Monday 18^th September, 2006

Anchorage Loch Na Keal

Position 56°28.500 N 006°00.800 W

Distance surveyed 32 nm

Sleep enhanced by double dose of Cragganmore. Forecasts fresh to strong SE veering W gales Tuesday /Wednesday. Visit to town for essential supplies ( wine ran out ). Silurian heads out towards Treshnish Isles with first ever Swiss helmsman ( Phil ) in command, loosely speaking . We clip along in a brisk SE, Susie reporting good porp acoustics but views obscured by lumps of dark grey water. Still good but banks of black cloud to SW. Sea and wind frisky on a Northerly tack veering boisterous on a SW tack towards Iona. Observation pairs lashed to the mast refreshed by spray and horizontal rain. Wind now gusting upto 35knots, Silurian bowling along at 6-7 knots. Another northerly tack past Staffa and Fingal's cave in increasingly interesting conditions. Finally heading ENE towards Loch Na Kael in conditions now described , by Rob, as officially nasty! Rob experimenting with angle of heel volunteers queueing up for data duty (except me). Duncan calls out 'Basking Shark' ( another shag ) and Alex emerges on deck with coffee jug which he helpfully tips out on the windward side. Rob and Allie at the stern immensely grateful for exfoliating coffee spray. Dramatic entrance to Loch in driving rain with squalls funnelling down off Ben More. Rob determined to keep starboard side of hull as dry as possible. By 4.30pm at anchor in the lee of Ben Fharda. A couple of hours steaming quietly in the cabin intellects sharpened by Martin's impromptu presentation on VAT. By 6.30pm cloud is broken and light streams in from the West – brilliant rainbow. Great days sail – sensational coast. Then Susie does great risotto. A good day.

H, volunteer, UK

# posted by HWDT @ 5:18 AM