Round the Mull of Kintyre

 In order to make the best of the tide we needed to leave Sanda by 06:00. The kettle went on at half five when the alarm went, but after the night we had had it was a real effort to get moving. We managed to motor out of the anchorage at 06:15, but by the time Julian had done all the foredeck work he looked like death warmed over, so I sent him down for some more sleep. Having only had to take care of Worm and the helming I was not nearly as tired and I helmed Robinetta across the Sound of Sanda to take the inside passage round the Mull. There was no wind, so no obvious overfalls, but the same swell that had made the small hours uncomfortable in the anchorage was worse out in the Sound. It was better once I got close inshore and the tide took us along at 7-8 knots for half an hour before suddenly turning off at 07:30, reducing our speed to 2.5 knots.

There were 3 other yachts rounding the Mull with us, having come from the direction of Campbeltown, and the closest unfurled its jib, which filled. Julian was awake by this point, and as soon as we got the wind as well he got the main sail up. This made the wind vanish, but 20 minutes later it was back and we had a fast sail towards Machrahanich Bay, touching 7 knots at times.

The same wind took us half way along Machrahanish Bay at 3-4 knots even though there hardly seemed to be enough of it. The sea was flat, we could see a little blue above, and we had a perfect gentle sail until the wind died completely at 10:40. Then it was engine on for the slog up to Gigha. We have done this journey 3 times now, and the trip from Machrahanish to Gigha always feels longer than it should be.

We were on a mooring bouy at Gigha by ten to two, in time for a late lunch in the cockpit, then I had a doze in the cabin before we went ashore to shop and see if we could make a walk in booking for dinner at the Boat House. They promised to squeeze us in at 7, so that was dinner sorted.