After Craobh Haven, we motored around to a lovely little anchorage on Seil – Puilladobhrain (ph Puldohran) where Dave and M-C on La Contenta joined us – and we also met another OCC member Stuart MacDonald. Quick walk to the pub for a couple and then retreat to the boat before the midges arrived.

We then headed to Tobermory – having a wonderful beat up the sound of Mull. Tobermory is one of the most picturesque harbours.

Tobermory’s beautiful harbour.

With all the settled weather, we took advantage and spent the following evening anchored in the Treshnish Islands, famous for the nesting bird colonies – including the cutest… Puffins.

I think this is a Shag??

Toodle-oo! has a restful night tucked in behind Lunga.

Incoming!!!

I’m Kewl!

Check out my Goosestep!

I think I picked the wrong neighborhood!

Birds Galore!

We are now on the OCC Celtic Cruise – and so far having a grand old time!

We arrived in Craobh Haven yesterday at warp speed – with just 15 knots of wind, right on the nose, we were close hauled on a sea as flat as a billiard table and were able to sustain 9.5 knots through the water (11.5 over ground) for a couple of hours – the sailing was exhilarating! The scenery gets better and better the further we push into the islands.

Today is an OCC Barbecue at the OCC Commodore (Simon Currin)’s house – apparently there’ll be 50 or 60 folk there…

More reports to come on the comings and goings of the Celtic Cruise…

Yesterday we anchored. 1^st time in an age. In the middle of the wide open bay of Castletown, Isle of Man in 17 knots gusting to 25 – but the sea is flat, it’s not rolling, so life is good!

Had a nice sail over – mostly downwind wing on wing with headsail poled out – until the end when we were hitting 9’s on a broad reach – so we reefed – all systems functionally at nominal – not bad for a first sail of the season.

Getting off the dock was probably the most interesting event – with wind blowing the bow off. Our slip was in such a position that allowing the bow to blow off would have been catastrophic, so we ended up warping off the bow with some help from Tony at Whitehaven Marina – worked like a charm!

Today we took a bus ride to the other side of the island and took a nice walk along a disused railway then up to a very pretty waterfall… It being Sunday, the buses aren’t quite so frequent – so by the time we got back, our dinghy was high and dry. With some huffing and puffing and some help from a very nice guy, we managed to float it off before the really low tide… Start of the season – Balme idiocies strike again!

Tomorrow we head for Wales – probably will stop in an anchorage south of Holyhead and then make for Caernarfon the following day for the start of the OCC Celtic Cruise (we kinda have to be there since we’re leading it!).

Need I say more?

Laurie in the Gorse

Pretty waterfall – IOM’s biggest.

High and dry!

Toodle-oo! is on the move again! Finally departing Whitehaven, Cumbria (UK) on the tide tomorrow (May 3rd). We’ll be wending our way slowly to Caernarfon via the Isle of Man for the beginning of the OCC Celtic Cruise – which will take us back up through the Isle of Man, to Bangor, Northern Ireland and on to Scotland, finishing in the Whisky haven of Port Ellen, Islay.

After that we’ll spend a few weeks in the Scottish Islands before heading off to Norway’s Lofoten Islands. We actually delayed our departure from Whitehaven seeking a longer term visa for Laurie so that we could spend more time in Scotland before she’s kicked out of the country, but bureaucracy got in the way, so our plans to sail to Norway this year stand. We’re headed towards the Arctic Circle for the first time.

I’ll do my best to post more in the coming weeks…

Meanwhile, quiet plug for Whitehaven – really easy marina to work with, exceedingly well protected, all the staff super friendly and helpful. The town’s got everything (though some of the pubs could use some help!) and the Lake District is right around the corner.