I resisted the (quite strong) temptation to go ashore in Craighouse for another full Scottish Breakfast at the cafe there. My plan was to follow Dave’s recommendation and head for Ardbeg, where the cafe served malt whisky…

So at 10:30 up came the anchor and I was off. I experimented with hoisting the main before raising the anchor - shan’t do that again unless I have to. Although the sheet was slack, it kept partly filling and made getting the anchor up and removing the weed from it more tricky.

Once out of the anchorage, there was just enough wind to sail, so out came the headsail and off went the engine. As I came round the headland the wind changed by 180 degrees, being funnelled down the Sound of Islay. First it freshened, then died away to nothing so engine back on. I motored the last couple of miles, and then headed in towards the coast. I rounded several rocks rather close and arrived at the Ardbeg visitor mooring buoys. They didn’t have pick up buoys - small buoys on the end of mooring lines - so it was more of a hassle than usual to get moored up but it was soon done.

I then did what I should have done before leaving Craighouse, and pulled up the Ardbeg website. Several disappointments. Firstly, closed on Monday. Secondly, cafe closed - permanently. Temporary replacement is a caravan in the courtyard during COVID; eventual replacement will be a bistro style restaurant. Thirdly, all tours and tastings are fully booked until August at the earliest - some didn’t offer dates til October. As my Army brother would say, Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents P**s Poor Performance.

I spent the afternoon on the mooring reading, and planned to go ashore and visit the shop on Tuesday morning.

Log of this passage