China Girl, UK Circumnavigation - Year 4

Overall this year we were away 14 to 20 June and 1 July to 26 August, 64 days, around 9 weeks. We moved the boat on 41 of those days including 2 nights in the Crinan Canal. We travelled 943 miles in 204 hours, 103 on the motor and 101 under sail. We had company for 6 nights (thanks Steve, very pleased [...]

02 September 2022

Back to Troon for the winter.

From the Crinan canal we overnighted in Portavadie Marina, a short 4 h trip in which we managed a 1 h sail. The following day we had one of our best sails of the whole trip from Portavadie to the anchorage on Little Cumbrae island in bright warm sunshine. 4.5 h in total with a 3 h sail. Then on the [...]

24 August 2022 | Portavadie Marina

Freshwater interlude

The Crinan canal goes for 9 miles across the top of the Mull of Kintyre peninsula and saves a very long trip of about 120 miles around the Mull. Said like that it should be a lot less effort, or so we thought! 14 locks, 11 of which are totally man powered, is no mean amount of work for a couple of unfit, [...]

24 August 2022 | Portavadie Marina

Making our way home

Back on wifi again after several days of no or poor 4G. Since the last post we moved first to Tobermory. Very pretty place but very bumpy and uncomfortable in the north easterly wind blowing so we gave up after on of our planned two days there and moved on to Loch Aline (4 h great sail), a very pretty [...]

13 August 2022 | Armadale Skye

Released from the fog

This is what the Skye bridge looks like from the same place once the fog lifted. So we left and motored all the way to Armadale except for 15ins when the wind teased us into putting the sails up then promptly died again. Now anchored in Armadale Bay. Day on shore tomorrow to go to the Gardens the off to Tobermory the start of our route back to Troon for the winter.

13 August 2022 | Kyle of Lochalsh visitor buoy near Skye Bridge

Circumnavigation of Skye, 2

After 3 days hiding in Portree we escaped as the wind dropped (slightly) on the 10th to run downwind to the mainland and Shieldaig, 5h, winds up to 30 kts rarely but 25 kts a lot. We were going downwind with half the jib up at up to 7 kts. Next day to Poll Domhain (6h), a tiny anchorage for a night [...]

Football...or hospital...

08 July 2021 | Troon Marina

Ann and Steve Crome | Cloudy and nippy.

Hi Again. Gained an agreement that would see us in a place to watch England v Denmark. A boring trip on the motor from Stranraer to Lamlash (on Arran), managed to sail for only 20 minutes before the wind died again. Lamlash is very pretty, I would thoroughly recommend a visit if you are ever in the area, on a boat or by land. Then another trip across to Troon on the mainland, the weather forecast says we will get a decent sail although it's only a 3 hour quick hop. Nope, no wind or a bit wind from straight in from (SE) when we were promised wind on the beam (SW). So on goes the motor again. About half hour from Troon the north westerly arrives, and a lot of it. A very bouncy arrival in Troon. But. I'm in place for the football, aha!. We struggled to get the boat the right distance off the pontoon ant the stern as she was blowing off. So I fell down the gap. After being fished out by Ann and a chap from a neighbouring boat, I discover a 1 inch gash on my right shin and think 'that needs stitches'. Taxi, A&E, taxi and i arrived back just in time for England's first goal. So i guess I saw the best bits of the match. 1 1/2 h in A&E is actually remarkably short, well done and thank you Kilmarnock hospital. So now I'm limping and we have decided to stay here until Saturday.

Photo shows the view from the rooftop terrace of the hotel in Lamlash where we had lunch. Looking across the harbour to Holy Isle.

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