Tobermory

The heating was back on while I was having breakfast as it was cold and the rain had returned but it was not as heavy as forecast and came and went in showers.
The wind strengthened a bit during the morning and I brought my two jerry cans to get filled up and emptied one of them into the fuel tank.

Roy and Patricia helped me leave my berth and I motored out into the bay, hoisting a reefed main.
Roy and Herbie were close behind but didn't hoist any sail for a while. Both have in-mast reefing.

Once they hoisted sail I unfurled my genny to the second reef and Eureka lifted her skirts and flew across the Firth of Lorn at 6 plus knots in 20 knots of wind.
I had no problem keeping ahead of the two 42's and they in turn stated later that they were impressed by Eureka's speed. However I had no wife aboard to tell me "she's heeling too much!"

I notice the two boats were keeping to a more northerly course and keeping north of Lady's Rock off Lismore Island while I kept to the deeper water south of it. They had been sailing in these waters before, I hadn't.

When we got into the Sound of Mull, the wind became westerly and on the nose. We all dropped sails and motored.
I kept pace with Roy and Herbie. The sound was a busy place with plenty of yachts as well as the odd ferry. You had to pay attention and keep both eyes open including for overtaking vessels.

Luckily the weather had improved, the showers were almost gone and the sun was attempting to reappear but it was still a bit chilly.

Once the sound became more northerly I again unfurled the genny and added a knot to my speed as I motorsailed along.
We were all able to sail till Calve Island off Tobermory when we furled sails again and motored into the harbour.

The long line of quayside houses painted in bright colours was just what I remembered from all the photos I had seen of the town over the years.
There was a children's programme based on Tobermory called 'Balamory' and I almost expected to see some of its characters when I got ashore.

I upset the skipper of a big Belgian yacht when I passed him in the harbour. I think he thought I was after his berth. I knew that at 70-80ft in length he was too big for the marina and would have to anchor or pick up a visitor mooring which he did later.
Instead of angrily gesturing at me in French or Flemish as I shrugged my shoulders and replied in Irish, he should have read his pilot book!
I didn't interfere with his navigation so I don't know what his problem was.

I waited till Roy and Herbie had tied up at 18.30 and then they assisted me in tieing up.
A Dutch tall ship which had being following us up the sound tied up at the main pier in from of the town.

Each boat kept to themselves that evening and I later wandered up the town and did a bit of window shopping. There was plenty of tourist shops and restaurants to keep me occupied.
I returned to Eureka at 21.00 and put on a dinner of spuds, carrots and a Cornish pasty washed down with a can of beer.

A dvd almost put me to sleep but I waited till I was finished my dinner before going to my berth.Read more