Fully equipped again, we were glad to get away from Largs Yacht Haven
where we had been dwarfed by large motor boats. The forecast was for
strong westerlies and we were not disappointed! Passing through the
Cumbrae Pass and past Garroch Head on Bute, we made straight across to
the Arran shore to seek some shelter from the head-on seas. Following
the coast round to Lochranza, we were finally able to make way under
sail alone, down the Kilbrannan Sound to Campbeltown. The wind was a
steady F6 with 30kt gusts and we made good progress under single reefed
sails. The sun came out and the sea turned a sparkling blue, lifting our
spirits and raising false hopes of rounding the Mull of Kintyre on the
morrow. Instead, we have a SE gale and poor visibility – not weather for
our intended passage – and are lying fairly comfortably, if somewhat
bumpily, alongside in Campbeltown awaiting better conditions. We found
this aptly-named bar close to the harbour, two doors along from Rab’s
Chippie – apparently the gastronomic centre of the town!