We arrive at Largs Saturday in baking sunlight – most un-Scottish weather! After a foreshortened 3-hour handover from boat owner Dave (aka Heath Robinson) we set off for Port Bannatine to eat on the boat, followed by drinks in the Russian Bar, and a team building nightcap back on Island Air.
Sunday – a great sail to Portavadie via. E and W Kyle. Light airs so only 3-4 kts in our 20-tonne vessel; it was very peaceful so Peter got his tackle out ..... without success so a good job we were dining ashore.
Monday saw the wind pick up to 20kt, and the old girl responded with 8-9 kts – a great sail. After lunch anchored in Lock Gair, the crew got the dinghy out and negotiated purchase of a frozen birthday cake ashore form the local hotel to mark Dave Laws’ birthday. On a peaceful mooring buoy at Otter Ferry, where we ate in a good restaurant and made the presentation to Dave (with kind permission from the Commodore)!
Finally we donned the oilies on Tuesday, a wet day so we didn’t wear them on the flight for nothing. The day was cut short and we went to Tarbert where the many leaks in the boat were revealed. Now we know why there are so many bowls on Island Air...
Wednesday and to Lamlash Harbour in more delightful weather. 10-15kt flukey winds made for plenty of sail twitching. Peter got his fishing rod out again and after a mere 1.5 hours, was rewarded with a nice mackerel (which we duly dispatched into pate for our starter). All boats went ashore at low water for drinks in Lamlash, on the return a senior skipper gave us a useful demonstration of underwater bowline removal – such sang froid....!
After a radio “skippers meet” it was agreed that the strong 40kt gusts consistently forecast for Fri afternoon could not be ignored (depite the mostly inaccurate forecasts for the rest of the week). Therefore plans to anchor in Loch Riddon were switched to the Rothesay marina. Finally found the right setting for the sails in 15-20kt winds to get up to 7.5 kt. With a little help from the Thruster, our skipper did a perfect berthing, but unfortunately the promised video was not taken so you will have to take my word for it! The Space Station served as party boat and a great craic was had by all with a 3 a.m. finish.
A late start was made on Friday for the final short return to Largs with a few sore heads amongst the crew. This may explain the 3 pirouettes en route! With banshee-like winds building up, we were glad to have tied up early. Scotland gave of her best with the scenery, winds and relative lack of rain and plentiful wildlife: birds, porpoises and an inquisitive seal. The overall verdict of the crew was - a great weeks’ sailing!
Howard Royds
