Loch Goil and Carrick Castle

We had a day out from Greenock to celebrate a recent wedding and cruised to the head of Loch Goil, stopping at Carrick Castle for lunch.

It wasn't the sunniest of days but the afternoon was brightened up by the appearance of PS Waverley on one of her autumn cruises from Glasgow.

It's hard to imagine now that she was nearly scrapped, but all credit to those who preserved her, tapping into the nostalgia market so successfully. Launched in 1947, she is very similar to the previous Waverley that was bombed and sunk in 1940 during the evacuation of Dunkirk.

Taking the long way home

Another season done and dusted but we weren't ready to go straight back to our winter berth in Greenock, so we met up with Peter and Jane Cumberlidge for a trip to Ireland. Peter was looking for material to write a feature on cruising in Ireland for Motor Boat and Yachting and we were only too happy to oblige. Late September tends to be unsettled and we duly had our share of fog, wind and sun. The Antrim coast is spectacular though.

The wide sweep of Red Bay, with views up the Antrim Glens.

Geology for beginners. The clearest example you could see of Limestone bedrock overrun with basalt lava flow about 60 million years ago.

Another highlight was taking Chico into the heart of Belfast to the yacht berth at Abercorn Basin.

Next to the Titanic Centre, the wings of which are represent the actual size of Titanic's bow

More swimmers

This time being ferried ashore to swim from the beach

Then in recovery mode with the help of our fur coats.

Intrepid swimmers

Warm sun, blue sea, let's jump off the boat!

 Well it seemed like a good idea up to this point.

But once you're in it's not so bad

West Highland Yachting Week 2016

We were involved once again in this much loved regatta, a fixture in the Scottish sailing season with a 69 year history. Starting at Craobh Marina, the slack conditions necessitated a follow my leader through the tidal gate of the Sound of Luing before the first start could be set.

Then it was all hands on deck for the racing

With 6 days of racing and passage races to Oban, Tobermory and back to Oban it's a busy week.

8 dayJuly cruise

We started from Corpach, by Fort William, and took the opportunity to visit Loch Eil before heading south. The view of Ben Nevis from the Annat Narrows is spectacular, with the summit rearing over the first shoulder.

Down the length of loch Linnhe and up the Sound of Mull via Tobermory, the next stop was the Treshnish Isles and Lunga with its Puffin colony. No apologies for another Puffin photo!

Folklore has it that a black rabbit is the minister reborn, his congregation paying suitable attention,

On to Ulva, Staffa, Iona, Colonsay, Jura, Islay and back to Oban, there's nothing more relaxing than sitting on the foredeck watching the scenery roll by.

Cruise round Morvern

Although mainland, Morvern is easiet seen by boat. From Strontian, at the head of Loch Sunart, down the Sound of Mull and up Loch Linnhe to Loch a Coire, the scenery is as varied as it is spectacular.

And the sun shone, sometimes

We made a detour to Castle Coeffin on Lismore, a 13th century MacDougall stronghold built on the site of an earlier Viking fortress but uninhabited for centuries.

Cruise round Mull

With keen nature watchers on board most of our time was spent like this

or this

but the rewards are plenty

The view isn't bad either

Is it safe to come out now?

Iona, Oronsay and the Garvellachs

With a retired vicar on board it was only natural to explore some of the Western Isles' early Christian sites, but first we stopped off at the Treshnish Isles to visit the puffin colony on Lunga, resplendent with Bluebells.

And of course puffins

Dolphins were much in evidence as well. We were joined by four separate groups riding the bow wave.

Everyone enjoyed the sunshine underway on deck

and wandering across Oronsay to visit the interesting ruins of the priory, built in 1380.

Then taking the opportunity to recuperate

Corpach Boatbuilding Company

Chico was due her 5 yearly out of the water inspection for commercial use this spring, so she was slipped at Corpach and, with her masts down, trundled up into the yard's shed.

The highly skilled and efficient workfoce set about renewal of some planking, having to peel back the copper sheathing to get access.

New planks fitted, ready for caulking and painting.

Back in the water with her hull scrubbed clean she's noticeably faster and more responsive to handle.

Fort Wiliam and the Jacobite

While Chico was out of  the water for maintenance and survey at Corpach Boatbuilding Co we enjoyed exploring the area round Fort William, dominated by the mass of Ben Nevis.

The Jacobite steam train, which runs on the West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig, started its season, here pulling into Banavie where the line crosses the Caledonian Canal.