The return voyage from Largs.

The delivery crew of Steve, Colin, Jessie, Chris and Jim were all keen to get going from Largs. With a forecast for the next 48 hours of E4/5 we were looking forward to some good sailing. We charged out of the marina, up went the sails, down went the wind, down came the sails and we were forced to motor to our first nights destination of Lamlash. We anchored just off the Buddhist retreat on Holy Island, a very picturesque setting.






Ailsa Craig slides by



Day 2 dawned and by 08.45 we were heading south towards Ailsa Craig, The Mull of Galloway and home. The forecast however had different ideas, predicting SE6/7, what happened to that pleasant E4/5? Down past Ailsa Craig and Loch Ryan we had a pleasant easterly but on rounding the headland at Loch Ryan the wind veered and increased to a SE 6/7 (as forecast) occasionally gusting to gale force winds. After some hours of tacking and getting nowhere against a foul tide the decision was made to go close inshore and motor. The coastline was interesting enough with Portpatrick looking like a very pleasant little harbour, but we pressed on. Finally having missed the tide at the Mull of Galloway we anchored very close inshore at Port Logan some 7 miles north of the Mull. It offered us just enough protection to get some hard earned kip.



Is it really that cold out there?



Up at 04.30 the next morning we weighed anchor and were on our way by just before 5am. The wind had diminished but what there was still from the wrong direction so we motored past the Mull and through the overfalls. With the favourable tide we raced around the Point of Ayre on the northern tip of the Isle of Man. At this point the wind died altogether and we motored through the poor visibility passed the wind farms and finally to anchor at the end of the river Lune to wait for the tide to take us to Glasson. Having had a very enjoyable Pasta Carbonara for supper we weighed anchor at 11.45 for the night time Pilotage up the river. The mist had gone and everyone enjoyed a settled trip, picking out the lights of the next buoy in turn. We entered the outer harbour at 01.10 and tied up to the harbour wall waiting to be locked in the next day.

Home safe and well we did a lot more motoring than we wanted but with SE 7/8 on the weekend forecast we were pleased to in a safe haven.