6 distilleries sighted and a Winery visited

 We dropped the mooring at five to seven, and began the trip to the north end of the Sound of Islay. We raised the main, but it was not really doing anything, in fact it might have been slowing Robinetta down as there were head winds.

Julian ducked below to check out the breakfast options, and received an enthusiastic "Yes, please" at the suggestion of bacon and egg with fried bread. It is not easy eating that sort of meal while helming, but it made a lovely start to the day.

The head winds continued, but were slackening, and the sea state (never bad) got flatter, so we made good time and entered the Sound at 09:20. The tide helped us through at 5-6 knots on low engine revs and we passed three distilleries on the Islay shore without even thinking about stopping for a visit. I had been slightly worried that there might be overfalls at the south end, but roughest water with wind over tide was at the narrowest part of the Sound, by the lifeboat station. We steered closer to the Islay shore, and were soon away from the disturbance.

By 11:00 we were out of the Sound, but still being helped south by the tide. By the time we reached Ardmore point (our fourth distillery) the wind was no longer heading us, so we turned the engine off and sailed.

Julian wanted to go behind Texa, and approach Port Ellen that way, so we turned onto a run, and headed into the passage. I never like being on a run, the wind was light, and the swell was constantly lifting the boom, the passage was narrow, and I did not feel like I had much control on the helm. I was not a happy helmsman! We glimpsed Lagavulin behind the reefs, but stopping did not feel like a good option.

Once we were behind Texa and could come off the run the sailing improved, and we romped past Laphroig into Port Ellen, dropping the sails jut before the ferry pier. Twenty minutes later we were securely tied up on the pontoon.

Islay marina had everything we wanted, but I felt very tired and stressed by the sail in. I had bruised a rib while securing Worm to Robinetta at Kerrera, and now the adrenaline of organising the event had faded it hurt whenever I moved too fast. Julian suggested a visit to Islay Wines would help, so we walked there, and had a tasting, coming away with four bottles.

We had hoped to eat at the hotel or the Bistro, but both were full, so we got takeaway fish and chips (plus a battered haggis) from the Bistro and ate on board.