Sailing north

Oban Marina is actually on Kerrera Island, just off Oban and the marina has to rely on bringing everything over from Oban by launch, including water (the stream has dried up and the de-salinator can't cope), diesel and all other supplies for a busy marina.  So water is very much rationed.  The one good point is that there is a free launch service over to Oban for those using the marina.

We made a couple of trips over to Oban, to shop, buy oil filters and I had a hair cut (hardly worth it).  We have an irritating red light showing on the engine control panel and I thought it implied the oil was clogged up and so I changed the oil and filter.  That didn't work! although it did need it as we had done a huge amount of miles under engine so far. 

 The marina on Kerrera Island off Oban

It's so nice to be in salt water again. We float an inch higher and our white waterline has changed from grubby yellow and black to almost white again.

Next sailed onto Loch Aline, on the right up on the sound of Mull.  The predominant feature in this loch is the silica mine (12mts deep seam that they are digging into when the demand is there).  We anchored for the first night but having to take on water and issues with the water pump, we moved onto the locally run marina.  I met up with Tom & Ros Cunliff on their boat Constance there.  First met them 40 years ago and since then Tom has become a world renowned yachtsman and marine author.

 The silica mine operation.