56:01.68 N, 005:39.35 W

 

We were woken by torrential rain on the spray hood and the cry of birds, meaning the wind had decreased significantly overnight. The wind had veered as predicted but the barometer remained 990mb. The tides however were contrary until the afternoon so we spent the morning having a lazy breakfast, writing blog entries and failing to send them as there was no mobile signal (hence this delayed post).

 

The retrieval of the shore line and second anchor was actually much more smoothly accomplished than we’d feared although we did get somewhat damp in the process. At 14:30 we hauled up the remaining anchor and set off. We were able to sail in the SW breeze down the west side of the Isle of Seil and into Cuan Sound. Cuan is a challenge to navigate having overhead cables, rocks, a dog-leg and a tidal race through a narrow gap across which the ferry regularly plies its business. We took down the jibs and motor-sailed through under main around the north end of the Isle of Torsa and into Seil sound. Since we were almost out of diesel (having only added 90 litres at Sedisfjordur in Iceland) we stopped at Craobh Haven to buy some more before they closed at five pm. We made it with 5 minutes to spare and filled up with water at the same time.

 

Set off again at 17:30 under sail down Loch Shuna. The tide was swirling around in big circles as we came  through Dorus Mor and headed past Crinan and south down the sound of Jura. The speed over ground indicator was registering 8 knots with the boat only moving at 5 or 6 and the skies cleared to give us a nearly full moon opposing the sunset over the Corryvrecken (the infamous tide race between Scarba and Jura). The temperature dropped rapidly and it’s now apparent that the end of the 2014 sailing season is close. We anchored for the night in the spot used by James and Peter on their way up in July. It’s a north-facing gap between some small islets near Carsaig bay. This gap has been surveyed by a fellow Cruising Association member (Antares Charts) and we used his information to anchor under the moon for a late supper. More southerly gales are now forecast so tomorrow  we'll make a decision on whether to head round the Mull of Kintyre to Troon and call it quits for this section of the return trip or carry on to Ireland.

 

Craobh haven fuel dock (the rain has finally stopped)

 

 

Tidal swirls in the Dorus Mor

 

Sunset looking west through the Corryvreakan

 

Moon rising looking the other way

 

Finally – all that lack of signal for the mobile and for the blog link, and look what we received on the Navtex!