September Voyage
September 15-18 2000

THE VESSEL: HIGHLAND RHAPSODY, Dufour 32 Classic

Port of registry: Leith

THE CREW: Tony B, Tony K, Jo L, Glenn B

THE VOYAGE.

Date Voyage Logged Distance (nm) Duration Average Speed (knots) Maximum Speed (knots)
15/9/2000 Rhu Marina - Millport via Pass of Cumbrae (1545 to 1945) 19.5 4 hrs 0 mins 4.9 ?
16/9/2000 Millport - Campbeltown via Holy Island and Pladda (0915 to 1950) 45.8 10 hrs 35 mins 4.4 ?
17/9/2000 Campbeltown - Sanda (0930 to 1400) 21.7 4 hrs 30 mins 4.8 ?
17/9/2000 Sanda - Lochranza via Kilbrannan Sound (1530 to 2030) 33.5 5 hrs 0 mins 6.7 8.7
18/9/2000 Lochranza - Rhu Marina via Kyles of Bute (0930 to 1730) 37.3 8 hrs 0 mins 4.7 ?
  TOTALS 157.8 32 hrs 5 mins 4.9  

THE STATISTICS

Total distance under sail ~128 nm
Total distance under power ~ 30 nm
Maximum wind speed under sail ~ 23 knots
Maximum speed under sail 8.7 knots
Maximum speed under power 9.0 knots
Longest voyage 45.8 nm (Millport to Campbeltown)
Longest day's sailing 55.2 nm (Campbeltown to Lochranza via Sanda)
Night sail (from sunset) 1 hour (motoring into Lochranza)

THE PORTS

DATE PORT BERTH FEE MEAL
15/9/2000 Millport, Great Cumbrae Mooring free on board - chicken casserole (excellent - thanks to Fiona!)
16/9/2000 Campbeltown Pontoon £10-00 Ardshiel Hotel (excellent)
17/9/2000 Lochranza, Arran Mooring free on board - pasta with gammon & vegetable sauce (Jo’s recipe), alcoholic fruit salad (Tony K’s recipe)

ROUGH LOG

WHEN WHERE WHAT
15/9/2000 1530 Rhu Marina Seals singing on marina breakwater. Wind F3, NW.
15/9/2000 1700 off Gourock Temporarily becalmed.
15/9/2000 1945 Millport Bay Made harbour just after sunset, tied up to HIE mooring buoy at low tide (depth just over 2m below keel)
16/9/2000 0830 Millport Tony K landed for (successful) search for margarine.
16/9/2000 0915 Millport Slipped mooring. Wind F3-4, NW
16/9/2000 1240 off Brodick Temporarily becalmed.
16/9/2000 1345 off Whiting Bay Wind F4-5 SW.
16/9/2000 1500 off Arran Passed to south of Pladda. Fishing boats sighted, lots of gannets.
16/9/2000 1700 Kilbrannan Sound Unintentional tack in rising wind! Wind F5 gusting 6, SW.
16/9/2000 1900 off Davaar Made entrance to Campeltown Loch at dusk.
16/9/2000 2200 Campbeltown Saturday night in the Wild West!
17/9/2000 1005 off Davaar Left Campbeltown Loch.
17/9/2000 1135 off Ru Stafnish Sighted large shark astern (basking shark?). Strong adverse tide in Sound of Sanda. Lots of gannets.
17/9/2000 1400 Sanda Dropped anchor and went ashore. Depth 4.3m (high tide). Sanda inhabited by hens and sheep and guarded by seals. Nicely restored holiday cottages.
17/9/2000 1530 Sanda Weighted anchor. Course NE, wind SSE F4~5.
17/9/2000 1615 off Arranman’s Barrels buoy Wind SE F5 gusting 6. Heavy swell, wind over tide.
17/9/2000 1715 Kilbrannan Sound Boat difficult to control with heavy following seas and wind astern. 8.7 knots down the face of a wave! Unable to hold desired course (dead run) due to danger of unintentional gybe.
17/9/2000 1735 Kilbrannan Sound Boat difficult to control with heavy following seas. Furled main and started engine.
17/9/2000 1740 Kilbrannan Sound 9 knots!
17/9/2000 1750 Kilbrannan Sound Furled jib and proceeded under power. Motion considerably easier.
17/9/2000 1800 Kilbrannan Sound Very dark line of cloud running N-S approached from Kintyre (probably a front). Very heavy rain, distant thunder.
17/9/2000 2000 off Arran Passed Catacol Bay in the dark, weather improving.
17/9/2000 2030 Lochranza Tied up to HIE mooring in the dark. Wind easing.
18/9/2000 0930 Lochranza Slipped mooring and sailed. Wind F3-4, W.
18/9/2000 1030 Sound of Bute Wind F5, W. Sighted porpoises (?). Heavy showers and rainbows. Two Admiralty tugs passed, heading S down Kilbrannan Sound.
18/9/2000 1300 Kyles of Bute Sailed through West Kyle. Idiot coming N under power didn’t give way.
18/9/2000 1520 off Innellan Passed HMS Roebuck (heading S).
18/9/2000 1715 off Rhu Dropped sail next to Drum and motored into marina. Seals with calves on breakwater.