East Loch Tarbert

After a lovely peaceful night in Plocrapool it was time to up the anchor and head further up the Loch. It was only about 3 miles to East Loch Tarbert, so we could have just motored, but with a lovely wind just outside the shelter of the anchorage Julian decided we should sail. After hauling up the anchor and stowing it we turned back to get the main up inside the anchorage. A surprised seal fell off the tiny pinnacle of rock it had been hauled out on as we changed course in front of it. Until I heard the splash I thought it was a rock itself!

Once clear of the rocks the engine went off, and we had a lovely sail up to East Loch Tarbert. There used to be visitor's moorings there, but they have gone, and now everyone needs to anchor. I laid out fifteen meters of chain on the deck and dropped anchor quite close inshore to be out of the ferry's turning circle.

After a trip ashore in Worm to check out Tarbert and have brunch at a lovely coffee shop it was back to Robinetta to up anchor again. The ferry was in, but seemed to be having problems, so although it was fully loaded even before we got back on board Robinetta it stayed put. The bow doors were up, but it was using its bow thrusters the back wash from which sent Robinetta dancing round her anchor in an interesting way! We were glad to get clear.

We got the main and staysail up, but left the jib (no1) furled as we were sailing on a virtually dead run. A gust came, and Robinetta set off like a scalded cat. I found her difficult to hold, so we went head to wind and reefed away a couple of rolls of sail round the boom. There were no problems after that as we sailed under Scalpay bridge and set course for the Shiants.