Loch Shell to Stornoway

Last night's anchorage was not as flat calm as Plocrapool, but we only rolled a little bit in the gusts, and Worm stayed solidly out of the way on her rope off Robinetta's stern. A bit of kelp came up on the anchor chain, and I needed a little engine assist to help break out the anchor, but nothing major.

The Wykeham-Martin gear had no spare turns on it, so I put some on by hand before raising the no 1 jib. This turned out to be a bad idea as I wound them on the "wrong" way so the job unfurled itself as I hoisted it. It had to come down again, the Wykeham-martin drum reloaded, then the jib hoisted.... By the time I had done all this we were at the entrance to Loch Shell and beginning to roll in the sea swell. I had been planning to raise the main as well (it was my turn) but Julian took pity on me, and handed over the tiller so he could raise the main. I turned back into the loch to go head to wind while he did it, then it was out towards the sea.

The course towards Stornoway was a dead run, and there was a lot of swell to make the boom waver, but once we rigged a preventer all the fears of an accidental gybe disappeared and we had a lovely sail up the coast.

Back in Mallaig I had bought a snap shackle, and Julian spliced a rope round it with a thimble. The idea was to use this as a mooring line, but the snap shackle turned out to be too small to fit on to the massive rings on the local mooring buoys. However the rope and shackle turned out to be a good piece of kit to use as a preventer, with the rope tied round the boom and the shackle clipped onto the shrouds. This is much easier to disengage than a rope tied both ends.

Once round Kebock Head we were able to gybe Robinetta onto the port tack and by the time we passed the entrance to Loch Erisort the wind had come round enough for us to be on a broad reach rather than a run. Approaching Stornoway the wind strengthened, and we thought about reefing, but Julian was on the helm and strong enough to hold her, and we did not have far to go.... We did furl the jib away though, and were still doing 5 knots.

We lowered the main just opposite the ferry dock, as that stretch of water was head to wind, then motored towards the marina. I called the harbour up, and for this first time this cruise there was someone there to answer! We got directed to a berth, and helped into it by the crew of the Norman James. We had seen them in Canna and Loch Boisdale, and talked to them in Loch Maddy. Now we met them again for the last time before they head towards the Orkney's tomorrow.

Stornoway marina seems like a good place. There are well places cleats on the pontoons, good showers, and plenty of local amenities. Tomorrow is a shore exploration day!