June 4 – Aultbea to Ullapool
By Joe Barrett | June 4, 2012
Left Aultbea in Loch Ewe at 10:00 – sailed off the mooring in light winds towards the entrance which we were told would be lumpy. It was.
On leaving we had a chance to look at some of the World War 2 buildings which remain around the edge of Loch Ewe.
Aultbea in Loch Ewe is where the Artic Convoys left from and is still a NATO base today. There was no sign of the Navy though – other than the huge mooring buoys and the precise buoyage.
We motored out of the loch against a big swell before turning east for Ullapool some 20 miles away. There then followed a lovely fine-reach in glorious weather and stunning scenery. It was remarkable that we saw almost no other boats.
Joe on deck entering Loch Broom – Ullapool
Ben Mor Coigach
We sailed right up to Ullapool and picked up one of the 8 visitors moorings. Ullapool is a small fishing and ferry town. Not a lot to see but it does have a good curry house, shops and pubs. Note there are no showers or onshore yacht facilities.
Ullapool
Joe then spent a hour on the first round of repairs to the spray hood which has started to come apart due to weak stitching.
Here to provision and pick up Andrew on Wednesday. Next stop is Loch Inver.
Today’s passage details
Aultbea (loch Ewe) to Ullapool: 30nm / 6 hrs
Sailed :5 hrs / motored 1 hr
Total distance since start: 847 nm
2 Comments
Steve Garlick on June 10, 2012 at 8:33 am.
I’m interested to follow your trip. My wife and I are from Australia and we’ve just bought a Bowman 40 based in Fethiye. After a few years in the Med, we’d like to do what you’re doing.
joebarrett on June 10, 2012 at 11:07 pm.
Good luck when you do. A Bowman would be a great boat to do the round Britain in. Just arrived in Stromness after a 14 hour passage – big seas – could have done with a 40 foot boat!
Joe