Windy

We were woken about 2 am this morning by what sounded like chain running out! We went on deck.  The stars were amazing.We checked the anchor chain and it hadn't moved - easy to check since the shackle joining the two lengths was in the part wrapped around the bits. We put the chart plotter and the echo sounder on.

After it had sorted itself out the chart plotter said we hadn't moved but the echo sounder said we only had 7 feet, but it was only an hour after low water so that was OK. We decided it was just the anchor chain rubbing on the triced-up bobstay and went back to bed. When we put the kettle on at 6:30 we were in 15 feet so that was fine. As we left we could see the rock that could have been a problem if we had moved. The 7:10 forecast was not good news. F5 to F7 south-east backing east and then veering south-east over the next 48 hours. We wanted to get to Tobermory, only 15 miles away and mostly inside the loch.

We had an absolutely lovely sail on a succession of broad reaches with easy gybes at the bends. It was often a bit fine for the jib so we just used reefed main and stay sail. We had the tide and the speed varied from 3 knots to 6.7 knots in the narrows by Carna. We thought it might be windier in the outer loch and across the Sound of Mull so we reefed the main most of the way down but it was calmer in the outer loch. We still made 4 knots.

 We haven't had an ensign flying since we lost the batten when flying it from the gaff in July but the new home-made pole works fine.

 There was a definite small rost south of the rocks at the entrance to the loch. Lots of seabirds were there - I expect the fish like it.

As we entered the Sound we saw a cruise ship heading round the point of Ardnamurchan. We thought it might come in to Tobermory but it passed behind us down the Sound of Mull.The Pilot cutter Lizzie May came out of Tobermory just as we were going in. They are big enough to take a F7 and will have a wonderful sail today. The wind was really strong across the sound but we were reefed perfectly for it and the sea state was really slight. It must have been a top-end F5, perfect.