Safe in South Uist

 We planned a reasonably early start today, as the weather dictated we get across to South Uist today is we wanted to be there for the weekend, and 52nm is a long haul at Robinetta speed. Julian had set the alarm for 06:30, but we were both awake by 06:00, so that is when the kettle went on. We did not want to leave without visiting the Tobermory Stores to buy a couple of their excellent pies, and they opened at 07:00, so we actually had a leisurely start to the day, backing off the pontoon at 07:25. Julian set up the no.1 jib as we motored out of the bay, then we went head to wind to raise the main in the flat water of the Sound of Mull.

The wind was directly behind us once we were on course, so we centred the main sail and staysail, and left the jib furled.

Once clear of the Sound of Mull the seas stayed slight, although Robinetta rolled gently. We let the main sail out a little to try and use it, but the wind was light, and not in a good direction for where we wanted to go. With a possible force 8 later tomorrow we just wanted to get across the Minch into good shelter as soon as possible, so the motor stayed on. It stayed on all day.

The swell increased, with some confused cross seas as we got further offshore, making it difficult to hold the course of 310°M that took us straight across the Little Minch to our destination of Loch Boisdale. Julian and I took turn and turn about hand steering for 2 hour each from 09:30 which was. hard work. By 12:30 the main was just slatting about in the swell, doing itself and Robinetta no favours, so we went head to wind and Julian got it down, managing an amazingly tidy stow in the conditions.

The day ground on, poor visibility, swell that threw us around, and no wind. By 15:35 the swell was regular enough that I wanted to put George on duty: our tiller pilot is a lot better at steering a straight course than any human. Luckily he managed the swell well, and the rest of the afternoon was easier on the person on watch.

motoring towards the hidden land

Despite occasional sightings of blue sky ahead South Uist stayed stubbornly hidden in clouds, and we could not pick out our destination until we were less than 2 miles off. The swell went down though, and our chart plotter took us to the right place. We were tied up on a pontoon in Loch Boisdale Marina at 20:00, and the engine went off after 12 and a half hours of sterling service.

The Harbour Master might ask us to move tomorrow and leave this berth available for a bigger boat, but for now we were staying put.

I tidied Robinetta up while Julian made dinner (those excellent pies with new potatoes and baked beans). We had beaten tomorrow's forecast force 8 gale. Getting here had been a struggle, but the weather for the next five days meant we had had to arrive very early or not at all.