Well we finally left the canal today, in style, going down Neptunes Staircase – a set of 7 locks, in a light drizzle, no wind and plenty of Scottish midges!  As we left the canal the rain got progressively worse and the clouds lower.  We motored through some of the ‘best’ scenery we are expecting, with only the base of the hills visible, due to the cloud. 

The wind began to pick up but from dead ahead, we hoisted the main.  The wind increased some more and we put two reefs in.  Pretty quickly afterwards there was a 90 degree wind shift, the spinnaker made another bid for freedom – this was unsucessful, and the wind began to howl through the rigging.  Our third reef was called into action.  The main sail was now smaller than that of pico! 

The waves had picked up and, despite an extremely small fetch, were pretty large to be sailing side on to.  The Genoa, strapped on at the bow decided that the spinnaker had the right idea and it was time to try swimming, another trip to the foredeck with the bow going under the waves.

Half an hour later we were tucked behind an island, the sun was shinning and the wind was gone, and Becky said she had enjoyed it! (She didn’t go on the foredeck as often as I did!)  We called up Oban marina as our Canal friends were all there, only to be told there were no free berths.  We carried on regardless, found a berth next to the Danes and will shortly be having dinner with the Norwegians on the Danes boat.

Just been told it gusted a 9. The weather forecast? Cyclonic 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4!  Sorry no pictures, we were a bit preoccupied!
Mary (and Becky)

Lat: 56.4179 Long: –5.4967