2025 9th April, Day 11 to Crinan

23 miles in 5 hours.

I awoke to find a light NE wind blowing so left earlier than intended, against the tide, to make use of it. The domestic forecast said it would continue for a while but it was wrong and I only made two miles before the wind died to nothing and on went the engine. Again.

I pondered over the option of continuing through the sound of Luing and heading for Mull but I would not have made the tide into the Sound of Mull, Loch Spelve did not appeal and it would be motoring all day so I continued as planned to anchor off of Crinan which should give better protection with the forecasts winds than my original plan of Gallanach Bay a mile further north.

As I write (15:30) there is a good sailing breeze from the west, when the forecast said southerly at 5 knots, but it could be very local.

Tomorrow it will be late start, up anchor at 09:45 to arrive at the entrance to Dorus Mor no earlier than slack water, at springs the tide runs at 8 knots. The passage through the Sound of Luing will be slower than later in the tide but there is a good chance of reaching Loch Aline, just inside the Sound of Mull, with a favourable tide just before slack water.

Now to refuel from the cans, prepare tonights spag bol and perhaps sit in the sun for a while, when blowing the wind is still chilly but in shelter it is the warmest day of the trip so far.

Crinan anchorage

Click here for The Sound of Luing and on to Loch Aline.