Rosneath to Wreck Bay, Kyles of Bute

The weather forecast for Friday was for bright sun, and clear skies. Perfect for heading out for a weekend sailing, although Saturday would be rather wet and windy.

We launched Worm off the beach at low water this morning. We had a lot to take to Robinetta as we were going away for the weekend, so needed our sleeping bags (now clean) back on board, as well as clothes etc. Once on board I realised that I had forgotten to bring the fuel for our spirit stove, so had to row back to the house. Julian stayed on Robinetta, preparing her for the trip. He had booked an online seminar for today, with three sessions, with the first being at 10:00, and we had hoped to be away by then, but it was not to be.

I was back on board at 10:30, and filled the stove, before making a cup of tea and listening in to the seminar.

We got the engine on to warm up as soon as the talk finished, and were away from the mooring by 11:18. Julian raised the sail as soon as we were clear of the moorings in Stroul Bay, putting in a reef to the first cringle. The forecast wind was South or South East, 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in Firth of Clyde, and we currently only had a 4, but we had bent on the no.2 jib, and reefed the main to match it. We needed the engine to get through the Rhu narrows as the wind was on the nose, but once we were past the caravan park we could begin to sail, and once we were clear of the Gareloch we came onto a lovely broad reach down the Clyde.

Julian’s second seminar session ran from noon to 1pm, so so I was on the helm all the way past Gourock, gradually closing with Cloche Point. The only worries were the Western Ferries running to Hunter’s Quay, as there were three on duty and they had a fast turn around.

Once we rounded Cloche Point we hardened up, and fine reached towards Toward. Unfortunately the wind was more south than south east, and as we closed with the Cowal peninsula the sea state increased, and began to produce “Robinetta stopper” waves. Trying to tack back across the Clyde our non making tack saw us going backwards, so at 14:45 we gave up sailing and put the engine back on.

By 15:55 we were at the Toward cardinal, and could some off the wind enough to sail again, so the engine went off and we sailed all the way up the East Kyle, once again on a lovely broad reach. Past Loch Striven the sea was beautifully flat.

Once past the ferry at Colintrave we got the engine on to take down the main sail, and made our way to the anchorage at Wreck Bay. The Antares charts suggest anchoring in 6m, which would be 9m at high water, as today was the spring tide. I laid out 30m of chain on deck, and Julian took us into the bay. There was one boat at anchor already, but plenty of room for us, and we dropped anchor at 18:10, out of the tidal stream.

Now we are past the equinox the evenings are drawing in really quickly. I had wanted to be anchored by 18:30 when it would be getting dark, so we had made it in good time.

After dinner Worm knocked gently on the starboard cabin side, and I needed to take a lantern out to help me see to tie her securely alongside for the night. This was a dark of the Moon spring , and the brightest light was our own anchor light. I had a wonderful view of the stars, and called Julian up to admire it too.