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Date: 30 Jul 2012 22:32:00
Title: Salen to Achadun Bay, Lismore
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56:29.93N  005:34.04W

All the forecasts were now in agreement and we were due one more day of NW'lies followed this evening by SE'lies with strengthening winds and lots of rain from Tuesday evening.   So time to head for home and a chance now to stop at Achadun Bay at the SW end of Lismore.  The day was going to be in two distinct parts - beating down Loch Sunnart in the morning then gybing down the sound of Mull in afternoon - the right order!

Loch Sunnart was again delightful.  Less than 10kts of wind but a flat sea and we wizzed along very nicely and quite efficiently.  I've re-rigged the continuous line for the main sheet traveller to give two separate lines - and this is much more effective, as is resetting it immediately before the tack rather than afterwards.  The sun shone on us all the way and we tacked around any showers very deftly.  As we emerged into the sound of Mull it all looked quite murky to the south - once again the rain clouds were flowing along the valley to Salen.  But it all progressively cleared and we kept the sun virtually all afternoon.



Once again the Sound felt like a motorway after Loch Sunnart (although maybe comparable to  a quiet midwinter's day in the Solent) and we found ourselves converging on a French flagged HR37 coming out from Tobermory.  Another race was setting up.  He had his jib poled out and then flipped into a goose-wing whilst we went for a slightly more flexible rig with the main on a preventer and the jib either the same or other side depending on our need to go round corners and things.  Despite his larger size we drew ahead and kept the lead until Lochaline, where he retired.  Ann did ask whether the other boat knew he was in a race - he clearly did and wanted to beat the Brits as much as we did the French.


We managed to sail to within 1/2 a mile of Achadun before the wind died and we motored into this lovely bay anchoring in mud in 8m.  Whilst exposed to anything north of west,  the winds set to back from west to SE/E and continue to reduce and it was quite perfect.  Some cattle appeared from near the castle and went for an evening stroll along the beach in the setting sun, followed  a little later by a flock of sheep.  Gannets entertained us to the north with a spectacular diving display against a backdrop of Loch Linnie and the mountains towards Glencoe, whilst we took supper in the cockpit.  


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