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Torsa Bay to Ardfern

Wednesay 2 August 2023

Click to view our whole route in google map

A rather overcast start but the weather should clear giving a dry sunny afternoon/evening – ideal for taking things off Swallow. The tide is flowing south at full pelt as we leave Torsa Bay – slightly disconcerting as we motor into what looks like a fast flowing, turbulent river. Full revs, drive hard at the skerry straight ahead and ferry glide sideways down the Sound. Once in the channel proper and pointing in a sensible direction we accelerate away and in no time pop out of the bottom.

The wind is now in the NE and just enough for a jib only deep reach east of Shuna and on towards Dorus Mor. We almost moved yesterday evening with the ebb thinking that Achanarnich Bay would be good overnight spot. A sharp shower dissuaded us – fortunate as 2 boats were at anchor there as we sailed past and it’s not the roomiest spot.

Approaching Dorus Mor we briefly furl the jib, head up and unfurl main and are soon hardening up for a fast close reach through Dorus Mor followed by an excellent beat in a gusty F4 up Loch Craignish, all the way to Ardfern. We feel rather virtuous as at least 10 boats motor past us. No idea why people motor so much in such perfect sailing conditions. This photo a few days later from Castle Dounie shows our track from north of Shuna.

The downside of our environmentally friendly but slower ascent of Craignish was being blown off quite strongly at the fuel dock as the wind continued to build. Fine getting on – but a 24kt gust as I reversed off required high revs and the thruster to get the bow round.

Overall an excellent 17 day cruise with some outstanding sailing and another 6 excellent, new-to-us anchorages covering a total of 381nm.