ever southwards

It is funny how your perspective changes. I am aware that this phase of the journey is coming to an end and I find myself thinking about the dull logistics of picking up the car, making arrangements for the safe storage of Harmony for two months, ordering anti-foul, varnish, deep cleaning the boat. Suddenly I find that the joy and adventure of the journey is being replaced with real life.
We left Lochinver on a brilliant sunny morning – tee shirts and shorts by seven in the morning. The wind was light and variable – coming from every direction. The journey took us through the summer isles which is a small cluster of around six or seven little islets with some fabulous natural harbours.
At one point there is a low tide beach of white coral sand.
We headed into Ullapool and picked up a mooring for the night. We did not even leave the boat.
Ullapool was full of people, caravans, chips shops – it seemed horribly crowded.
The next morning I dropped the mooring at about 6.30 while jill stayed in bed. Eventually the wind filled in and we even had the spinnaker up for a bit as the last headland drove us on westwards towards the Hebrides. Already we could feel that the weather was on the change. It was still warm with light winds but there was a mist starting to appear. We had the spinnaker up for a while but pretty soon the engine was on again.
Eventually the throbbing of the engine got to both of us and we decided to pull into Gairloch. There was no space on the pontoons so we picked up a mooring, inflated the dinghy and went ashore for a walk – but the midges were starting so we came back to the boat.
This morning (Saturday) we headed out into Gareloch and I noticed a phone mast so I checked the weather only to find that the wind was going to be in the south and the rain was due to start at about 12 and keep going for six hours

So we went back to the mooring – re-inflated the dingy and resumed the walk where we got beaten by the midges.
Then the rain came so we retreated to tihe boat and have spent the afternoon sitting reading – this evening we watched les Mis on the laptop and jill cried for at least the last hour of it.
After the first 90 minutes I was bored. S I write this we sit in a slightly damp boat – we have hardly seen a glimpse of the sun and there is no internet.
The forecast for the morning looks like a northerly – good light – 16 degrees and with just the occasionaly shower so my plan is to head south for as long aqs we can heading for Arisaig. It should be a spectacular sail down the Kyles of Lochalsh – which the sound between Skye and the mainland.
If we have a good day we can get to Arisaig in one day – or two easy days.

blues

greece

the art of navigation

spinnaker 1

ullapool 1

kyle 1

freighter

clouds 1

yacht

bridge

This is about Dylan Winter's Blog, Sailing around Britain.

7 Responses to “ever southwards”

  1. 27 July, 2014 at 9:17 amIan Owers says:

    Great stuff Dylan, don’t forget to stop in Plockton as you go south ..

  2. 27 July, 2014 at 5:58 pmRob says:

    Ha, the Gairloch time vortex strikes again. We’ve been stuck there quite often. Snooks got mired in there with engine problems. Hope you make it out in one piece.
    If you’re passing Kyleakin I’ll look out for you.

  3. 27 July, 2014 at 8:06 pmdylan winter says:

    we escaped

    in the Kyle of lochalsh now

    double moored beside a massive yacht owned by a very nice man

    D

  4. 27 July, 2014 at 11:42 pmWarren says:

    The midges sound rather ugly, … Like Alaska Mosquitos, Florida ‘no see uhms’, Adirondacks black flies.. Etc.
    Why do all the best places have the bugs?
    Derfinatly worth avoiding .
    Making a destination is also a great feeling. Enjoy it.
    Warren

  5. 31 July, 2014 at 1:38 pmgiles says:

    Dylan! I got caught last year by midges in the Trossachs… Very uncomfortable. I found ‘Jungle Formula’ which keeps the little buggers at bay. Very effective, thoroughly recommend it.
    Cheers, Giles

  6. 2 September, 2014 at 9:20 pmDave Barker says:

    What? Haven’t any of you heard about “Skin so Soft” lotion by Avon? It’s great for keeping midges and mosquitoes away. Find your local Avon lady and order a ton of the stuff (I have no financial or any other interest in Avon products). It really works, honest!
    Dylan, since I discovered KTL my wife thinks I must be looking at naughty things on my computer every night. “No no, nautiCAL” I said. Enjoying your videos so much it almost makes me want to go back to Blighty – almost..
    Dave

  7. 4 September, 2014 at 1:42 pmNick Viner says:

    Dylan’s videos save me the trouble of going back.
    It is lovely to see all the Essex / Suffolk rivers I used to know so well.
    Have now lived in Australia for forty two years.

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