June2 – Portree to Loch Gairloch
By Joe Barrett | June 2, 2012
Left Portree in light winds after the early morning gusts had subsided. NE F4 to 5 with F6 later the forecast. The plan was to get across to Loch Gairloch, 25 nm to the NE, before the F6 came in.
Sailed off the mooring and out into the Sound of Raasey. We then tacked up the sound in F4 and all was well with world. As we got to the top of the Sound the wind increased to F6 with the swell from the Minch as well.
Loch Gairloch – only 10 miles!
On our way across we noticed the depth instrument reading between 3 and 6 metres? Having read about this in other peoples accounts that submarines like to stalk yachts in the Sound of Rassey we where ready for one to surface at any moment.
A long 10 nm tack took us across a lively confused sea to the entrance of Loch Gairloch where we expected to find more sheltered conditions. No chance!
It was blowing just as hard, 28 knots most of the time in the loch, just it had been out at sea!
We were aiming for a small harbour called Flowerdale – in Loch Gairloch – which was sheltered from the north. When we arrived it was wonderfully sheltered and we came alongside a welcoming Dutch boat on the pontoon.
We are now licking our wounds and eating a couple of steaks with red wine. A good days sail.
Off to Loch Ewe tomorrow – 30nm to windward again!
Todays Passage stats
Portree to Loch Gairloch: 40 nm / 7 hrs
Sailed: 7 hrs / Motored: 10 mins
Total distance since start: 786nm
2 Comments
Bob and Jean on June 2, 2012 at 9:11 pm.
Well done you guys. Good to have met you in Plockton and hope we see you on the East coast. We continued to have thoughts about going over the top but seeing the forecast for later in the week we finally decided to go via the Caledonian. After Plockton we had a short sail to Kyle of Lochalsh and then onto Loch Nevis bounded by the Knoydart Peninsular. We sailed down from Loch Nevis today, so nice to have a broad reach for once, sympathise with you still having to beat into neasterlies! We’re nicely tucked into a finger berth in Tobermory tonight and will head off to Oban and Fort William to start the Canal sometime early next week. Best of luck to you! Cheers. Bob and Jean
Joe Barrett on June 4, 2012 at 7:30 am.
Bob, Jean, – given the last few days you made a good decision re the Caledonian. Now in Loch Ewe still plagued with NE’s. Hope to catch up with you on the east coast. Note we can see where you are using an iPhone AIS app which lets you find boats by name – will keep an eye on you! Will also put a link to your blog on the sidebar of ours. Good sailing – Joe and David.