. That'll teach us for not turning it on often enough. This would be a job for Iain to fix once the day was done and we're pleased to report that we have now fixed it, simply a loose connection (but without guests to impress we are too tight to use it!).

After 13 lochs, 4 bridges, 7 hours and about 30cm of rain we successfully arrived in Ardrishaig, damp but happy and after a quick trip to a supermarket for a massive shop (aren't cars brilliant) Ruffian was restocked to bursting point ready for slipping out into Loch Fyne and starting her journey south proper.

Before the off in Crinan Basin


Ohhhhh. Looking a bit tight in the first loch.


Rosemay keeping the bow between a rock and a hard place. Well a loch wall and a bulletproof swan 441.


Push Gordon push.


Smiling despite the rain.


Our crew did get some time off to take in the views.


We had visions of the canal banks being thick with flowers. The best we got were super sonically sized daisies.


Is that a smile that Fiona is wearing?


The canals were so full they were overflowing.


Looking like pro's at the final loch before the sea loch. Thank you so much Rosemary and Gordon.