Tuesday 26 June (Croabh to Oban) Once again the Met Office reports made it clear that if we wanted to make a safe passage further north we would only have today to do it, before the "NW F6-7, occ gale 8" set in, so we refuelled and made a start at 1130 for the 18nm passage to Oban. This was another scenically stunning passage, through the Sound of Luing (pron. 'Ling') and the Cuan Sound. The latter is yet another route that needs the full information o...

Monday 25 June (Crinan to Craobh)The morning forecast for the next few days was still fairly awful, but it looked like the only good window would be this morning. The other consideration was catching the correct tide through the Dorus Mor, another of the notorious passages with eddies, overfalls, and Spring currents of 6 knots or more, and this morning we would have the tide behind us, albeit still against the wind. So we made quick preparations and got out with ...

Sunday 24 June (Crinan Canal)Before 0800 two other yachts were clearly preparing to hit the first lock into the canal, so we quickly got our act together in order to have as much help with the locks as possible. There are 14 locks and three bridges along the 9 miles, ascending to the summit and then descending into Crinan, and it would be a Herculean task to go through with just two of us. The crews of Myline and Tigh Soluis were incredibly helpful and efficient,...

Saturday 23 June (Tarbert to Ardrishaig)This was a fairly short sail, but accomplished under canvas again the whole way, and this time without the showers. We were helped into the sea lock of the Crinan Canal by the lock-keepers, who then gave us instructions and the key to the showers, in exchange for £95.06 for our passage through the canal!We explored the main street, rather over-full of unpleasant youths and noisy but harmless drunk men, and had a coupl...

Friday 22 June (Rothesay to Tarbert via the Kyles of Bute) Rose early and was showered with birthday presents from Cath, and set off round the Kyles of Bute, arguably the jewel in the crown of Clyde sailing. The weather was kind to us most of the day, and we sped up the East Kyle at up to 6 knots under full sail, both of us enjoying getting properly into the swing of things, gybing our way nicely up the channel before the SW wind. The wind was as flukey as always...