We left McDuff on the Saturday morning after the race, fully dried out heading for Arisaig on the west coast via the canal.
First day was to be a lesiurely sail to Lossiemouth, a mere 20 miles down the coast. There was little wind to speak of and what there was, was on the nose - little option then to motor sail.
Plenty of room for visiting boats although dredging operations were in hand which added to the excitment coming in!
.
.
The wind picked up overnight so for the following days sail down to Inverness we were looking at a hard beat into a F5-6.
That's excactly the way it turned out so it was an early start to get to Clachnaharry sea lock at the end of the canal before it closed for the evening and the ebb spring tide started under the Kessock bridge.
We arrived around 3.30pm, navigated the seal lock and found a berth in the Seaport Marina.
If anyone's passing that way, we can recommend the Clachnaharry Inn - about 10 mins walk away. Great beer and the food is not too shabby. It's been good value each time we have been there.
Grand slam at the top of the Muirton locks. The Norweigian boat Ventus (who took part in the North Sea race)and Elise (manned by Sherkin's crew - from the 2006 race) are in the lock behind us.
Ventus, Elise and ourselves were joined by Purple Puss, a Dehler 39 who had sailed over from Norway ahead of the race and had been in McDuff with the race fleet.
The first days sail through the canal was slow with delays at Muirton and almost each lock as we moved to Loch Ness.
As always the wind was hard on the nose in Loch Ness (it is always a south westerly) with the usual short chop.
We got to the bottom of the flight in Fort Augustus around 8 ish which was just enough time to get a table in the Bothy restaurant. Another great pint or three in company with the other 3 boats.
The next day started cloudy with the first locking up the Fort Augustus flight about 10 O'Clock. The wind not quite as strong but still on the nose so motoring all the way.
More delays at Laggan Locks. Some clever person had driven into the barriers at Laggan Bridge and for some reason - never fully explained - there was only one British Waterways person- operating the Laggan lock and Laggan bridge. This meant about a 3 hour delay in getting through this stretch.
All the delays meant we reached Gairlochy just as the lock was closing which left us stranded with no pub and the brand new toilets and showers not yet commissioned! The four boats were joined by Model Bee so we just had to provide our own fun.
...and yes, we do get some sunshine in Scotland!
The following morning we reached Neptune's staircase quickly but were delayed yet again - a problem with the swing bridge. We finally got out of Corpach sea lock late afternoon and motor sailed down to Dunstaffnage in light winds. Usual service at the Wide Mouth (what do mean - you want us to serve you?) Frog!
We left the boat in Dunstaffnage for a couple of weeks while they lifted the boat out and antifouled it. Great service, unlike the Frog.
Two weeks later it was time for the sail round to Arisaig. Down the Sound of Mull and straight past Tobermory - We wanted to try somewhere different.
This time we headed for Arinagour on Coll. We certainly picked the weather with some nice winds to sail over but then it dropping in the evening to virtually nothing. Nice anchorage - with the remants of the Classic Malts cruise. The local pub was heaving but it was one of those evenings you could sit outside!!!! - (one per year up here).
The following day it was on to Arisaig - home for the next six weeks.