Sunday 18th July, 2021
Loch Aline is a very protected all weather anchorage, surrounded by hills on all sides and a very narrow entrance at one end. We anchored at the far end from the entrance not far from the Aline Estate castle(s), one of which looks very much like something out of Disney. So after fixing the windlass (broken switch) and the outboard engine, we took a trip to shore and walked right round the loch to the little village. Its a beautiful estate and a nice walk along the shore of the loch past the sandstone mine where they produce crystal white fine sand. We watched the Mull ferry leave through the narrow channel and arrived at the village to find the shop shut!
Monday 19th July, Loch Aline to Loch Drumbuie
We found the spare parts for the traveller buried deep in a locker and we fixed the traveller, reinserting the 100 torlon balls without losing any of them. Then we took another trip to the village, this time in the dinghy and with about half of the beer bottles (at least two sacks!) that Ethan and co had kindly left us on our trip round Mull! This time the shop was open for supplies, including lots of local produce from the Aline Estate. Also open was the local cafe called the snack shack that serves the people waiting for the ferry to Mull. It was busy but we enjoyed a local venison burger. Get back to Azimuth, we pulled up the anchor and sailed the North going tide up the Sound of Mull past Tobermory and in to the narrow entrance of Loch Drumbuie, on the south side of the entrance of Loch Sunart. Its another enclosed all weather anchorage, although due to its depth, its difficult to find an anchorage. All the good spots had already been taken by other boats.
Tuesday 20th July, One month out!
Time to head further north, and today we planned to round Ardnamuchan point, the most westerly point on mainland UK. We left Lock Drumbuie at 11am in bright sunshine. The winds were very light and fickle and made sailing interesting in the busy Sound of Mull. Winds from 2 knots up to 13 knots at times meant a lovely relaxed take your time sail through spectacular scenery. Huge mountains and blue skies.
At one point we watched a 250m metre cruise liner edge its way in to Tobermory harbour entrance, presumably so all the tourists could take pictures? Not sure why you would bring a boat this large up the sound? Still they had to observe the rules of the road and give way to sail! Then we got buzzed by the Isle of Lewis Ferry steaming past at 20 knots.
The wind was kind and we had a lovely sail past Ardnamurchan point lighthouse and by mid afternoon, we edged in to the anchorage behind the reef at Sanna Bay. We were lucky that the weather was so nice, as its a very exposed point, and the anchorage is open to the west. The outer reef kills the atlantic swell, but it was still rolly. Worth staying though for the fine beaches, the views of the the small isles and the mountains of Rum, and what turned out to be one of the best sunsets of the trip.
Ferries got their own rules
Good idea to put the boss in the front and put your feet up with a beer. Bit a paint on the outside sorted. Looked like Alisa found the beers in the canoe telling you off haha