There are all sorts of hazards at sea - not least these 40 knot
ferries - the HSS travels across our path between Stranraer and Belfast.The unsettled forecasts continue - and we've already lost a couple of days, so with a forecast of SSE 4-5 (Poss 6) Veering SW, we decided to carry on for the Clyde - perhaps stopping at Lamlash.
As we left Bangor, the winds were much lighter than yesterday - and of course, with land to windward, there was no swell :-)
Once out past Mew Island, the swell gradually returned - well what do you expect after days of strongish southerly winds? Who called this boat Tidewinder? - it has certainly been winding and corkscrewing this past couple of days - still better to have 20-30 knots behind you than in front like a couple of poor yachties we passed going the other way!
There are all sorts of hazards at sea - not least these 40 knot
ferries - the HSS travels across our path between Stranraer and Belfast.
Note in today's pix the compulsory lifejacket and harness which have
become second skin in these lumpy seas!
Ailsa Craig, is an enormous volcanic plug - from which famous granite curling
stones (called 'Ailsa's for some obscure reason!) were cut. It is also known as 'Paddy's
Milestone' as it lies approximately half way between the Upper Clyde and Belfast. - It
usually dominates the passage - but not today, as it was so overcast and misty we couldn't
see it till just 5 miles off - still up to this point we had avoided the rain - even if
the wind was, by now 25-30 knots, with a steep quartering sea!
Well, it did appear eventually - and even cast off it's cap of cloud (almost) for this picture - which, incidentally has been digitally enhanced to get rid of much of the gloomy greyness! We are approximately 8 miles away at the time we took this.
Rolling along, we continued to make good progress - surfing down the waves at speed - which if not exactly comfortable was, none-the-less well within the boat's capabilities. We decided to head on for our old hunting-ground of Largs Yacht Haven - and the lure of a curry par excellance at the Koh-I-Noor.
Just off, Largs we caught a glimpse of Waverley - the world's last
sea-going paddle steamer. She used to be a common sight when we did our sailing in the
Clyde.
We arrived off Largs - with the swell even following us right up
the Largs Channel, at 19:30 - a very fast passage time of just 10 hours for 75 miles - and
an average speed of 7.5 knots. Koh-i-Noor called, then bed, bed, bed!
That unusual of days, a nice one! The wind was still whistling a bit in the marina - but the forecast was improving. We took the opportunity of getting the engine serviced (it's worked hard recently!), and ordering some covers and 'flood flaps' from the resident sailmakers. Carol Fulton joined the crew - and Ann and Carol also took the chance to visit the supermarket and stock up on victuals.
We left Largs a bit late at 2:45pm to get to the Ardrishaig Sea
Lock on the Crinan Canal before shutting time - 8pm. We actually saw Arran today -
with the mountains whose silhouette is know as the 'Sleeping Warrior' - because it
resembles one!
We'd to plough on a bit to get into the canal before closing -
but the powerful Yanmar, fresh from its service, maintained 7.5 knots, and got us there
with 5 minutes to spare!
The Crinan is another Telford showpiece - built to help craft avoid
the rather dangerous route around the Mull of Kintyre. Although originally 'completed'
without Telford, it was he who corrected design and construction errors and made the canal
workable. It was used by the famous Clyde Puffers of Para Handy fame - and these small
steam lighters, which just fit the canal's locks, were a vital supply route long before
the West of Scotland had a reasonable road network. There are one or two of these craft
still about - and we were once followed through the Crinan canal by 'Auld Reekie' on a
previous trip.
Although we got into the Ardrishaig basin, the canal itself closes at 5.30pm -
so we pulled in to get the tea on!
Tomorrow's challenge is the rise to 68 ft above sea level. Tonight's challenge is to avoid the Scottish Midge - in its element in the damp canal basin - flying tigers they call them!