Mallaig to Kyleakin

Juniper sailing round GB
Gordon and Catherine
Sun 24 Jul 2011 17:26

57:16.39N 05:43.47W Friday, forgot to say about the seal that came to inspect Juniper after we arrived in Mallaig, swimming lazily round the harbour looking at any new arrival.  Woke up Friday morning after a poor night, disturbed by fishing boats coming and going, so left Mallaig at 0550 to go across to Dun Bane Bay to pick up a mooring.   Beautiful bay, sunshine and goats on the hillside so enjoyed peaceful breakfast and lazy morning before setting off for Kyleakin.  Brisk wind, sunshine and the most spectacular scenery made for a wonderful afternoon sailing up the Sound of Sleat between Skye and the mainland, probably the best sail of the trip so far.  Seals in the water and on the shore at the top of the Sound, and then round the corner into Loch Alsh with the Skye bridge outlined against the hills.  The pontoon at Kyleakin is full so we have to raft up before meeting up with Mike and Wendy again, who’ve come up on their motorbike.  We’ve really enjoyed island hopping, from Islay to Mull and now Skye, but we’ve got our eyes firmly fixed on Cape Wrath and hope to get as far north as we can while the weather holds so it’s mainland all the way from now.