Tuesday 22 June 2010 Tobermoray N560 37.132’ W0060 03.970’

Alcyone locked out of the Crinan Basin in the first lock of the day and set sail for Tobermoray. The previous evening, as the sun set, we had looked out over the Sound of Jura at the majestic scenery and looked forward to different cruising ground albeit only for a few days. As the lock gates opened to let us out, there was a certain excitement of anticipation.

It was bright sunshine and very light wind; once again Alcyone was motoring although later in the day we had a reasonable breeze and were able to sail up the Sound of Mull and into Tobermory. The channel up between Scarba and Luing has overfalls and ‘oily boilies’ causing, even in the calm conditions, trouble for George to steer through. In rough weather presumably the area lives up to the published warnings.

Tobermory, famous as the background for the children’s television series Ballymory, is a very pretty and striking town with the buildings along the harbour all brightly painted. The Harbour Authority have installed pontoons out into the bay and built a most impressive Harbour Centre. Well worth a visit.