Voyage around the Inner Hebridean islands, West coast of Scotland.
14th-17th July & 22nd July to 5th August 2000

This main season voyage was from Carrick Castle, Argyll to Isle of Gigha; Isle of Kerrera; Kentallen Bay, North Argyll (moored the yacht there for 6 days); Tobermory, Isle of Mull; Kyleakin, Portree & Isleornsay, Isle of Skye; Isle of Rum; Isle of Canna; Isle of Coll; Isle of Staffa; Bunessan, Isle of Mull; Tobermory; Loch Aline, North Argyll; Kerrera, Craighouse, Isle of Jura; Port Ellen, Isle of Islay; Campbeltown, Argyll; Rothesay, Isle of Bute and back to Carrick Castle – 607 nautical miles.

Crew: Douglas Locke, Liz Evans, Calum Evans (aged 8)
Visitors: Gillan Locke (14-17.07) Gwyneth Evans (31.07-05.08)

Diary and Log Book extracts for 2000 Voyage around the Inner Hebridean islands, West coast of Scotland. There are photographs of the voyage, see the Gallery for 2000: –

14-15.07 19.00 Departed Carrick Castle for non-stop sail to Ardminish Bay, Isle of Gigha via the Mull of Kintyre. Very rough off the Mull of Kintyre! Arrived at 19.00 and anchored in calm conditions, exactly 24 hours from leaving. Minke whale accompanied the yacht for 30 minutes alongside the Isle of Gigha. Distance 98 nautical miles. Maximum wind force 5.16.07 06.00 Weighed anchor Gigha. Route up through Fladda to Isle of Kerrera, By Oban arriving Kerrera Marina at 17.00. Distance 50 nautical miles. Maximum wind force 3. Good sailing up to here.

17.07 07.00 Departed Kerrera for Kentallen Bay, North Argyll under engine arriving mooring at 10.15 to leave yacht until 22.07 and go home. Distance 19 nautical miles. No wind! Mileage to date 167.

22.07 08.50 Departed Kentallen mooring for Tobermory. Anchored Aros Bay, Tobermory at 19.30. Tobermory anchorage full!

23.07 10.45 Weighed anchor Tobermory with destination of Isle of Skye. Reached 9.7 knots through Kyle Rhea. Moored off Kyleakin just before the Skye bridge at 20.20. Fantastic sunset.

24.07 07.00 Departed Kyleakin towards Portree. Good sail up to Raasay when weather deteriorated and in F6 shortened sails. Following wind and very rough sea up to Portree arriving 11.20. Moored on HIE buoy and visited town and friends.

25.07 13.00 Departed Portree, not for Lochmaddy in North Uist as intended, as weather forecast was not good for the Minch, but back the way we had come via the Skye bridge. Anchored off Isleornsay at 18.45.

26.07 11.00 Weighed anchor Isleornsay. No wind, so motored to Loch Scresort, Isle of Rum arriving at 14.45. Quick visit ashore. Departed at 17.00 for Isle of Canna. Anchored Canna at 19.15.

27.07 11.25 Weighed anchor Canna, following visit ashore to see the two churches and the fort. Arrived Arinagour, Isle of Coll to anchor at 16.55.

28.08 10.35 Weighed anchor Coll. Called at Isle of Staffa at 13.00 for Liz and Calum to visit Fingal’s Cave whilst Douglas stood off for safety of boat in prevailing conditions. Douglas had visited Staffa before and knew the temporary anchorage was poor. Departed 14.30 for Bunessan, Isle of Mull, anchoring at 17.50.

29.07 09.20 Weighed anchor, returning to Tobermory to refuel at 15.25 and after anchoring visited town. Weighed anchor at 17.50 heading to Loch Aline. Great spinnaker sail down the Sound of Mull. Anchored at 21.00.

30.07 08.18 Weighed anchor Loch Aline. Arrived Isle of Kerrera marina, by Oban at 10.20.

31.07 07.38 Departed Kerrera with Liz’s sister, Gwyneth visiting us for a week. Arrived Garvellachs 10.43. Anchored to visit the ancient monk’s cells. Weighed anchor at 12.45 heading towards the Sound of Islay. Weather deteriorated, F7 and rough. Took shelter mooring on a HIE buoy at Craighouse, Isle of Jura. Big swell even in the shelter and interesting dinner trying to hold on to our meals on the table and eat whilst rolling!

01.08 12.35 Departed Craighouse for Port Ellen, Isle of Islay. Still fairly rough although wind decreased to F4. Moored on HIE buoy – again another unpleasant swell.

02.08 16.20 Departed mooring for more shelter alongside Port Ellen pier at 16.35.

03.08 04.50 Departed Port Ellen towards Campbeltown via the Mull of Kintyre in F5. Good sail, but GPS error giving our position 8 miles off actual position! Arrived Campbeltown pontoon at 15.10.

04.08 09.25 Departed Campbeltown for Rothesay, Isle of Bute. Reached 7.4 knots off the west coast of Arran in F3. Arrived Rothesay marina at 18.05.

05.08 07.23 Departed Rothesay for home. Arrived Carrick Castle mooring at 10.40.
A very enjoyable voyage on the yacht!

The total distance was 607 nautical miles covered in 141.68 hours at an average speed of 4.28 knots. Due to the fine weather we only managed 51.48 hours under sail, the other 90.2 hours was motor sailing. We used 210 litres of diesel at a cost of £64.87. Marina charges amounted to £27.98 at Kerrera, Campbeltown and Rothesay. The only other expense was a replacement gas cylinder at £8.95, giving a total cost of £101.80 for the 19 day voyage for three people – just £1.79 per day per person (crew only) excluding food!

Voyage MWF 6. Great holiday, we are so lucky to have the west coast of Scotland as an easily reachable sailing area.  It must be one of the best anywhere!

For photographs of the voyage, see the Gallery for 2000.

Main season voyage = 607 nautical miles.
Other sailing this year – Clyde area, Scotland = 504 nautical miles.
(Clyde area visits included Ardentinny, Argyll; Campbeltown, Argyll; Dunoon, Argyll; Greenock, Inverclyde; Lamlash, Isle of Arran; Lochgoilhead, Argyll; Millport, Isle of Cumbrae; Port Glasgow, Inverclyde; Rothesay, Isle of Bute; Sandbank, Argyll & Troon, Ayrshire)

Total miles for 2000 season = 1,111 nautical miles.

Total miles sailed since 2000  = 1,111 nautical miles.