Sailing with Tarskavaig

As we are now land bound in Scotland and there could be fates worse than that, and as Aros Mear remains marina berthed in Mexico, we have been blessed with a week's sailing the Inner Hebrides. Andrew Thomson thought we should join him on his new Hanse 40. He was firmly instructed to escape the Clyde and experience the pleasures north of the Mull! Initially there were just two of us on board and made it to Lamlash for the first night. Tarskavaig sails well. With a good nights rest we set sail for Gigha for a long leg. Sailing was good but with a lot of tacking to reach Sanda and catch the fair tide. We raced along the south coast and closed the Mull of Kintyre near to shore. I had wanted Andrew to experience some of the overfalls. Failed as there were none in spite of a good flow! The wind dropped for the run up to Gigha which we reached after dark. There was enough light to pick up the red can on the approaches to the anchorage at Ardminish. I have good stories about this place from the past, but not now.

An early rise at 0500 saw us off to a good start to sail on to Craobh and then Oban.
We made good progress until the wind failed again and against a foul current but making for the east shore we picked up slack water and made Craobh in good time. Old friends in the office were a bit surprised to see me in this fine new boat, but that apart I wanted Andrew to meet the staff as he plans to charter from there next year.

Mid afternoon we set sail to pass through the Cuan Sound and initially to Puilladobhrain. That was not to be as Andrew found that a nut to the stem-head roller had gone for a swim so we headed to Oban to pick up a mooring. New crew in the morning and on to Loch Spelve for an idyllic night in the SW bay. With Gitte and Ken on board we seemed overstaffed. However the boat is geared for this number and their special skills.

The Garvellachs called us next. What a day to chose! It was perfect, blue seas and skies, white clouds and views that could not be bettered anywhere. Even Columba's mother seemed to be there to greet us (as she is, under a stone cross). From there we sailed the Corryvreckan and Dorus Mor with no frights from the swirling waters.

Andrew had managed to sort out some temporary repair to the anchor roller so we were able to avoid the fearsome midges occupying the sea lock at Crinan. Passage through the canal was without incident except for some French trying to learn the ropes! Again it was a lovely day until we emerged from from the sea lock at Ardrishaig. There was a sailboat milling about with a gigantic blue flag on the stern; a ring of stars and the Union colours in the upper corner. I have to confess that I was horrified that anyone could so deface our own flag. I slept little that night. May be that is why we had to sail the first part of the next morning in fog so that we would not be faced with it again.

A good sail around the Kyles settled me eventually and so on to Kip and a berth.Andrew has a lovely boat and ideal for charter with its easy sail management.