Sailing to see the engineer

 Robinetta's engine has not had a proper service since it was installed, just an oil change in 2022. This is pretty unforgivable since Julian constantly smells burning oil when the engine is run at anything near top revs and we want the engine to last.

There is a Yanmar approved engineer based at Holyloch Marina, so I tried booking a preseason service, only to discover that they are so busy that I needed to wait until Tuesday 21st May for a time slot. I kept an eye on the weather, and the days leading up to the service looked virtually windless, (2-5knots) but Sunday would be bright and warm, so Julian and I decided to take Robinetta over to Holyloch that day.

High water (which is when it is easiest to launch Worm off the beach) was around 10:30 so we launched her at ten and rowed over to Robinetta. The wind was light, but stronger than forecast, certainly enough to be worth getting the sails up and we were not in a hurry. The number 1 jib, full main, and staysail gave us 2 knots, and with the tide under us there was no need for the engine.

We had a pleasant and gentle beat out of the Gairloch, and Julian put our mackerel line out, although we were going a little too fast to expect to catch anything. When we turned onto a very broad reach down the Clyde at 3-4 knots we were definitely too fast and he pulled the line in.

It seemed a shame to stop sailing in such perfect conditions, to we headed into Loch Long. Unfortunately that put the wind almost behind us, and after half an hour I began to wish we had turned down the Clyde instead. With the flat sea, and no obvious movement I was beginning to doze off. We tacked round and headed down Clyde instead.

We passed the entrance to Holyloch, and the car ferries coming to and from Hunter's Key made sure to avoid us, but the wind dropped away to almost nothing as we got closer to the foot ferry terminal at Dunoon proper. That was when a pod of porpoises came past us, only about 50m away which is much closer than I am used to. We also saw guillemots as well as the usual gulls. 

With so little wind we decided to head back towards Holyloch, and we had enough steerage way to turn, but then we started going backward with the tide, so it was time for the engine again. It started fine, but it took a while for the revs to increase, which felt as though the engine was being starved of deisel. Looks as though the fuel filter overdue for a change (not at all surprising!). Luckily it corrected itself within a minute, and the wind came back within 15, so the engine went off again and we sailed towards Holyloch making about 3 knots.

There was a small gaffer beating out of the loch, which turned to come and see us. While it was on its way a motor launch called Late Edition slowed down as it passed us and circled around taking pictures, which they will try to sent us later. The gaffer turned out to be a Capecutter19 and it was fun to chat as we passed each other at 6 knots closing speed! He recognised Robinetta as being moored at Clynder so had obviously seen her there.

We sailed into Holyloch on a run, then got the engine on and sails down just before entering the Marina, where we were moored up on a finger berth at 16:00 after a lovely and varied day on the water. We will be in the Marina until the service is completed on Tuesday before heading back to our mooring.