Wednesday 7th July, 2021
We woke up in the anchorage at West Tarbet to find the cloud had descended. A plan to walk from the anchorage and climb the biggest of the Paps of Jura was thwarted, as it now sat with its head in thick cloud. An exciting week was ahead though, as our son Caleb was coming out to stay on the boat. We had arranged to meet him at Gigha in a couple of days, so it was time to make our way back that way.
We left Loch Tarbet after lunch and motored for a couple of miles to the entrance to the Sound of Islay to catch the south going tide. Then we put the sails up and took the light downwind airs to about halfway down the sound until just the tide was carrying us with no wind at all. Motor back on again until the end of the sound where the wind picked up and let us sail all the way across the Sound of Jura to the North end of Gigha. We anchored on the east coast of Gigha in Drumyeon bay at 8pm just in time for the England versus Denmark football match. Right next to the local mobile phone tower… good signal!
Thursday 8th July, 2021
We chilled out on the boat … waiting for Caleb!
Friday 9th July, 2021, Gigha to Loch Keills
We collected Caleb from the Gigha ferry terminal and headed back to Azimuth. Pulled up the anchor and started North up the Sound of Jura. The wind was light again, so we had to resort to motoring. A short trip took us up to Loch Keills, a small tributary loch on the East side of the sound of Jura. We anchored at the end of the loch in lovely calm conditions.
Saturday 10th July, 2021, Loch Keills to Achanarich Bay
We decided to visit the chapel at Loch Keills. Its the 12th century St Charmaig’s chapel (after St Cormac, the Irish Saint) which has been beautifully restored, albeit as a quite dull box-like structure (which presumably it once was). The roof is new and inside there is a marvellous collection of medieval grave slabs now protected from the erosive Kintyre elements.
We returned to the boat and pulled up the anchor at 1400 and took the tide North up the Sound of Jura. The tide here was crazy, especially as we transited past the end of the Gulf of Corryvreckan and Loch Craignish headland. We arrived at Achanarich Bay at 15 30 and negotiated the narrow entrance between reefs and rocks to this fine anchorage. No wind!
A great place to explore with the canoe and many resident seals who took great interest in us!
Sunday 11th July, Cuan Sound
After a peaceful night at anchor, we awoke to another windless day. Leaving at lunchtime, we drifted up the sound of Shona and then gave up on the sailing and motored in to Cuan Sound. The tide is incredibly strong through here, and negotiating the rocks in the anchorage was a challenge. However, the anchorage was very sheltered once with lots of sealife. Good phone signal which meant we could watch the England final…. doh!
Monday 12th July, Off to Kerrera for more crew!
We had to do our sums right to get out of this anchorage and through the Cuan narrows. I calculated when slack tide was, and we left to find it was no problem at all in comparison to difficulties of the previous day. Finally some wind too, and a glorious sail out in to the Sound of Mull and up to the Isle of Kerrera where we dropped the hook, took the dinghy to shore on a beach populated by cows, met some locals and determined the route to walk across the isle to get to the ferry terminal where we were due to meet Ethan and friends Jo & Tom.
It turned out to be quite a trek, and the sun beat down on us as we negotiated the rough track and hill in the middle of the Isle. A steep descent too down to the ferry terminal and a welcome rest while we waited for the new arrivals. They arrived shortly after laden down with stuff and enough crates of beer to supply a small army! Now we thought how the hell do we get the 1.5 miles back to the boat over the hill again with all this stuff. Fortunately there was enough of us to split the load. The journey back was strategically helped by a stop at the local ice cream shop for cold drinks and ice creams where you helped yourself and left money in an honesty box, very nice. We all finally arrived back at the bay where Azimuth was lying at anchor, and several dinghy trips later, all crew was installed, and cold beers had been opened!
Have to write a book one day
Watch this space!