Kerrera to Loch Don, Mull

Swallow
Chris Adams
Mon 29 May 2023 22:36
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Monday 29 May 2023


Morning delivered the day promised - clear skies, wall to wall sunshine but no wind.  We’re very taken with the modest moorings at Heather Island - they deliver excellent shelter, look in excellent condition and give tremendous views down the sound and across Oban Bay.  We didn’t have time to go ashore today - but Ardentrive Farm who own the moorings also have an excellent farm shop that we've visited when anchored at Oitir Mhor and a very appealing/photogenic herd of highland cattle.

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We waited for Waverely to depart on her next cruise before dropping the mooring and motoring out across the bay, north of Kerrera.  Having missed Loch Don last night I wanted to take advantage of the settled conditions to visit today - and expected to motor all the way.  But once clear of the centrance channel we picked up just enough wind to sail - initially 4.5 kts boat speed from 6 kts of true wind but then a little nore wind and the perfect angle for a close reach across the Firth of Lorn.

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We were at the entrance to Loch Don a couple of hours before high water and relying on the excellent Antares chart slowly worked our way to the main 6.1m pool.  This is a remarkable place - a little reminiscent of Newtown Bay on the Isle of Wight - but after several twists around spits you arrive in a decent pool with good holding in sand/soft mud (not the sort that sticks to your anchor chain!) - completely landlocked. Not much shelter from wind but isolated from any sea - somewhere we’re very happy to have visited but probably won’t rush back to.

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