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Morvenna 2023Morvenna 2023
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Morvenna 2023

April 2023 - May 2024
First year of our sailing trip in our Ovni 435 Morvenna. Looking forward to some great adventures with Rob and Gretel Shaw Read more
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  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 21

    Strangord loch

    April 23, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Yet another up wind day, but sunny. Getting through the entrance to Strangford lock had to be accurately timed. The book said 4 to 6 knots and we had more than 7 in reality. A beautiful drift past the various small towns in the entrance and into the main loch. We picked up a bouy outside Killyleagh yacht club not knowing who it belonged to. We decided to head to town for supplies and to find a place for Mark to watch the football. First stop was the Pub in town which was busy and noisy but had a back room with a TV. We ordered food and convinced the landlord to switch the teller to the foot ball. All settled in, Guinness food and the best seats in the TV area. A big lad with a thick northern Irish accent approached. We thought we might be in his seat. He said “did you boys come on that yacht”. Yep, I said thinking he was not to happy. In a totally Irish way he said “ I’m not sure its big enough for your boat I will have a ring round and ask” turned out he was part of the yacht club. He came back and said “you will be fine there”. Who do we pay, I said. Don’t worry about that, he said its good to have you here, have a good time. And off he went. We felt very at home after that shopped in the coop before returning to the boat.

    Strangford Loch Clearly has a plenty of beautiful inland sailing and it was a shame to be rushing off in the morning    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 22

    Bangor

    April 24, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    This was a hop of about 40 miles up the coast, up wind as always but we were getting ever closer t e the Highlands. Banghour would give us the opportunity to fill up with fuel and to have go into town for food. Which Paul was pleased about.Read more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 23

    Rathlin Ireland

    April 25, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    I’d was keen to go back to Rathlin, it was more than 10 years since I had been there, and it wanted to see if it had changed. We had a perfect hop up the coast in glassy conditions, a few dolphins and a burnt nose. Paul cooked spaghetti carbonara which is is his signature dish, before we went to the pub. Paul set me up with Antares maps and a bunch of destinations to visit as we head up the west coast. (mostly good restaurants) they were all great stopsRead more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 24

    Campbeltown

    April 26, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Campletown was to be the place where Paul got off, and caught the 4 hour bus back to Glasgow and the family. We started reasonably early from Rathlin and managed a 7 knot beam reach across to the Mull in perfectly clear conditions. We had a practice with different boat set ups and balances and had the helm light enough to steer with 1 finger. Buy the time the tides had pushed us round the mull towards Sanda Island the wind was on the Wayne. Time for “the Donk” to push us round the corner.
    Paul booked his bus for first thing in the morning, so there was one last chance for a pint and a meal. Cant remember the name of the first pub we went in but it was tiny. Strangely busy in the afternoon although quiet. Paul said to the bar man quiet in here like a funeral. He hadn’t noticed all the black ties and dark suits. “Yes it is” said the bar man one of the regulars”. OOps best move on after this pint .
    Was great to have Paul for 10 days great company and easy going sailor not a cross word, and his spaghetti carbonara not to bad either. Look forward to sailing with him again.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 25

    Tarbet

    April 27, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Mark and I decided to have a nice downwind sail to Tarbet. Not too far but nice to be sailing downwind on my birthday. Lighter drizzle from time to time but on the hole great to be in the highlands it it is starting to feel like an adventure. WWE sailed passed Aarons high peaks and I remember Paul had said it is often known as little Scotland. Once in Tarbet we walked into town past the new modern marina facilities. Had a a pint in a local, and found langoustines for birthday tea all in all not too bad a birthday.Read more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 26

    Aaron

    April 28, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We didn’t have a plan for the last week or 2 of Marks sailing time, but now, looking at the weather we decided between us to have a few days in the Clyde area and give Mark as many new experiences as possible. Mark was to get off in Largs but we had made good enough progress north that we would drop him off further north.
    For no particular reason apart from the wind direction out mental plan was a day in Aaron and day in The kyles do Bute And then round the Mull to Giga, one of Paul’s recommendations. So in thick fog patches we headed to Aaron,down wind again. Mark practices his Nav with dead reckoning and bearings when he could. I was re assured that Students stil;l learn this and Mark was enjoying practicing.
    It was great to arrive at the mooring in north west Aaron as the fog cleared and this early in the season there was almost no one there. The water glassed off and we went ashore in the dinghy. Everything was closed, so we took a walk up the river to see if there was any likely trout fishing.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 27

    Crinan Canal

    April 29, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Woke up in Aaron, with a nagging feeling that going round the Mull was going to be a bit of a pain. Completely spontaneously a plan was hatched to take the boat through the Crinan Canal. With absolutely no plan of what how or who, we retraced our step up loch Fyne past Tarbet and on towards the entrance of the canal. During the sail I was downloading apps and doing my best to book a time and birth to transit the canal, that day. I thought I had succeeded.
    On arrival at the sea Lock there was a boat called Samba waiting there turn to enter the loch. We had had instruction from the lock keeper to come straight in so we were looking like we were jumping the queue. Samba sprang to life and managed to pull out in front of us. In the spirit of fair play we hit the breaks and let them in ahead of us. Little did we all know at the time what a fateful move this would be.
    Fenders out ropes at the ready we slid into the first lock behind samba. No I hadn’t read the skippers instructions for the canal, so had absolutely no idea about how it all worked. The canal had a maximum draft recommendation of 2.5 metres. Which the loch ladies suggested was hopeful. I decided to lift some keel to be on the safe side.
    Some nice ladies at the top of the 20 ft lock wall offered to take out lines and began to offer advice which was good. A third lady came out of the office as our boat rose to the top of the first lock and suggested I came in and sorted out the paperwork mess I had created with my last minute app booking. As it turned out I had booked and paid twice for the transit. I hadn’t booked a spot to moore up as we would make it all the way through that day. In a kind Scottish voice she said, don’t worry happens all the time ill get it all changed now and the refund will get processed in the week. Perfect. I said. Her last comments were based on Mark and I not looking like the most nimble of old blokes with a big boat. “You should make friend with guys on the other boat as you will need a hand with all the locks and rope handling and you will be travelling together to save water in the system. Mark and I went straight outside and started making conversation.
    Samba belongs to Mike and Sarah (brother and sister) although I spoke to them as if they were an item for the first day. And they had there friend James and Lizzie sailing with them. Sarah and Lizzie helped us through every Lock taking lines and always with a bit of banter. They rapidly became known “Lock Maidens” we had had a night out all together halfway through the canal, and a firm friendship was formed.
    Day 2 of the canal we up early for showers and the Maidens were ready to go bright and early. Light drizzles was the order of the day. And only 8 Lochs left to be freed back into the sea. We were all dripping wet but it was fun every stop. After a quick beer on the grass while Mike changed his Impeller, we were ready for the final Lock and some sailing freedom.    Read more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 29

    Trip To Mull Loch Spell

    May 1, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Both boats anchored just to the west of the Canals exit on the sea side of a small island, Romantically called west anchorage,on the chart. I offered to cook dinner for all. Sounding as if I did this all the time. I picked the gang up from there boat in the dingo and they clanked there way across. A session was on the cards. I think Lizzie must have heard about my signature rissotto as she came with “hello fresh” and a lot of suggestions to help me on the way. The final meal even had limp leaves on the top. Looked great. We drank all there beers all our rum and quite a bit wine. Total success for a spontaneous night in. We hatched a plan for the following days sailing. Take the tide up to the Cuan sound then into Easdale (might be a bit shallow) for lunch then on to an anchorage. What could go wrong. Mike got a head start in the morning, about half a mile, while Mark and I raffled about sailing off the anchor, which I love to do. The race was on. Fat heavy Ovni with waterline length versus samba about 30 foot of long keel. It was a light wind race and the boats were pretty even at about 6kts of breeze any more we gained any less Samba got away. Sarah was in full concentration mode on the helm of Samba and put in some big luffs to keeps us behind. Finally on the last straight section to Cuan the wind filled in and Morvennas waterline length finally paid off. We had judged the tide for Cuan pretty well and were sucked through with no great traumers although I did cut the Conner more than was wise. Easedale next stop. The sun was out and about 10kts of breeze mad for a pleasant short hop round. It was too shallow for mike and the gang to be comfortable so we went straight to the secluded anchorage. What a spot that was.Read more

  • Morvenna 2023
    Day 31

    Anchorage near oban

    May 3, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We had seen this little stop off anchorage in the guide book and it looked perfect protected all round and the weather was forecast to be glorious. Have a look on the map. It could not have been more perfect.
    We snuck in out of the wind. It was mirror flat and we were going to have a swim.
    Mark and I riveted our reefing rings to the mast while I Sykes myself up for the big dip.
    There was a big splash next to Samba a James was on his way over. He is a hardened cold water swimmer so this gave me no confident that it was warm. Next on deck was Sarah and Lizzie in there swimming cossys there was a bit more huffing and puffing a squeaking on entry but in they went. The pressure was on to take a dip. And there was no where to hide. A slick dive, not. Followed bay a rapid and nun to graceful scramble up the boat ladder and the joy of wild swimming was mine.
    That evening we decided to go on a dinghy adventure. Lizzie and Sarah ended up being in with us and the boys powered off down the coachman sound with us following (towards the bridge over the Atlantic) the water was clear shallow and fast moving and it wasn’t long before Mike and James bravery had seen them motor to a spot we couldn’t follow. So we turned and punched tide back up the sound. WE thought they were brave but they had run out of fuel and were drifting back towards the Cuan sound. When we, me mark and the girls got back to the boats Lizzie and Sarah launched and SARS mission and started putting on warm cloths and packing food into backpacks. By the time the rescue plan was ready to be executed, Mike and James had scrounged some fuel off a nice chap near the bank and self rescued through the sound. What a relief.    Read more

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