A Long Leisurely Dash Oban to Bangor 30 May 2025

 

When I say Dash, I really mean Splash!

After reviewing many weather forecasts multiple times, along with tidal streams, all at multiple locations, but particularly off the Mull of Kintyre, we decided to make a dash all the way to Bangor.  After today the forecast is windy and rough for a full week.  If we didn’t go today we would be stuck for at least a week.

A dash in Lazaway is, of course, not really a dash - we are limited to 8.5 kts (the most fuel efficient speed for the boat), unless we can pick up some tide. 

On this journey we started going with the tide, as we went through the Sound of Luing and down the Sound of Jura. Inevitability the tide turned, and as we passed the bottom of the Mull of Kintyre the tide was absolutely against us.  Indeed it was against us all the way down the Irish Sea until we got to the Maidens, off Larne, when it turned again and we had a bit of tide with us for the last hour.

This illustrates the difference the tide makes to our speed.
 The top figure on both pictures is our SOG - our actual Speed Over the Ground - and this dictates how quickly we will get home.
The bottom figure is our speed through the water.  On the left the tide is against us (off the mull of Kintyre), and on the right the tide is with us (in the Sound of Luing).  This is why we always try to travel with the tide with us.

The Mull of Kintyre was looking splendid as we passed very slowly at just 3 - 4 knots.

As we passed southeast of The Maidens it was getting late and the sun was nearly down (and, of course, a P&O ferry came out of Larne at the wrong time (for us) and we had to dodge it).

We arrived in Bangor at 21.45 after having been travelling for 13 hours and covering 110 nautical miles. A tiring but very satisfying day.  It was good to have got home before the windy week got underway.

During our whole two week trip we have covered 416 nautical miles and have motored for 52 hours.  We have visited new places and revisited favourites from past trips.  Barra island has been the highlight - we loved it.

The boat bird list is just 22 species - but this includes a real rarity, a Velvet Scoter.  It is found in Scotland in the winter but should now be in Scandinavia breeding.  This one must be taking a year off.

This is how I record my daily bird list - using BTO code for each species.

Our route:






















































































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