Home / Ocean Youth Trust Scotland - does Zero to Competent Crew in only 6 Days

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Loch Moidart to Tobermory

Clearly our voyage from Loch Moidart to Tobermory was going to be an interesting one... We awoke to leaden skies with wisps of darker grey cloud scudding across them, giving a clear indication of the windspeed.

The forecast had said force 6 or 7 gusting 8, so naturally we were all looking forward to some "real" sailing, now that we had nailed the basics (possibly).

Upon exiting the Loch's entrance, with its many rocks and shallows, we hoisted the mizzen with three reefs and the number 3 jib. In what turned out to be a force 8 solid, we sailed at 7 knots under these scraps of canvas, until we were around the point, whereupon we hoisted the main, again with 3 reefs.

The seas by this point were, although slight, enough to give some of the crew sea sickness. Up on deck was therefore the favoured place to be, and the cockpit was soon filled with identical oilskinned, life jacketed and harnessed crew.

We arrived in Tobermory at about 6 that evening, and anchored in the bay for the night, were there were plentiful renditions of 'What's the Story in Balamory" from all the crew all evening, and on anchor watch.

This singing continued all the next morning, when we went ashore in Tobermory to buy souvenires, and to spend heinous amounts of money on confectionery in the Tobermory Chocolate Factory.

We arrived back in Oban that night, after a brief night sail down the Sound of Mull, and spent the majority of the next morning scrubbing every inch of the boat, and getting our logbooks filled in, and sticking in the competent crew certificate we had all gained.

Walking to the train station, we took a few last minute photos of the Alba Venturer, and discussed with easy scorn all those poor uneducated souls who had never experienced sailing, before having it pointed out to us that, a mere 6 days ago, that category had included us too.

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