Proper sailing

As I write this we are sailing north-east between Mull and Coll & Tiree - yes, 
actually sailing, both sails up, no engine!  Wind N F4/5, steep little waves coming 
from NE i.e. dead ahead (why don't they come with the wind as they should?!). 
Mainsail with 1 reef, genoa with 2 reefs (ish), for ease of handling. On the other 
tack with waves on the beam we were doing 5Kn or more, on this tack it's 4kn or less. 

Still the sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, and for once we don't have a 
particular tide gate to meet for arrival in Tobermory.  So we're enjoying the sail.
Earlier we left Bull Hole at 0745 and were out of the N end of Iona Sound by 0815, 
comfortably ahead of the change in tidal stream.  

Staffa - Fingal's Cave on the right

We went and had a close look at 
Staffa a few miles to the north, the same basalt columns we saw in NI at the Giant's 
Causeway, and Fingal's Cave - nowhere to land from a yacht so we approached with a 
cable (175 yards) and took lots of photos and duly marvelled at nature's grandeur 
(whilst keeping an eagle eye on the chart plotter for our position relative to 
various rocks).

We then went NW, into the wind, motor-sailing as usual to maintain the necessary 
course, to see the Treshnish Islands - supposedly good for seeing wildlife.  I say 
supposedly because they are bleak, rugged rocks with nowhere to land from a yacht in 
these strong winds ... and we didn't see a damn thing!  No puffins, no dolphins, no 
whales, no sea eagles.

Lesley, who's just come off the helm, writes: it is a beautiful day but as always, 
bitterly cold. The whole of this month has been painfully cold. My usual garb for 
sailing is 2 sets of thermal tops, plus one silk jumper and one old cashmere, plus 
two  fleeces and finally the sailing jacket. Oh and my salopettes and beloved Dubarry 
sailing boots. Moving about in rough weather is slow and careful because of all the 
added bulk.

Looking at our sunny photos, you may think we've been in balmy Mediterranean 
conditions - if only. 

But the joy of sailing Sirena makes you forget the cold - and I mean beating through 
big seas as we have today, when she shows her paces as a thoroughbred.