Week 24-27 2019 Scotland/Hebrides to Northern Ireland
10 June – 7 July 2019 459 nm
Week 24 10 – 16 June 2019 Loch Kanaird, Ullapool – Loch Maddy, North Uist 132 nm
We are getting closer to midsummer according to the calendar, but the weather has lately been going backwards. We need heavy underwear under our foul weather gear in the cold climate we have right now. The temperature is seldom above ten degrees C and with gale force wind added to that it’s really chilly to say the least.
But on the bright side, this week we have been sailing more than since we left Sweden.
10 June Monday Loch Kanaird – Badachro 33 nm
Woke up to a cloudy sky and no wind. Breakfast and then we weigh anchor in spite no wind. The forecast show some wind tomorrow, but that means having straight headwind during the first twelve nm before turning south around a cape. We decided to motor and hope for a breeze out at sea later when the sun has affected the air.
Shortly before four we anchored in Badachro after 33 eventless miles under engine and never more than four knots of wind. The sky improved and after noon we had bright sunshine the rest of the day.
The anchorage was advertised as the sailors meeting place with a “nautical” restaurant ashore. Yes there were fifteen big sailboats moored when we arrived, but all of them were winterised and we did not see a living soul on any of them.
The restaurant ashore was probably good, because we saw many cars outside around dinner time. But the “nautical” touch was only a tarp with two poles shading the veranda from sun and rain. So much for information in ads!
We found a narrow space between the moorings and had a quiet evening.
11 June Tuesday Badachro – Scalpay, Outer Hebrides 34 nm across the Minch.
Quiet night and some sunshine when we woke up. Finally the wind had arrived. North east wind was blowing, perfect to get west to the Outer Hebrides.
We had breakfast before we weigh anchor in between some light showers from above.
Coming out in the big bay, we hoisted a full main and unfurled the Yankee. Before coming out to sea we had to take down to the first reef and leave the cutter furled.
In spite of that we had little too much sails in the now gale force wind.
But an open reach with 80 degrees wind across Moon and the wave’s perpendicular to the hull made her fly across.
The waves were steep and high due to tide against wind, making us have full advantage of Moon’s cruiser friendly shape of the hull.
Moon sailed fast and comfortable across, in spite of increasing wind. But we never took a seconds reef thanks to a bit more easterly wind when the wind increased.
When we approached Scalpay we got some rain. The final was cold and wet, but we came in leeward of Scalpay and could furl the Yankee with no drama on flat water.
The main came down as we turn into the wind and into the south harbour on Scalpay.
Found a protected bay in the harbour, facing south west, completely protected from any swell and most of the wind.
We did not use the north harbour with pontoons for several reasons. There is a bridge across the northern entrance that is too low (19 m), and the pontoons are oriented perpendicular to the coming gale and we don’t want to spend £35 a night only to wait out a gale for two days.
Sitting at anchor, Moon adjust to the wind and there is little forces on both boat and crew compared to be on a pontoon with the wind across.
Lamb casserole was perfect after a windy and somewhat wet crossing.
12 June Wednesday Scalpay
The wind increased during the night and we got some rain too. The morning came with more wind but no rain. We even saw the sun in small gaps in the clouds for a while.
The wind still north east, but stronger than yesterday. We felt quite comfortable as the direction of the wind lined with the direction we dug down the anchor, reversing the engine 70% force. Very nice as we had the leeward shore only thirty meters behind Moon at low tide.
The wind, rain and the steep shoreline made us not use the dinghy to go ashore. Most of the time we spend around the dining table having full access to the surroundings through our windows. Lots of stuff dun including deep studies in the pilots for the coming areas. The planning is more demanding when weather is shifting from no wind to strong wind and then back again.
13 June Thursday Scalpay – Dunvegan, Sky 27 nm
The wind decreased during late night and was almost gone when we woke up, at least in our protected bay. Low clouds but almost no rain. We had some difficulties to analyze the forecast. There was no update since yesterday noon, something we never experienced. But the old one showed a change to southerly tomorrow and for the rest of the week.
To get use of the still northerly today we weigh anchor and left for Sky.
Two reefs in the main, but when we came out of the harbour there was no really strong wind. Let out the second reef and of course half an hour later we had almost gale force. But this time we had following wind with following tide. With wing on wing out poled sails Moon speeded over ground almost as the day before yesterday thanks to the following tide.
No rain but we saw grey curtains across Sky during the whole passage.
Coming into the deep bay, where Dunvegan sits in the bottom, we raced down wind for five miles until we behind an island could furl the headsails and later take down the main. We had intended to anchor in front of the famous castle, but the wind funnelled between some islands, making the anchorage cold and uncomfortable. Instead we grabbed a buoy in front of the hotel further in, much more protected.
After a warm cup of coffee we launched the dinghy and drew into the floating pontoon for visitors. Took a long walk up the hills noting that we had not had a walk since Sunday climbing the hill in Ullapool.
Found a small grocery shop on our way back to Moon.
We left the dinghy behind Moon during the night, prepared to visit the castle tomorrow.
14 June Friday Dunvegan – Berneray, between Harris and North Uist 26 nm
When we woke up in “normal morning time” the wind had already turned to south but very weak. We decided after breakfast to lift up the dinghy and take Moon to the pontoon to get water and then leave her there for a walk to the castle.
Later if the wind increase as forecasted we will sail back to the Outer Hebrides.
Leaving the dinghy in the water over night we have seldom done, and every time this year so far it has ended up with change of plans and the dinghy back on deck.
We have to stop this laciness behaviour. On top of that the dinghy o deck increase the comfort in the bow cabin making it darker, important these bright summer nights, and easier to ventilate during rain.
When dinghy secured on deck and all fenders out we left the buoy and moved to the pontoon.
After some trouble with different hose dimensions we could fill our water tanks. A bit time consuming as we have nearly thousand litres together in the three tanks.
We left Moon at the pontoon and walked to the castle. It was mostly almost sunshine during our walk but also a little drizzle. Big trees in an old forest along the road. We haven’t seen this size of trees since we left Norway.
When we arrived to the castle there were hundreds of cars in the parking place plus some busses.
We didn’t want to pay a lot of money and try to see something in that crowd of people. On top of that this is a modernized castle and not really the stuff we want to see.
Continued along the road to get to the sea and have some photos of the castle.
Close to sea there was a fence with a locked gate and a sign “Be ware of the bull”. We didn’t climb the fence! The photos had to be taken from Moon when passing on our way out.
The return trip was done on a trail up in the forest, a well prepared trail telling us that lots of people walk from the village to the castle.
Annika continued to the store while Björn went down to Moon to prepare lunch.
When we had eaten our lunch salad the wind increased and we left Dunvegan.
Behind the island we yesterday furled our sails, we unfurled and Moon speeded north west out of the big and deep loch on flat water as the wind came over land.
An hour later we were free from land and got the full effect from the southerly wind out on Mich. This time our crossing was very comfortable as the wind and tide both came from south. Faster as the current pushed us to the north, giving us a heading 15 degrees south of our course over ground. Moon got because of that perfect 90 degrees apparent wind. This third crossing of the Minch this week was the most comfortable and as fast as the strong gale crossing we had Tuesday due to wind against tide at the first crossing.
Coming closer to Uist, the wind decreased but still giving us almost full speed.
The final five miles in between islands and in very shallow water was interesting. The wind increased and the direction of the wind allowed us to change course several times to keep in the narrow channel.
Almost no rain during the whole crossing, only some drizzle when we anchored.
Anchored in eight meter at high tide on hard sand, between North Uist and Berneray, connected by a causeway protecting us from westerly winds.
We enjoyed having a dinghy above the bow cabin hatch when we went to sleep in the evening because of heavy rain.
15 June Saturday Berneray – Loch Maddy 12 nm
In the morning we had weak easterly wind and due to high tide we got some chop because the island east of us were almost “flooded” at high tide.
Later having had breakfast we had islands east of us again and the chop was gone.
At noon the wind was back to south. There was too much rain to make a dinghy ride ashore interesting, and when the afternoon ferry arrived, we weigh anchor and left for Loch Maddy.
We had some thought about sailing to St Kilda, but the tide was only high enough in the afternoon and the wind forecast was not favorable. We decided to leave St Kilda for another time.
Coming out on the Minch again the sea was completely flat. But a few miles south there was some disturbed sea state. It turned out to be irregularities in the bottom that made back eddies and created meeting currents, giving almost over falls condition very local. No problem for us, but had we had a smaller boat we had gone further out to sea to avoid the troubled waters. Only minutes later we got following tide as we turned west into Loch Maddy on rising tide.
We drove by the marina and anchored in shallow water.
16 June Sunday Loch Maddy
Woke up to a rainy morning, a rain that started already late last evening.
We had breakfast keeping an eye on the berths in the marina. Soon the boat that was moored in “our” spot left and we weigh anchor and motored two hundred meters to the preferred berth.
Now the challenge was to find 220 AC! The electricity had gone last night, but we manage to find a main switch and problem solved. This was important as the main reason for us being in the marina was tidying up the boat and that is so much easier if we have shore power.
After noon we took along walk north of the village. Lots of birds and of course lots of sheep and almost summer temperature in the sun after the morning rain.
Later before dinner the rain came back.
Had lamb and potatoes in the oven for dinner, delicious!
Week 25 17 – 23 June 2019 Loch Maddy, North Uist – Eigg 95 nm
17 June Monday Loch Maddy
Woke up in a comfortable cold bow cabin. The saloon was nice and warm as we had the electrical heater on the whole night. One gets spoiled with shore power!
In spite that Annika had declared the washing machine ashore not acceptable yesterday, she gave it a try today, we weren’t to leave until late afternoon. But it became clear that yesterday’s judgment was correct. After two attempts the clothes was not rinsed nor spinned. The hotel helped us, and that made us decide to stay another night.
After noon when most boats had left with the tide, we moved further in not to rest onto the broken pontoon we were moored to.
After dinner we were invited to a Scottish couple with a Swedish built Fantasy 37. Very pleasant and we got lots of hints about where to sail in this attractive archipelago. Especially where to find sea birds nesting.
18 June Tuesday Loch Mady – Carbost/Talisker, Skye 35 nm
Woke up nineish due to a windy night with some disturbing noise.
During breakfast we decided to leave and see if the wind was south west enough for Skye or if it have to be motoring to the next loch south. After Annika had showed Moon to our new friends from Oban while Björn helped some boats to secure to the pontoon we left Loch Maddy.
Before we came out in the swell we hoisted the main and unfurled the two headsails. Further out in the big bay we had the wind slightly from behind and started to hope for an open reach to Skye.
Out in little Minch we could sail with a course towards Carbost in Loch Harport, south west Skye with apparent wind 55 degrees thanks to the southerly tide that gave us a lift 5-10 degrees to windward. But southerly tide against the south west wind gave us very confused sea state. In spite those circumstances Moon managed to sail in great speed around eight knots most of the time.
This, our fourth crossing of the Minch in eight days, became the most uncomfortable due to confused sea and the steep apparent wind angle. Funny enough all four crossing have offered similar crossing time in spite different wind angles and different tide/wind conditions. It was a relief to steer in to the big Loch where Carbost sits at the bottom. Slowly we came out of the swell and could rest.
We took a mooring buoy in front of the Talisker distillery, but the time was already after five and too late for a shore trip.
19June Wednesday Carbost/Talisker – Port Nan Long 4 nm
Rain all night and until after breakfast. We saw almost no activity ashore.
We left the buoy around eleven and moored Moon at the floating pontoon for some hours.
The distillery was fully booked until Friday! But learning that they don’t do the whole “thing”, buying ready malted barley, we were not too disappointed. Instead we took a long hike uphill and got a fantastic view high up the sloop across the loch.
At the highest point we saw the sign to the village Talisker and there was even a full waterfall. We assumed that the water became a part of Talisker Whisky as the stream went down through the distillery!
On the way down we past a restaurant, full of tourists eating lobsters and oysters. Tempting but expensive, probably due to all the tourists. It’s very obvious that Skye is contacted to mainland with a bridge. Lots of busses and cars in Carbost, almost as on the islands when a cruise ship is in harbor.
We avoided spending any money and left the pontoon and anchored for the night four miles further out in the Loch.
20 June Thursday Port Nan Long – Loch Scavaig 22 nm
The night became quite disturbed. We had anchored close to a fish farm and late yesterday a big boat moored at the farm. All night until three at night they probably pumped smolt into the farm and that noise made us have difficulties to sleep. After this and our experience close to a farm in Shetland with odd noises, we now have decided not to anchor in the vicinity of a fish farm!
But as compensation the weather improved after breakfast and two squalls. We weigh anchor and motor sailed out to sea. Coming out of the loch we got great views of the steep shoreline of Skye. Numerous of waterfalls pouring down, full of water since several days of rain.
Turning in to the sound between Skye and Soay the swell almost disappeared and we got a comfortable last part of the trip. Turning into Loch Scavaig we were amazed to see the steep high mountains around the anchorage we got in front of us.
Just before we came close to the last protecting island we got very strong headwind, downdraft from the surrounding mountains.
Anchored in the middle of the lagoon with a protecting island, En Glas, to south and a horse shoe of steep mountains to all other directions. A very spectacular and dramatic anchorage, short to our most dramatic anchorages in Chile Patagonia. Only a glacier was missing!
On top of that we had the whole remote area to ourselves. Later we learned that the swell out in the loch during the week had postponed all tourist boats. During dinner we were amused to see four deer poking around on the shore.
21 June Friday Loch Scavaig
The night became rainy and lots of katabatic winds, stronger than yesterday evening but nothing that made us think about the holding.
Sunshine as we had breakfast while the furnace brought out the chill from the night. During the coffee after breakfast we had a squall that postponed the shore trip. The high mountains make the weather shift rapidly!
The rain during the night made the three waterfalls we saw from Moon look even bigger than yesterday. But the biggest stream we had behind next cape and that is the outflow from Loch Coruisk, ten meters above sea level.
Ten minutes after the squall we had sunshine again and the wet hillsides reflected the sunshine, amazing and almost difficult to look at.
We launched the dinghy and went ashore. There is a stair for the tourist boats to coop with three metre of tide and we used that ladder to get ashore. Then we pulled the dinghy up on the cliff, not to interfere with the tourist boats.
Already before we left the landing spot a tourist boat came and delivered twelve hikers.
Coming over the first little ridge we saw the lake. The big stream from the lake was not possible to pass without getting wet, so we opted to cross on the way back and walk clock vice around the lake.
The lake/loch is just above three kilometres long and quite narrow. After a short walk we left most of the tourists behind us and only met four hikers on our rounding of the lake.
The stream at the upper end we had to cross taking our shoes off. Small smooth stones and shallow water made the crossing easy.
The trail was wet and not easy to walk on but good shoes made it comfortable but time consuming.
Finally we came to the outflow and because of big stones in the “wide” water we walked across with shoes on. Of course they got completely soaked, but we are close to Moon and the water is fresh water and very clean, making the shoes as new when they have dried.
Coming back to the dinghy we had to launch it vertically three metres in front of a lot of tourists waiting for the trip back to the civilisation.
Back in Moon we were really happy to have had such luck with the weather during a great hike.
Although not many birds and animals, the surrounding steep high mountains are really stunning and only the scenario is worth the trip.
Being midsummer, the day of summer solstice, we had traditional pickled herring, potatoes and aquavit for dinner.
22 June Saturday Loch Scavaig – Canna 15 nm
The wind was from south when we woke up, and was supposed to be stronger during the day.
We weigh anchor before breakfast to get out to sea before the wind got stronger.
We motor sailed to Canna almost due south and anchored far out in the bay because we came early and not many boats had left.
We got some salt spray, normally not a problem in this rainy part of the world. But now we had probably several days in front of us with no rain! The upside is that we have to try to find our shorts! And use the cockpit having meals and sundowners. Not something we have got used to do this year.
Took the dinghy ashore to get information where to go and where to find sea birds nesting.
Back in Moon we weigh anchor and moved into the centre of the bay, surrounded by visitor moorings.
Then took the dinghy ashore again to the opposite beach to have easier access to the walk to the puffins. This walk was a big contrast to yesterdays muddy and wet rock crossing, now easy across grass fields with cows and sheep around us.
The puffins were more or less only on a cliff island some 50 metre off the steep cliffs of Canna.
Lots of birds in the air, but only a few close by. We managed to get some photos but mostly Razor Bills, Kittiwakes and Fulmars. We think that cows have crushed the roofs over the puffin caves and that have made them move to the cliff island with no live stock.
The walk today didn’t have yesterday’s scenery, but many more birds singing and flying around us. We even got a Great Skua attacking us three times during our return trip.
Back in Moon we had a sun downer in the cockpit and later dinner!
23 June Sunday Canna – Eigg 19 nm
We woke early due to some chop into the bay. Looking up the wind had just started to turn north east, soon coming across the peninsula north east of us.
Back to bed until nineish when we had breakfast discussing where to go today. The wind direction should make it possible to sail back to the Outer Hebrides and south Uist, but the forecast had decreasing strength. We will not be caught out in Little Minch motoring in no wind and tide confused sea! Ok how about south of Rum to Eigg. If we sail close to Rum we could probably make use of downdraft even if the wind dies.
We weigh anchor and sailed south between Canna and Rum. Coming close to the cape of Rum we sailed only a few hundred meters off shore and the downdraft was there! We could sail in great speed all the way to Eigg, in spite sailboats further out south of us had almost no wind at all. Sometimes you get lucky.
We anchored north of the “harbour” in shallow water and got an excellent holding in hard sand very pleased with a perfect day that did not look that good when we woke up this morning.
Week 26 24 – 30 June 2019 Eigg – Puilladobhrain 114 nm and three days anchored.
24 June Monday Eigg
Quiet night and undisturbed sleep.
Still warm, but we started the Webasto to get hot water for a shower before breakfast. Rain clouds covering the sky but no rain before noon. After lunch we consulted the rain radar app and saw only rain offshore and over the mainland. Launched the dinghy and drove to the pier and the grocery store. Found almost everything we needed. Stored our back packs and took a walk around the neighbourhood. After a four km long walk we drove back to Moon.
Nice to come into a warm and cosy boat.
Still grey skies and no wind so we decided to stay another night.
25 June Tuesday Eigg – Coll – Ulva 38 nm
The forecast was spot on, northerly wind the whole night and a clear sky when we woke up.
Having only 20 nm to Coll we had a slow start with breakfast in a sunny cockpit. Before noon we sat sail and had a nice downwind run all the way to Coll.
The harbour was full of moorings for visiting boats, all marked with ten ton. Moon being a lot heavier, combined with more than twenty knots of wind through the anchorage was not a good combination. But we took a mooring for a short time, while we examined possibilities to anchor, using the radar to determine the space between the boats. We did not find space and the solution was to keep on sailing 16 nm to Ulva Island, taking advantage of the fresh breeze.
Half way we past the Treshnish Islands where we intend to anchor and visit in more settled conditions. Now it looked pretty dangerous to get close.
A great number of dolphins paid us a visit during our approach to Ulva where we found a good anchorage at the middle of the south coast. Our detailed charts are very good and let us anchor outside the pilot book’s recommendations. We had one boat more than two hundred meters away, but there were three boats crowded in the smaller, but deeper, recommended bay.
Ulva is three hundred meter high and gave us some downdrafts, but not uncomfortable at all.
26 June Wednesday Ulva and a 5 km walk
Woke up to a clear sky and only a mild breeze, still from north. Today we had decided for a long walk ashore after breakfast. Elevenish, when the nearby boats had weigh anchor and left, we took the dinghy ashore. Pulled the dinghy up on a white sandy beach and started our walk/climbing.
The trails are made by Red Deer and sheep and sometimes difficult to follow in the high ferns.
We followed one straight up a small ravine and came after half an hour up to the top. Quite an effort as the sloop was very steep, 18 degrees and in this warmth on the leeward side of Ulva it was exhausting.
We saw two groups of Red Deer high up while having a sandwich resting at the top. Although sunny, we had to sit out of the northerly cold wind because we had only shorts and a T-shirt on.
On the top we got good internet access and new weather information. For tomorrow the forecast is good for Treshnish, but the following days looks not so good.
On the way down the trail past a vertical cliff with a free fall down to a steep sloop of ten meters. The Red Deer are brave!
Found the dinghy where we left it and to launch it we had to take of our shoes and wade out in the shallow water. Very convenient with short trousers.
The island had many ticks, probably because of the deer.
Annika found a dozen on her legs but Björn only a few. Very small ones, when you think that all are found, you find the next smaller size.
27 June Thursday Ulva – Treshnish Islands – Staffa – Ross of Mull – Loch Buie, Mull 45 nm
Sunshine and no wind when we woke up. Well planned for an excursion to Treshnish and Staffa islands. The plan was to start very early to reach Treshnish Islands before the sun driven wind starts. Weigh anchor before breakfast and motored west. A light northerly wind started half way but nothing that bothered us. Stayed for a while close to the west coast and admired a steep cliff with numerous of different seabirds.
Decided not to go ashore, instead spend more time, hopefully ashore, on Staffa.
Half way to Staffa the little wind died and we furled the headsails. Lots of tourist boats around the little jetty and outside Fingals Cave, but there are always some angels for a photographer.
Thanks to the no wind and no swell condition we managed to find a sandy spot in the kelp and anchor on the west side of the island. Probably very seldom possible.
Launched the dinghy and drove to the cave. Not to destroy the event for the tourists, gathering at the entrance, we shut down the outboard in the cave. We became the photo object of the day!
Back to Moon we found a gap in the rock where we could more the dinghy to a small beach and walk up the only sloop on the west side of Staffa.
Spent an hour on the north side of the island trying to find Puffins on the edge of the steep cliff.
The method is to sit tight and wait. Sooner or later they will come and feed their chicks.
Finally we got some good photos and could return to the dinghy and later Moon. Hoisted the dinghy and weigh anchor. Lunch on our way south to the nest island – Iona.
Still almost no wind and the little wind came from behind, creating a no wind condition on deck. T-shirt and shorts is a very unusual dress when sailing in Scotland to say the least!
High tide and some following tide through the sound between Mull and Iona, a sound that is very shallow and difficult to navigate at low tide. The colour of the water was like in a tropical anchorage, only the temperature was different. But with the warm air it was even easier to forget that we actually were in Scotland. Coming around the south west corner of Mull we had to put on some more clothes as we turned into the wind.
Anchored in a very nice bay with white sandy beaches and greenish water four meter above the sand.
We sat down in the cockpit and summarized a fantastic day. Felt like we had been given a once in a life time opportunity anchoring on the west side of Staffa.
Looking at the weather for tomorrow we decided to weigh anchor and continue along south coast of Mull, taking advantage of the northerly wind. Tomorrow there will be south easterly, headwind for Oban.
We anchored shortly after seven in a big bay open to south west. Under “normal” condition when the swell runs straight in from the ocean, this bay should be avoided.
But now it was more or less perfect, especially as the predicted wind would come from the bottom of the bay. We found a good sized place with flat bottom and only six meter water over thick mud. Managed to dig down the anchor in the direction of the coming stronger wind.
An hour after we anchored, the new wind started to blow from shore a wind that built stronger during the night. If there were any sign of swell, the easterly wind will clear any traces of that, keeping the surface in the bay completely flat hundred meters off the beach.
28 June Friday Loch Buie – Oban – Heather Island. 22 + 1 nm
Woke up around eight after a very good night’s sleep.
Had a shower and then a long breakfast. We intended to wait until the wind became south east to have a better angle into Oban, but elevenish we weigh anchor and sailed south across the big water south of Mull. After two miles the wind started to turn to more southerly and we tacked east. The wind continued to turn south and soon we could steer close haul towards Oban.
Two hours later we furled the headsails in the canal south of Oban and shortly after the main came down.
Oban Transit Marina is an expensive one, but a short stop of four hours was acceptable. Found a good spot and soon we were off to Tesco and three other shops, filling most empty lockers and the fridge in Moon.
Filling water was as “fast” as using the Watermaker aboard, making us overstay but to their expense.
Cast our lines and shortly after we anchored behind Heather Island, south of Kerrera marina.
Annika had prepared a Lamb rack in the oven during our transport and soon the dinner was served in the cockpit under the setting sun. Much nicer compared to the hot condition in the marina, not to mention the laud music on the waterfront. We could still hear little of that out here in our anchorage.
Very pleased with our achievements during the day, and that we had saved £3 a meter boat not having stayed in the marina over night. This day was the warmest day in Scotland this year – 30C.
29 June Saturday Heather Island, Oban – Puilladobhrain 6 nm
No wind and no rain during the night. Slept like babies through the quiet and wind cooled night. The plan for the day was to only go to a well protected cove and anchor during the coming hard south-westerly blow. The anchorage had easy access to the “Bridge over The Atlantic”, a famous more than two hundred years old stone arch bridge spanning from Seil Island to mainland Scotland.
We waited out the morning rain and then weigh anchor. We had to use navigation light due to next to rain condition most of the six miles south to the anchorage. Found our way into the cove and anchored almost at the bottom, only one boat to windward.
During lunch we got heavy rain and thunder, but the sky cleared and we took the dinghy ashore and walked across the ridge to the bridge and the Pub.
Having got all the photos we wanted we had a pint in the Pub together with nice local people.
Back in Moon we hadn’t got a drop from above and we lifted the dinghy and secured it on deck before the wind was to increase tonight.
30 June Sunday Puilladobhrain – (pronounced Pulldohran)
Grey and windy start of the day. The stronger south westerly started during early morning hours combined with some drizzle.
Our next stop is right in the wind so our plan to stay another night is very solid.
The summer temperature has disappeared and the furnace is doing a good job keeping us comfortable warm and dry. The furnace even has a cocking top and save lots of electricity, important when we are several days at anchor and not using the engine.
The day became quite rainy and windy, almost gale force. We stayed indoors the whole day, occupied with reading and writing. Time flies when you are having fun!
Annika & Björn