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 [...]

Sightseeing

01 August 2022 | Kyleakin

Ann and Steve Crome

Four nights in Ballycastle, a very pretty little place with good transport links. One day to chill, one for sightseeing, and one to clean and restock the boat. We got the bus from Ballycastle to Carrick a rede where the rope bridge crosses a chasm. Photo shows us on it. It was built to allow salmon fisherman access to the best fishery for miles around. Then on to Bushmills (where the distillery is, we didn't go) a pretty touristy village and back to the Giant's Causeway for the afternoon. Very busy with tourists from all over, no residual covid restrictions it seems.

Next - back to Scotland.....

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