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Thu 29 May 2008
West Loch Tarbert
After a spectacular sunset, the day started bright and the wind had abated to a Force 5, but the forecast was for rain to come. We motored through the Sound of Harris, finding a number of the buoys marked on a newly purchased chart were missing, but following the Cope Passage was straightforward. Clear of all dangers, we set reefed sails and had a grand sail across to Toe Head at the SW end of Harris, but faced a headwind round in the Sound of Taransay, which saw us motorsailing thereafter. The predicted rain arrived and the hills took on a gloomy aspect. We anchored for the night in a sheltered spot off the old whaling station in Loch Bun Abhainn-eader, 3 miles west of West Loch Tarbert, and moved up there the next morning.
Posted by skipper at 01:46 PM | Comments (1)
Wed 28 May 2008
2(F+J)
No, we are not trying to resurrect our schooldays algebra - this refers to the Skipper and Mate having the company of both Fan & James and Fin & J when the latter pair arrived in East Loch Tarbert for a holiday at Seilebost, on Harris. They dined on Arctica, and all four went on photo safari during the day, making good use of the availability of a hired car. We could not resist showing our own attempt at an artistic photo of rocks and lichen.After waving farewell to Fan & James on the ferry to Uig, and thence via Glasgow to South Britain, we decided to visit the west side of the Outer Hebrides, and sailed the first leg down to Hermetray, just off North Uist at the end of the Sound of Harris. Vaccasay Basin, where we anchored, now has an extensive fish farm, but there is room to anchor and avoid Dirt Rock. We let out plenty of chain and were untroubled by the strong winds which continued overnight.
Posted by skipper at 05:01 PM | Comments (0)
Sat 24 May 2008
Sea Lochs of North Harris
The sun was obscured by a layer of high cloud which cooled the day considerably and drained the colour from the landscape. This provided a good opportunity to explore Loch Seaforth, a fjord-like loch extending inland for some 15 miles. We went half way up, passing the extensive fish farm inside the entrance and the inlet of Loch Maaruig, and anchored off Ath Linne (photo) just past Seaforth Island, which boasts its own 'Marilyn'. The Crew opted for an afternoon of relaxation aboard, while the Skipper took to the handy hill track (signposted 'Walkers Welcome') and climbed Cearnabhal 378m and Liuthaid 492m, a nice pair of hills. We moved back out and round the point into Loch Claidh, where we spent the night in the lovely anchorage tucked in behind Eilean Hingerstay, where we saw black throated divers, otters, seals and a stag on the skyline above at sunset.
Posted by skipper at 05:47 PM | Comments (1)
Thu 22 May 2008
North Uist
We left Loch Skiport with the intention of staying a night at Kallin, Grimsay but found pier extension works in progress and the visitor's mooring temporarily removed. Resuming passage northwards, we carried on to Lochmaddy - and still the sun shone, showing everything at its best. The photographers revelled in the quality of light and range of subjects to catch their eye, while the skipper bagged a few more hills. Good use was made by all of the excellent facilities at the new Tigh Dearg Hotel, with a first class fitness suite, sauna and showers. Today we had an NE wind on the nose and motorsailed up to North Harbour, Scalpay where the sun came out again after an overcast morning.
Posted by skipper at 05:44 PM | Comments (0)
Mon 19 May 2008
Barra to South Uist
A smooth crossing to the Outer Isles saw Arctica back in Castlebay, Barra for the third time in three weeks, all in good weather. Fine views of islands were had from Heishval Mor 190m, the highest point of Vatersay, from Muldoanich (photo) down to Mingulay, while Fan and James visited Eoligarry at the north end. Acarseid Mor, Eriskay, a short sail north, was the next harbour. A new pontoon for lobster boats is in place beside the pier and ongoing earthworks give sign of further development to come. Beinn Scrien 185m was added to the list of island summits while the photographers immersed themselves in their art. A moderate sea with a light following breeze made for rather rolling progress to Loch Skiport, S Uist, where we anchored in the sheltered Poll na Cairidh and devoted the remainder of the day to the three R's (reading, relaxing, reposing).
Posted by skipper at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
Thu 15 May 2008
Knoydart
With the Skipper on his own, the Marilyn theme and the fine weather continued with short trips to Inverie (photo) and Loch Hourn to climb Druim na Cluain-Airighe c500m and Beinn Mhialairigh 548m respectively. Back at Arisaig, on the return aboard of the Mate, a shopping expedition to Fort William saw stores replenished ready for the arrival of Fan and James for the next sortie. Before their arrival we enjoyed a bright, still evening - with Arisaig and views west to Eigg and Rum at their best. We left for Canna, planning to cross over the Sea of the Hebrides the next day to Barra, then gradually working our way north up the Outer Hebrides.
Posted by skipper at 03:27 PM | Comments (0)
Fri 9 May 2008
Hills and Harbours
On another fine day, but without a sailing wind, we crossed back east to the Inner Hebrides passing north of Canna and on to Kilmory Bay on the N coast of Rum, where we anchored. The bay is wide and sandy with rocky enclosing arms, and dozens of red deer were at rest on the sand or standing in the water's edge. We climbed Mullach Mor 304m, a modest hill with a big hill feature - a succession of false summits - but holding many attractive small lochans in its rough ground. The night was spent at the head of Loch Scavaig, a superb anchorage close to Loch Coruisk and the high Cuillins (photo), where we had the pleasure of meeting Norman and Gillian from 'Curlew' and spending a few hours chatting to them. In the morning we climbed Sgurr na Stri 497m and on return Andrew took an unscheduled dip as he slipped on the rocks when boarding the dinghy. Later, we headed for Mallaig Harbour to spend the last night of a very successful 'boys' week'.
Posted by skipper at 09:08 PM | Comments (0)
Marilyns
When Iain and Andrew arrived we immediately left Arisaig for Rum, dropping anchor in Loch Scresort off the old stone pier in company with four other boats. After dinner, we walked west some way along the track and on return found out that once again we had missed David and Stroma, who were over at Inverie for the night. An 0630 start next morning saw us heading for Barra, passing south of Canna and out past Hyskeir. We raised the cruising chute and had a grand sail over to Castlebay, changing down to reefed genoa as the wind got up to Force 5. As it was still early afternoon we made a leisurely ascent of Ben Tangaval, a 'Marilyn' (hill over 150m with a re-ascent of at least 150m on all sides, of which there are some 1500 throughout the UK) which Andrew was keen to climb. Next morning we anchored off Muldoanich 151m (another M, and the lowest one to qualify), which the crew climbed while the skipper kept watch aboard as the anchor was set on rock. After the short hop across to Sandray, we all climbed to its summit, Cairn Galtar 205m (yes, another M) from the lovely sandy beach at Meanish Bay. Our chosen anchorage tonight is the 'Blue Lagoon' between two outlying islands, a seldom visited spot requiring careful pilotage through the rock-strewn entry channel, where we are watched over by nesting golden eagles.
Posted by skipper at 06:23 PM | Comments (0)
Sat 3 May 2008
Back to Arisaig
On Coll we met the crews of two high speed launches which were playing the part of 'terrorists' for the multinational naval exercise taking place off the west coast of Scotland. Shortly after they set off for the day's manoeuvres we too left, sailing N up the deserted north-east coast of Coll to Sorisdale Bay, and on past the Cairns of Coll to Muck. Arriving at mid-tide, many of the drying reefs were covered, so we were careful to identify the leading line for a safe approach to Gallanach Bay and anchored well inshore. It was a very peaceful and attractive spot, with panoramic views of hills and mountains on Skye, Rum, Eigg and the mainland. We left in the morning with the forecast of a rising gale, motored across to Galmisdale on Eigg to recharge the batteries, then sailed double-reefed over to Arisaig to complete the week's circuit with Jim and Linda.
Posted by skipper at 09:35 PM | Comments (0)
Fri 2 May 2008
Call at Coll
Sailing SE from Barra across the Sea of the Hebrides, we passed through Gunna Sound which separates Coll and Tiree, and N into the anchorage at Arinagour, Coll's only village - complete with gun to repel unwanted visitors! The northern two-thirds and extreme SW tip of the island are Lewisian gneiss, its low hummocks infilled with peat bogs and lochans. The remaining third consists of very ancient metamorphosed sandstones containing quartz and marble. The west coast has a covering of wind-blown shell sand, forming dunes over 100ft high and machair suitable for grazing. The highest point is Ben Hogh at 341ft. On our walk across the island and round Cliad Bay we were delighted to have a chance encounter with Mhairi and John and young family, who were holidaying on the island.
Posted by skipper at 06:08 PM | Comments (0)