Sailing Trip – August 2016 with Stan
August 11th
Went up and stayed at Dunstaffnage … ate in Oban at Fish N’ Chip Shop – I had the hake - baked. Stan had sea bass - battered.
August 12th
Sailed up to Lochaline in rain. Moored too; we ate boeuf bourguignon and looked at weather prediction for tomorrow. Stan’s iPhone got wet. The whole thing was horrendous.
August 13th
Stayed at Lochaline. Stan went into Lochaline village for some rice to try to dry out his iPhone. Later – in the afternoon – he went for a walk up the loch and returned about 6-30pm. Had salmon.
August 14th
Sailed and motored to Mallaig. After mooring up on the pontoon and going to look at the local pub (turned out to be a Pizzeria!) so we returned and had steak later.
August 15th
Up to Plockton and met up with Richard. After mooring went for a meal (Monk Fish wrapped in prosciutto – Stan had pork and Richard haddock) at the local pub after Stan had a good look around Richard’s house ‘Marycroft’. Set off (badly) in tender. Afterwards, when Stan and I were ready to board Stan got out and I was sat at the back holding the dinghy to the ladder and the tender with me was back heavy and went over. Luckily my life jacket inflated automatically. I got out from underneath, then got aboard. Stan and I righted the tender and got the outboard on the back. Finally got to bed –having dried myself.
August 16th
Motored down to Tobermory in poor seas and the wind on the nose all the way.
August 17th
Sailed down the Sound of Mull - almost opposite and just down from the Lismore Light the engine packed in. Sailed to entrance of the marina but then the wind just died. We were starting to be pushed by the tide to some rocks but luckily got a lift in from a bilge keel yacht owned by Neil and crewed with him and a guy from Edinburgh, called Dave. We moored on the outside of the new breakwater. At about 9:10 we then went to the ‘Wide Mouth Frog’ but they had stopped serving; so we went into Oban for a sit down fish and chip meal but the restaurant was finished so we had a take out and ate it inside!
August 18th
Left a list for Stuart to have sorted.
Engine/outboard/mast wind direction guides/mast leak/fridge hinges/electric connection flap/Navtex aerial (Richard broke it)/front saloon windows leak/
Used Alba to produce some lines (4 - 2 bow lines and 2 stern lines + 2 springs). Gave Alba the life raft to service and 2 fire extinguishers to service. Dave of Alba e-mailed me to tell me that it would be cheaper to buy a new life raft. Agreed and he is going to keep it until I return. Also fixed We drove down – I missed the A65 turn off – and compounded the error by going wrongly to Preston via A6 and lost 20 minutes going to the junction with A59 on M6 which I should have taken. Got in at about 9 and dumped the sailing stuff and then went for a curry at the Aagrah.
August 19th
Stan and I walked at about 9:20 to the Buck Stones then down to top ridge walk via Black Beck to top of moors and down to the car.
August 20th Stan needs to catch the 10:10 to London from Leeds.
