First trip of the season - Tobermory

We set off after filling the fuel tanks and settling the account with the Marina. We hoisted the main sail whilst still on the fuel pontoon. After leaving Oban Bay and setting our heading towards Mull Sound, we tried to unfurl the genoa. It was jammed tight and no amount of tugging would free it. It appeared that something was sticking near the top of the mast.
We carried on in the Force 4 close reach at a steady five knots with the engine. Also the auto helm didn't want to play.
We had intended stopping for the night at Loch Aline, approx 13 miles from Oban, but with a mast to be climbed and the auto helm to be looked at, we agreed to carry on to Tobermory which would be more sheltered and have a chandlery, if required.
Once in Tobermory, I went aloft and sorted the jammed swivel, we also solved the auto helm power supply problem without any due difficulty.
We ate in a small, but busy restaurant just set back from the main harbour road. Both of us enjoyed the Salmon pâté with oat cakes starter.
Dinner was followed by a dram of Tobermory, which I personally preferred to the Oban. David has started a memo page on his phone to rate the whiskies enjoyed on our trip.

A large bottle of scotch

After a hearty breakfast, we set about some more tasks onboard. We had already established that the weather forecast meant we wouldn't be moving in today. Force 8, very rough.
We replaced some missing screws in the forestay foil, which meant going aloft, between the squalls, fortunately not too high.
We hoisted the genoa and fitted the dodgers.
We caught the 12:00 ferry into Oban and went in search of the missing hat, retracing our steps from yesterday, without any success. We consoled ourselves by buying a bottle of scotch, which cost exactly the same as the hat, I hope it lasts longer. Helpful advice from mum & dad who had read yesterday's blog, 'stick hat to head with superglue'.
Back onboard for pâté & cheese lunch after which I changed the engine oil & filter whilst David got the outboard running.
In the evening we went back into town for a rather tasty Indian meal. As the restaurant was unlicensed it was absolutely necessary that I pop along to the nearby Co-op after placing our order for a bottle of red.
We also knocked back a couple of glasses of Oban while waiting for the ferry back to the marina.
At present the forecast is good for tomorrow. We have either an easy trip to Loch Aline, or a longer stretch to Tobermory. We will see how we feel about the longer range forecast tomorrow before making the decision.

Another showery and blustery day

After a hearty breakfast, David set off to park his car at the marina owners caravan park about six miles north of Oban. I fitted the main sheet, kicking strap and the spray hood between showers.
We met up in town for Sunday lunch in a hotel with a carvery, which was excellent, followed by a quick nip into Tescos.
In the afternoon we fitted the mainsail between the extremely blustery showers. At one time the wind was howling through the rigging, waves breaking in the marina and hail stones falling on the decks.
After tea, which was a selection of David's French cheeses and wine, we went for a walk to the monument to the founder of the ferry service, which is on the point on the island where all the ferries out to the isles pass.
Before setting out I discovered I'd lost my hat, the new one I'd only bought yesterday. I despair of myself sometimes. I have a woolly hat on board which I found in a gutter about eight years ago, but if I buy a smart hat, I lose it within twenty four hours. I'm hoping that I left it in the bar where we had lunch and I'll be able to collect it tomorrow, but I really don't know where I mislaid it. I shouldn't be let out on my own!

Calviere II back in the water

Not entirely without incident. The ignition switch refused to move to start the engine. So a fellow boater towed me from the boat hoist to a berth, rowing in his dinghy in the flat calm and sunshine.
With switch removed and a liberal dose of WD40 I got it working.
A trip into town to buy a hat & a razor and some more provisions.
I had barely returned to the boat when David H texted saying he would be arriving in Oban at 17:30, which meant I would need to catch the next ferry back to Oban. Just enough time for a nap. Shortly after assuming the head to pillow position the VHF DSC alarm went off, which is loud and persistent. Gales Force 8 & 9 soon.
I met David in the car park, loaded down with French cheese, wine, pate and ham.
We found a restaurant for a quick fishy dinner and headed towards the Oban concert hall to watch the '69th Fiddler's Rally'. An orchestra of fifty fiddlers with other instruments. They had come from all over Scotland and the Isles to play together as they have done for the last 69 years. Most of them looked like they had played at the first rally, but there was also some youngsters. They played lively jigs and reels, as well as waltz and airs. David was so impressed he bought the CD.
There were a couple of vocal soloists singing Gaelic songs. When they were introduced the compare had said 'you will all know the chorus' and the rest of large audience certainly did, joining in all around us.
The last ferry back to the marina was a wet & wild roller coaster of a trip. As the ferry man said 'you've had the best of the summer this morning'.

Little jobs

Fitted a new drain plug on the exhaust manifold and replaced the sea cock on the cooling water inlet.
The marina yard manager says they will be launching Calviere II first thing tomorrow, around 08:00.

Return to Oban

I caught the overnight coach which arrived in Glasgow at 06:15. Which was shortly before Whetherspoon's opened for a traditional breakfast. It is a good ten degrees cooler up here than down south.
At 08:21 I was on the train to Oban. A highly scenic single track line, which made a happy 'click-a-dee, clack' noise for most of the route.
I arrived in Oban to be greeted with typical Scottish weather ie cold wet & windy.
The marina say they not be able to launch Calviere II until next Tuesday, mainly because of the weather.
I spent the afternoon pottering and restocking.
Asbo, the hoody bear from Dorril is settling in, being shown the ropes by Lenny.