A few pics

[richlear]

A few pics from my trip last week bringing my new boat "Easy Beat", a Hunter Pilot 27 from Largs to Inverness through the Crinan and Caledonian Canals.

 

[Quandary]

Hi Rich, your pictures are good but they flatter the weather somewhat, your single handed passage was quite an achievement. She looked a very tidy boat when we saw her in the Crinan and I am sure you will enjoy getting to know her if you have not done that already.
Enjoy the sailing to come, don't wait too long before venturing back to this side.

Bit puzzled by the one in Loch Linnhe, coming away from Ballachulish? are you sure you were not going the wrong way?

 

[richlear]

Well I ended up in Corpach so must have gone the right way at some point!
The timestamp shows it was around 0545 on the 5th which means I was leaving Ballachulish bound for Bannavie. My planned route from Ballachulish was pretty much west until well clear of the shallows west of Onich then turn north to run through the narrows a couple of hours before HW to catch the tide. Saw almost 7kts on the GPS going through there. I think I raised the sails just after clearing the shallows so maybe that was me turning south into the wind before taking up a northerly course through the narrows.

 

[Quandary]

Makes sense, BTW, I was not implying that you did not know where you were going, that green buoy always seems a lot further south than you expect.

 

[richlear]

Yes, and it was tempting to cut the corner but with a decent southerly breeze I did not want to risk anything and in any case, I was in no rush so best to be safe. I ended up arriving in Banavie around 1230 but had to wait until 1600 while they fixed the road bridge which stopped working. I planned to overnight there anyway, so no problems, was still in the pub at a decent time!

Did we meet on the Crinan?

 

[coopec]

Lovely photos! Now what about some at The Bend on the Danube?




Clive

 

[Quandary]

Did we meet on the Crinan?

Yes, I am the Joe who helped you through.

 

[richlear]

Ah Joe!!! Thanks very much for all your help and advice, much appreciated. I took your advice, stayed over at Crinan (had a great meal in the hotel) and went straight up to Oban the next day. The weather at Oban was horrible and I had a problem with the jib furler so the sail was wrapped up with a bungee. I went for the safe option and went straight to the marina on Kerrera where I was made very welcome. Fixed the furler drum, had a lovely meal in the Waypoint grill and a good night's sleep.



Here is my little lad waiting for me at Dochgarroch

 

[Quandary]

Toby minding the ropes at lock 10, he has fallen in to that lock twice this month, both times managed to miss the boat and hit the water but no lessons learned, getting worried the job is getting too much for him.

 

[richlear]

We had a scare last year with Barney, he was tied on to the boat ( a motorboat) and when Gill jumped off to tie the lines he followed her and was hanging between the boat and dock by his lead. Luckily I saw him and moved ahead away from the dock and grabbed him. He was OK and I think we were both more shaken than he was!

 

[[70521]]

Brilliant to see some pictures from "home".