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 [...]

Belfast

16 July 2022 | Belfast Marina.

Ann and Steve Crome | Dill, overcast, some drizzle

So here we are in Belfast, with wifi and decent 4G, yippee. Ardglass to an anchorage at Copeland Island, which is at the south east corner of Belfast lough, 30 miles in 5 hours another excellent sail. Overnight there, pretty but not much to see, then a quick hop 19 miles in 4 h to Belfast city centre marina. Not the prettiest approach but the marina is OK, the showers are brilliant and the location walking distance from the city centre. What's not to like. Here till the 20th. On the 19th Steve Arnold, a sailing friend of long standing, is joining us for six nights. We'll decide where we are going with him (and the weather forecast!). In the meantime we are back to tourism (Belfast hop on hop off bus tour is very good) and boat cleaning. Photo shows the approach to Belfast marina, the Titanic exhibition building just in shot on the left.

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