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 [...]

Off on our travels again.

03 July 2022 | Stranraer Marina

Ann and Steve Crome | heavy showers

Since the last post we made our way from Tighnabruiche, via Millport on Gt Cumbrae back to Troon where we headed off home for a bevvy of medical and other appointments. Back to the boat on 29 June for a day of maintenance and stocking up for our main cruise of the year to the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and (weather permitting) Skye. Getting to the IoM from Troon means going around the Mull of Galloway which means getting the tides right. Also it's a long way from Troon to Peel and we are not into hard work so we planned it for a 3 day trip.
Plan was Friday (01.07) Troon to Stranraer, target c6h Saturday at leisure in Stranraer (as the tour guides say). Sunday round the mull to East Tarbet Bay (c9h). Monday Tarbet to Peel (c5h). Winds forecast for Friday strong SW, ie right on the nose. No good. Plan B, leave Saturday. But still SW wind. Plan C, go to Lamlash on Arran on Friday, due west so sailable, then Lamlash to Stranraer on Saturday, a southerly course, should be sailable. Plan C has worked and we are now in Stranraer. Great sail to Lamlash. Long day in a lot of rain to Stranraer, had better days but managed to sail a lot of the wat before the wind died. Leave at 0600 tomorrow to get the tides right around the Mull to anchor in E Tarbet Bay. Wind forecast is W or NW, course is mostly SE so should be good sail. Rain forecast iffy.... Rather dull (sorry) photo of the view from Stranraer Harbour down Loch Ryan. I just spent half an hour trying to produce a map from google maps that I could load here to show you the routes. If anybody knows how to do it, please drop me a line.

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