56:41.1N 5:56.1W

Wedensday.  What a great first day with Sarah, Nicky and Hugh away from Tobermory, nice place though it is.   After fuelling before breakfast in order to beat the ‘sanitiszed zone’ set up to accommodate the landing of 1000 passengers from a cruise ship (see phot later), we set sail on an epic voyage: 4 miles!  Nicky had a baptism of fire at the wheel:

 

 

We avoided being run down by said cruise ship:

 

 

And the new crew proved dab hands at rock spotting:

 

 

Thus we were soon were at anchor for lunch in Loch Drambuie, a lovely secluded spot that we had all to ourselves. 

 

 

The sun shone, and in this romantic setting Nicky and Hugh came all lovvy dovvy:

 

 

After a hot soup lunch, the mate, by dint of the binoculars:

 

 

spotted that Robert (the outboard) was still in his stowed position, still sans propeller shaft and propellor since the tip strike in the Helford River.  Seeing she had gone to so much trouble to source replacement items, and fly them to Aquila, the mate thought it high time ‘the boys’ effected the repairs.  The boys response that this was an equal opportunities vessel did not seem to cut much ice (and it was still cold enough for that to be about!), so the boys duly set to:

 

 

Robert was on the operating table for about 3 hours, as open heart surgery was tackled with gusto.

 

 

Once all buttoned up, we weighted anchor and proceeded to our designated evening anchorage in Glenmore Bay, some 2 miles north of Loch Drambuie:

 

 

Once the blubber dinghy had been blown up (‘the boys’ seem once again to have been awarded this task), the first trial run of Robert with his new gear was attempted.  Not a success.  However, more time on the operating table identified a blocked fuel line.  This was soon cleared, and the crew were duly borne ashore under power.  Note the happy Robert in the centre of the picture:

 

 

Our objective ashore was Glenborrowdale Castle, a walk of some 1.5 miles, where we had a reservation for dinner.  The setting did not disappoint the girls:

 

 

The décor inside was equally uplifting, and the meal acceptable.  A wee dram for the skipper concluded a lovely evening at the castle, and it was still daylight despite the hour of 2245 when we made it back to Aquila.  So ended a truly entertaining day; much laughter from all aboard, and all round enjoyment - and even some sun!

On Thursday we head for Rum.