First cruise for 2015

The weather wasn't great but that didn't put our Norwegian guests off, they had come fully equipped for a Scottish summer.

It was cosy inside though

and the sun did come out eventually.

Former owner on board

We were delighted to meet up with Alex, who owned Chico from 1994-97, and various friends, some of whom had helped out then.

It was great to see her photos and hear about another phase of Chico's life. 

July, August and September 2014

We haven't been very diligent at posting on the blog, but here is a selection of photos from last summer.

Lifejackets all round!

Sharing a peaceful anchorage with Kentra, another 1930's yacht.

West Highland Yachting Week committee. Say no more!

The unmistakeable profile of Rum, from Eigg.

The Victorian splendour of Kinloch Castle on Rum.

Approaching the dramatic anchorage of Loch Scavaig on the south coast of Skye.

Sandaig, where Gavin Maxwell lived with the otters made famous in A Ring of Bright Water.

and a poignant memorial to a remarkable man.

Saying goodbye at the end of another cruise.

Going for a stroll on Coll

and just messing about on the beach.

Coming back up the Kilbrannan Sound from Campbeltown. It is a bit of a wind tunnel and can be quite choppy, but this not day in September. Literally flat calm with  sun shining through hazy mist.

Chico in the Baltic

A former crewman on Chico got in touch and kindly emailed some photos of Chico visiting the Baltic  in 1971. She was leased at that time to Marconi Marine as a demonstration vessel for their marine products. Leaving from Tower pier in London at the end of May, she transited the Kiel Canal and visited 12 Baltic ports including Stockholm, Helsinki and Leningrad, returning to the UK at the end of July.

Alongside in Stockholm

 Receiving the British ambassador to the USSR (2nd from right) on board, Leningrad.

A formidable selection of Marconi radars on the coachroof. The Hammer and Sickle courtesy flag is flying, so probably Leningrad again.

The internet and Chico's website have enabled several former crew to get in touch, and we're looking forward to meeting up with a former owner next month for a day out from Oban.

Round the Isle of Mull and Iona

We took advantage of a settled spell of weather to cruise round Mull, starting out along the rugged south coast past the Carsaig Arch and cliffs formed from the old lava flows that cover most of the island.

Our first night was at Ardalanish on the Ross of Mull, famous for its pink granite used to build the Albert Memorial in London, then on to Iona, with a view over the Cathedral and Iona Sound.

We spent our next night in Loch Scridain off the old settlement at Tavool. Ruins like this are a common sight, crofts abandoned in the late 19th C as potato blight, failure of the kelp industry and the notorious clearances emptied the population from the west coast.

Cragaig Bay, off the small island of Ulva, was our next stop.

Carpets of Bluebells were covering the areas once cultivated by the crofters.

The island of Inchkenneth, at the entrance to Loch na Keal, was second only to Iona in importance as a monastic centre in the 6th C, and the ruins of a later chapel contain this beautifully carved burial slab of a Maclean chieftain.

After another stop in Loch Tuath we sailed past the Treshnish Isles and stopped at Tobermory.

Sound of Jura, sun and dolphins.

Starting from Crinan Sea Lock we cruised to the Fairy Isles at the head of Loch Sween for the first night, then over to Craighouse on Jura for the day before coming back up in glorious sunshine.

As we passed the entrance to the Corryvreckan on our way to the Sound of Luing we were joined by about 15 dolphins riding our bow wave.

It's a sight that you can never tire of as they roll on their sides and look up at you.

The next day we had a quick visit to the Garvellachs before catching the tide back down the Sound of Luing  to Loch Melford and on to Loch Craignish for the last night. 

Clyde Cruise

A 3 night trip down to Rothesay, the Kyles of Bute and St. Ninian's Bay on the west side of Bute. It wasn't exactly warm but but our new steamers were popular.

Except for Tom, who discovered that he really should have been a sea captain, and spent 3 days at the helm.

Others took it a little easier