Lunar Sea

Stranraer to Belfast - 10th June, 2019      08:00 - an early start for us to make use of the tides.  We had the tide up and leaving the Loch Ryan and made really good time.  Originally our destination was Bangor, just into Belfast Lough and a 37 mile crossing of the Irish Sea.  The first half of the Irish Sea itself should be North going tide of just over a knot. Whilst the second half would change to give us a South going tide of over 2 and half knots.  I allowed myself an extra 15 degrees North of the 225 degree course line, but with a Northerly gentle breeze of 10-16 knots we were going too fast to make full use of the predicted South going tide and arrived off Belfast Lough averaging well over 5 knots and as we were going so well made a decision to carry on a further 10 miles to Belfast  We actually got an extra boost from the tide going into Belfast's Victoria Channel and Lunar Sea was purring along at over 7 knots SOG - magic.  Finall...

Preparation       Most of the prep for our second year had already been done two years ago.  Just the starting point was changed, ie Greenock instead of Liverpool, because of change in plans due to weather restrictions - what else!  Also, we decided to have a somewhat shorter time away this year, so two months instead of four.      Lunar Sea had been in the James Watt Dock at Greenock for 21 months.  I had been up every 2 months in that time to check on everything; bilges, engine, ropes, etc., but I must say that the staff at James Watt were really helpful and kept a good eye on the boats. Especially during and after the winter storms when I had a fender burst and a rope parted.  One of many in the Marina I was told and quite rare to have such a storm in the direction it came from (North West).      The summer last year was fantastic for Scotland and in the 3 separate week sailing holidays we had out of Greenock, I ...

Day 122 -  Last few weeks of our adventure After a great weeks sailing, Frank and Steph left us from Glasgow by plane the day after we arrived at Greenock.  This gave us a few days off so that we couple spend with my cousin Sue and Colin again, before our next guest arrived.  We had some great trips out touring the Falkirk Wheel, Trossocks and Loch Lomond and even managed to track down the illusive 'Haggis', albeit stuffed and in a glass cage. The illusive 'Haggis'                               Falkirk Wheel   The spare time also gave us a chance to partially explore Glasgow.  The bus in was excellent, as usual in Scotland, and the 'City Tourist Bus' is also good value to get your bearings of the fantastic city (it only costs a pound for an extra day). Greenock to Largs - 15th August, 2017 Mick and Linda again joined us on our proposed trip to Belfast, but we had to ...

Day 97  Portavadie to Largs. Saturday 5th Aug. 2017 Portavadie is a good safe, deep water, up market marina.  However, it is more of a holiday apartment destination overlooking the marina and as such there is more going for the apartment cliental rather than the sailor.  There are a couple of  trendy restaurant come bars and an expensive heated small pool with a heated outdoor infinity pool and hot tubs, but next to nothing ashore for the sailor and no telephone signals - may be a good thing in some cases!  It is a shame as it could have a lot going for it.  The marina had originally been cut out of the side of the mountain to build drilling platforms but that project was abandoned and hence the marina complex. Portavadie Marina After the morning swim and a nice coffee we left at 1150 for the 23 mile journey to Largs making use of the tide and sailing, goose winged, South down the remaining part of Loch Fyne, around the Sout...

Crinan Canal to Portavadie Day 95 Crinan Canal Left Bellanock Bridge mooring at 10:30 after a night of rain.  The day threatened to rain some more but apart from a small try at it the passage of just 3 miles was truly stunning.  Unlike the Caledonian Canal where all the locks are operated hydraulically for you, in the Crinan Canal apart from the Sea Locks all others must be operated by boats crews.  Frank and Julia did the first 5 rising locks group and then Frank and Steph did the next 4 falling locks group.  Luckily, after all the hard work there was a nice mooring after all these at Cairnbaan with electricity and more importantly a bar and restaurant the other side of the canal.  I was very happy indeed to buy the first round of drinks for all the hard work endured by all of the crew and with no dramas to speak of apart from the frustrations caused by a cantankerous old gent in the boat before us who insisted that he wouldn't leave the lock unt...