Port Ellen to Portpatrick

We were joined at anchor in Port Ellen by yacht "Drum" which, I think I'm right to say, was Simon Le Bon's during that ill fated fastnet race; anyway it has apparently just had an extensive refit and was out for a sea trial. The sea had chopped up a bit so we decided to stay on board rather than launch the dingy and try to row ashore, bearing in mind that we were only a short walk from the Laphroig Distillery and that we had another early start to catch the tide towards Stranraer maybe it was a good thing that we didn't sample Islay's "water of life"!!! We woke to another perfect day, bright, dry and a with gentle northerly. As we set off towards the Mull of Kintyre "Drum" tried to catch us but of course what chance did a racing yacht have against us? Our trip from the Mull of Kintyre over to Portpatrick was beautiful, soft rolling seas and a northerly force 3.

Deja Vue is a old funny thing, arriving at Portpatrick I just knew the place & then I realised I had been there before. Alzheimer's, its a funny old thing!!!!!!!!!

We arrived at low tide, we knew this because we went aground, only in a slight non-dramatic way but it was my first time and you always remember thta, don't you? Well at least it proved that the depth meter worked and was accurate. We tied up in the inner harbour against the wall and went to find the showers which were guarded, yes that is the right word, by a clock watching jobsworth who wanted 40p and then told me I had 5 mins till she had to lock up this was inspite of the fact that according to the sign by the door it was not due to shut for 1hr.

There is a sense of relief to arrive at a port you aren't familiar with, to tie up and for no one to tell you you can't moor there, infact the harbourmaster could not have been more helpful. Pete and I decided to adjourn to the pub and watch the sun go down, what a good idea!

A perfect end to a perfect day!