Inverie to Canna

Very disturbed night, with squalls that set Worm jumping up and down. We had moored her along side, something we often do it the wind and tide are not in agreement, but I had to get up in the night and free her off, then up again half an hour later to bring her alongside again. Not a good night! We prepared to go early, then stopped to make and eat porridge, so left the mooring at 0830.

We had a slow beat out of Loch Nevis, even though we shook out the reef, then a slow beat across the Sound of Sleat, then a slow beat up the South end of Skye. As we cleared Skye the seas got up a bit, but we were half way along the coast of Rhum before we gave in and put on the engine. There was enough wind to sail (we even put the reef back in) but the sea state was such that Robinetta kept being stopped by the waves, and the engine helped her power through them. The whole trip got less frustrating at that point and we kept the engine on most of the rest of the way.

Head winds all day, and an ETA at Canna that went from 1808 to 1958 could have made for a depressing sail, but the weather was fine, with plenty of blue sky and sun. The sea state was occasionally unpleasant, but never dangerous, and so long as we were in the shelter of Rhum it was really rather nice!

The last five miles from Rhum to Canna were the most exposed of the trip, and with the headwinds we sailed at least 7 miles, and probably 8. However, by the time we were half way across we were surrounded by a pod of dolphins. They rode our bow wave, powered along side, jumped out of the water... Whenever we tacked they lost us for a couple of minutes, then powered back to catch up again. It was a lovely sight!

We lowered the sails before entering Canna harbour and picked up a mooring. There are ten visitor moorings here, and there were already 7 yachts. Not bad for a midweek in June! It feels much more sheltered than Inverie though, and I expect to sleep like a log.