057:09.097 N
005:47.726 W

Isleornsay Harbour, Skye

The joy of reunion is countered by the sadness of farewell, but it is better to have said hello & goodbye, than not saying hello at all; Isabelle left TC today and began her long journey back to the Isle of Wight. We are so grateful she could join us for these memorable few days and to share some of our Scotland adventure.

After a beautiful walk around the hills of Mallaig in hot sunshine that reduced us to shorts & t-shirt for a short while, we headed out into very light airs ~ after tying our heather to our bow!

Everything is relative. Yesterday we began with 7+ knots and when we were finally reduced to 2.8 knots and a tidal gate, we put the motor on. Today with no deadline, 5 knots of wind over the deck, flat seas and only 10 miles to our anchorage, we began our journey averaging 1.8 knots and felt positively delighted when it increased to 2.8.

As a result, we ghosted up the Sound of Sleat, at times 200m off the shoreline and in 100+ meters of depth. It was so incredibly peaceful we could hear skylarks all round. The gentle tide under us helped when the telltales eventually dropped away to nothing but instead of resorting to the engine, we had a cup of tea and relished just floating with 360° of outstanding scenery.

Our patience was well rewarded; suddenly out of nowhere, TC was healing in 15 knots of breeze and enjoying moving at a sensible speed once again. A slight adjustment of our course and we sailed right into our anchorage.

Stornoway Coastguard gives out 3hourly shipping forecasts for NW Scotland; not only are we getting out new Pilot Books but we discover we’ve now moved into the “Ardnamurchan Peninsular to Cape Wrath” sea area.

This is a really beautiful anchorage. As Rum, Muck and Eigg disappeared behind us, the jagged peaks of Skye grew in size. There are also so many peaks to the east of us; we are clearly well embedded in Munro country and highly amused to be sailing amongst them.