Testing the New Rigging

I was very unsure, when we motored out of Glenarm at 05:30 on the last day of May, where we might actually end up.  The wind was blowing a stiff NNW force 4-6 and our intended destination was 45 miles away, a little east of North.  However, Rosie was unconcerned by these small details and off we went (that's my girl).  I had the number 2 jib hanked on, in anticipation of a testing beat to windward.  And it was quite a busy morning.

We were hard on the wind for the whole passage, starting with a single reef then dropping to the second as Rapport's wind instrument clocked gusts of 30 knots apparent.  Since our wind instrument is a bit old and does not start turning very easily, we always suspect that it is under-reading but this looked about right.  Our heading would never get us around the west of the Mull of Kintyre but we had a powerful 3 knot tide lee-bowing us northwards.  This created very lumpy seas but swept us to windward.  Rosie likes steering to windward (and all other directions!) so she helmed and helpfully told me when we had too much sail or too little.  Reefs came and went as the wind strength varied greatly but the direction stayed fairly steady, close on the port bow.  Sadly the high angle of heel and flying spray discouraged any photography.

We rounded the Mull with plenty enough offing (the rocks do not look welcoming) and marvelled anew at the grandeur of Scotland.  As we lost the tide we could still just just make our slightly more easterly course until the grey skies cleared and the wind dropped to less than 10 knots and so we motor-sailed for a while through the choppy seas.

Approach to the Island of Gigha

As we approached the Island of Gigha we were sailing again, in flat seas and under full genoa.  We made the whole 7.5 hour journey on one port tack, which was a surprise to me.  I had half expected to be in Campbeltown instead.

On a Mooring Buoy, Beautiful Gigha - Rosie Pumping Up the Dinghy


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