Back round the Mull of Kintyre

 We could have left Port Ellen in the small hours, and taken the early tide round the Mull, but this whole week we had wanted to relax, so we stayed in the marina all morning. Having a shower felt blissful! Julian mended Worm's rowlock mount that I had broken in Tinker'e Hole, and I filled the water tanks and sorted the rubbish. Julian also tried to connect a new mains outlet in the cabin, as there was electricity on the pontoon, but it only worked briefly. Probably a fault in the extension socket. We had managed without mains power so far, and would be on a mooring once we got back home, so it did not matter too much.

We motored away from the pontoon at 11:30, and raised sail in Port Ellen Bay. We would have had to pay for another day's mooring if we were in the marina after mid day, but we did not want to reach the Mull much before 20:00.  There was no need to push ourselves under motor when there was wind to move us, however slowly. We had a lovely couple of hours sailing before the wind died completely, then the motor went on to take us towards the Mull. 

By 17:00 we had to motor quite hard to keep our rendezvous with the Mull at slack water. The tide was against us as it flooded past the Mull and up the Sound of Jura. However the sea was flat calm, with very little swell and I cooked dinner underway. We have discovered "Cooks and Co" pre-prepared Risottos packs, and they are very boat cooking friendly. One pan, and we have all the ingredients suggested to add.

We  were "sailing" in company with another yacht that was also heading for the mull. It was obvious that we both had the same plan to avoid paying another day at Islay and to reach the Mull at slack water. Once there we took  Robinetta in close to the mull while the other yacht stood off a little and there were no overfalls on either course. Once round the Mull we headed for Sanda, while our companion in travel headed up the Clyde, possibly toward Campbelltown. We had gone far enough, and dropped anchor at 21:47 to spend a peaceful Midsummer eve.