Ambition achieved! Tobermory to Barra 19 May 2025

 

Barra harbour 

Leisurely start this morning.  This involved a visit to the Tobermory Co op to get croissants for breakfast and then a relaxing tea and coffee before leaving the berth at 10.00.

Our route was then a beeline westward towards the Isle of Barra - a destination long desired by Mary and Susie, the location where some of the film ‘Whisky Galore’ was filmed, and one of the more remote Outer Hebrides and therefore a challenge to get to.  A big day for us.

Along the way we saw Minke Whales on three occasions and Harbour Porpoises on two occasions (not to mention Great Skua and Arctic Skuas!).

This was the Minke Whale first spotted by Gordon.

Gordon also took the head staggers and decided to try our stay sail for the first time.  Up it went in no time at all, and we then ran with it for most of the journey.

Putting up the stay sail.  It is meant to reduce the rolling of the boat during a beam swell.
  It’s not at all certain that it made any difference at all, but then maybe
we didn’t have enough of a beam swell.

We arrived at Castlebay, Barra, at about 16.00 to a beautiful evening.  Crystal clear water and a very welcoming community.  Views of Castlebay:





The Castlebay Coop is still suffering from the computer hack about 3 weeks ago.  
They are very short of stock.

We went out for our first dinner out, at the Castlebay Hotel.  A lovely hotel, the scallop starter, that we all had, was really good.  The main course was okay (a little overcooked) but not special.

The boat bird list was just 28 species.

Our route:



Lazaway berthed in Castlebay marina at 21.30 this evening.




















































































































Comments

  1. TonyMay 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM

    Not sure that qualifies you as sailors but good effort.

    ReplyDelete

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