2025 June 5th, Day 68. Tobermory to Loch Aline.

 WIP (while I wait the tide for the Sound of Luing)

The latest forecasts are showing fresh NE winds on Saturday which with F6 today rather puts the kybosh on The Treshnish Islands. It also shows rain most days for a good while and not very helpful winds to get south next week.

After a shower and some last minute shopping I left at 11:20 earlier than planned and against the tide to perhaps give me the opportunity to get to Loch Spelve to make a passage through Luing a possibility, with a very early start, on Friday. If things go to plan I'll be in shelter if and when the stronger northerly wind arrives on Saturday, probably on the Jura side of the sound or east of Ghia, most likely the former as I am not in that much of a rush.

There was absolutely no wind in the harbour that was rapidly emptying out of cruising yachts, outside there was about 8 knots but with more forecast and heavy squalls about I stuck to headsail only. Soon after it was up to 15 knots and varied from that, occasionally less, up to 20+ and at one time 25 which was a bit nerve wracking with the dinghy in tow.

Apart from having to avoid a freighter and two large ferries the trip was generally uneventful but I decided against Loch Spelve as the wind had steadied to a brisk F5 and would be on the nose and against the tide at charted over-falls at some point between Duart Castle and Lock Don. So into Loch Aline with a swift 360 degree turn and a lurch towards the shore when the ferry, which had been alongside for at least an hour, decided to come out just as I got there.

Entry delayed by the ferry, we would have collided just south of
the red can buoy another yacht and a large motor boat coming
from the east also had to take avoiding in and we entered in line
astern with me leading, probably frustrating them as I stuck
to 5 knots, 6 over the ground, as they both over took me as soon
as they could whilst I was getting the anchor ready.

A nice change from the last attempt was anchoring on the first attempt in good holding although next morning I did find I had found a spot with lots of thin black mud on top of the thicker stuff and I needed several buckets of water to clean the deck after weighing anchor.

Facebook post:

The plan for tomorrow is to leave when I wake up to take the last of the tide out of the Sound of Mull and then cross to the east side of the Firth of Lorn 6 or 7 miles N of Fladda and anchor there, leaving early afternoon to get the first of the S going tide down the Sound of Luing stopping for the night at Crinan or a bit further S. 

If the weather is as the models showed in the evening I should have light adverse winds on Friday but tide all the way after the stop for lunch and a north-westerly on Saturday to take me down the Sound of Jura, but I will need to find a safe spot later o Saturday as a F6 is forecast.

Pics to follow.

14 miles in three nd a half hours.

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