Through the Dorus Mor again

We could hear the wind in the high tension rigging of the boats around us last night, and the decks were wet this morning, but it felt as though the gale had blown through overnight. There was no 0710 forecast to tell us differently either, but when Julian checked on line at quarter past it was clear that this morning's calm was just a lull. We should get round to Ardfern while the tide was with us, before the weather closed in on Friday.

We got the main and staysail ready to use, but did not bother to set up a jib, and were off the pontoon at 0835. We raised the staysail once we were clear of the marina, but it was obvious that the wind was too close to our course to use unless we wanted to tack, and it was so light that we risked missing our tidal gate if we sailed.

We motored down the Penninsula towards the Dorus Mor in bright sun and calm seas, and were through it by 1005, an hour and a half before the tide turned against us. There were no overfalls, just slightly raised seas, and the odd swirl in the water, but we gained 2-4 knots of speed over the ground on the way through...

Once we were in Loch Craignish we got the main sail up and very broad reached up towards Ardfern. We heard Stornaway Coastguard talking to the Isle of Mull ferry. The coastguard was asking the ferry for a radio check! The Coastguard aerial had got damaged somehow, which was why there was no 0710 weather. Julian called them up, with the info that we could hear them too, in a much smaller boat and further away. The coastguard lady sounded amused, but thanked us for the information.

We were only making 2 knots, so Julian shook out the reef which did not help much. The engine went back on and we were at Ardfern in an hour. I felt rather sad as we turned towards the marina; the adventure was coming to an end. Then Julian accidentally dropped a fender in the water and it took me three tries to get close enough for him to pick it up. Maybe we should spend tomorrow doing man overboard drills....

We filled up with diesel, then motored round to a pontoon berth where we left Robinetta and Worm for the rest of the day.

 When we were anchored at Puildobhrain yesterday we had wanted to walk to the pub near the Bridge over the Atlantic, but the tides and the weather meant we did not go. We have the car at Ardfern though, so we drove there for lunch, then on to look at Easdale and Cuan Sounds from the shore. The weather was lovely, bright warm sunshine and a light breeze. What had happened to our gale?

We went back to Ardfern and unloaded all the charts and extra bits and pieces that we do not want to leave on board. We still have two nights on board through, so the rest can wait until we are on the mooring, and be rowed ashore in Worm.