2023 June 9th, Day 57 Bangor to Ardglass,

I had the sails up as soon as the fenders and mooring lines were stored but for control I motor-sailed through Donaghadee Sound where the tide was running strongly even though I had reached the entrance at slack water.

Through Donaghadee Sound.

Donaghadee Harbour

Facebook Post 9th June:

Bangor to Ardglass

36 miles in 7 hours.

Click here for the Skerries

2023 June 7th, Days 55 & 56 Browns Bay to Bangor.

Facebook Post: 7th June: 

 A routine leg in generally dreary conditions so no pictures.

14 miles in three and a half hours

Click here for Ardglass

2023 June 6th, Day 54 Port Ellen to Browns Bay (Larne)

6th June Facebook post: 

After a 5 o'clock start the engine was off at 05:30 and apart from an hour off of the Maidens it stayed off until Browns Bay. Initially the wind was 11 knots from the NE and I made quick progress under the Cruising Chute, for all of 10 minutes when it started to veer to the east and by 09:45 I had a reef in as the wind was 14 knots and gusting. Close hauled on port tank it was a bit of a struggle to keep clear of the Traffic Separation Scheme as the wind went further round to the SE.

A quick trip averaging a tad over 5 knots. No pictures due to the weather.

51 miles in 10 hours.

Click here for Bangor

2023 June 5th, Day 53 Oransay to Port Ellen

Facebook post 5th June: 

One of two whales north of Islay

Entering the Sound of Islay

After light winds to start it picked up, as it often does going through the Sound of Islay but again dropped off for the sail along the south of Islay to Port Ellen.

Off Port Askaig in the Sound of Islay.

Entering Port Ellen

I was in at Lunch time early enough to make two trips to the petrol station for diesel, one trip to the CO-OP and still fit in a shower and laundry before a Chinees take way for dinner.

34 miles in five and a half hours.

Click here for Browns Bay

2023 June 4th, Day 52 To Eileach an Naoimh, Oransay.

Oransay is a small tidal Island at the southern end of Colonsay with a much better anchorage than the main island. Again the wind was mostly very light or non-existent but there was good sailing in an ENE wind at 12 knots from a mile or so after leaving Loch Aline, through the main channel out of the Sound of Mull, the first time I have used it as previously I have used the southern channel, past Duart Point to a little west of Loch Spelve, the rest was under engine.

Sailing past Duart Castle

Minke Whale in the Firth of Lorn, close enough to hear it breath
- an impressive sound!

Colansay with Oransay on the extreme left.

It is nice to have such clear water so the when there is some sun
(not as often as I would like in Scotland!) you are able to see the
seabed and plant the anchor clear of weed, here in 4 metres.

A lovely evening and a peaceful night.

42 miles in eight and a half hours.

Click here for Port Ellen

2023 June 3rd, Day 51 Tobermory to Loch Aline

A slow passage but pleasant and I arrived in the anchorage at the head of the loch in time for lunch, watching seals basking in the warm sun.

You have to look sharp through the narrow entrance, the ferry
is small and can offload and reload very quickly, I had slowed
down to deconflict in the Sound and although I did not delay the
departure it was close.

There was even less wind inside the Loch.

"Pippin" (left) once the stead of fellow Jester sailor John Willis
and before that Pete Goss. John and Pippen have featured on
the blog several times.

Tobermory to Loch Aline

14 miles in four and a half hours.

Click here for Oransay