CHANGE OF RV FOR IMPENDING CREWS

Aquila
Alan and Sarah Bennett
Fri 29 May 2015 17:40

56:41.6N 6:07.1W


After a sumptuous tuna pasta bakeon Thursday evening


 
 

and a peaceful night at anchor in Brevig Bay, Barra, the skipper took advantage of the improved connectivity in our anchorage, allowing a full download of met for the next few days.  The depression currently brewing off Greenland continued to show every promise of winding itself in a real tizz once it reaches the Hebrides and parks itself there for 48 hours.   Having considered the likelihood of both ferry and flights to Barra accordingly being disrupted, and chewed the issue over with Hugh and Nicky, and Sarah – all three who are due to join in the next few days, a mutual decision was taken to amend the crew change RV to Tobermory, Mull. Thank you to all involved for your flexibility and positive attitudes.  Apart from improving the chances of joining a still floating boat, this new plan will at least give us a good choice of restaurants if we get storm bound for a few days.


Aquila accordingly weighed anchor after breakfast, and enjoyed a very easy downwind sail to the NW end of the Sound of Mull.  This was probably the best sailing day we’ve had:

  

 
 


The sun shone, the rain held off, the temperature got above 12 degC, and the genoa alone was needed on the dead run, giving us a steady 6kts.  Stuart appeared to thoroughly enjoy it, and lunch:


 
 

 

Or maybe Aquila had picked up an escaped inmate from the local jail!

It seemed no time at all that we’d covered the 45m to Ardnamurchan Point

 
 

 

and still the rain held off – although it was a close run thing as we entered the Sound of Mull:

  

 
 


Another hour and we were secured to one of the four visitors’ buoys in Kilchoan, on the south side of Ardnamurchan.  Tomorrow, in advance of the load of rubbish due to hit sea area Hebrides in the evening, Aquila will sail the 10 miles to Tobermory to await her co-owner and new crew – and to shelter from the elements.