Crew Report for Around Mull Inlets and Islands 6-night cruise

departing Oban on April 30th 2011

Sat 30th. Party piped aboard by Angus. From Oban to Loch A Choire. Sea Eagle sighted 18.30. Beautiful Sunset. Cuckoos very apparent. The first of "Desert Island Disks" and memories from 7 of the guests with everyone joining in.

Sun 1/5/11. To Duart Bay, very sunny and warm and sea calm. On the way spotted Sea Eagles and a pair of Golden Eagles with a juvenile soaring above sighted between 10.30 and 11am near Morven SE shore. Guests ashore to Duart Castle. To Tobermory. Guests ashore to shop, walk and listen to some of the music festival gigs. A fantastic sunset. Crew lit some Chinese lanterns to fly over Tobermory in a very starry sky.

Mon 2nd. To Calgary Bay. Lots of sunshine. Beach landing on white sands and aqua blue sea. Party of 7 had arranged to view art works by a local artist. The remaining guests walked along the beach. A pair of Golden Eagles were flying directly above the boat. Also a Sea Eagle being mobbed by seagulls. On to Lunga. Guests ashore to see the puffins, starting to nest - absolutely magical - other sightings were Fulmers, Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants and Shags. Songs birds a plenty. Dropped anchor at Inch Kenneth. Fabulous sunset.

Tues 3rd. To Staffa to view Fingals Cave but too rough to put ashore . On to Iona. Guests ashore for 2 hours. Corncrakes heard near Abbey. Then after lunch on to beautiful Kilfinichen Bay. Some guests went out in dory to drop creels and try fishing. A lucky dip was organised by the engineer to pick out a figure denoting the mileage at anchor travelled by the boat at night. The prize to the person with the nearest answer won a bottle of wine.

Wed 4th. Set out once more to Staffa. Guests ashore for an hour to walk around to Fingals Cave and take in the views from the top of the cliffs. At the request of the guests, back to Calgary Bay and all ashore to enjoy a picnic lunch in the sunshine for several hours. Distress call made over boat radio from beach party as desperate for extra supplies of wine. Party challenged to swim out to boat to collect but Captain and Bosun took pity on their plight and duly delivered said wine in Tesco bag by dory much to the amazement and envy of other people also on the beach! Dropped anchor back at Tobermory at guests request.

Thurs 5th. Guests ashore to visit Tobermory Whisky Distillery, the pottery and jewelry shops. Although it rained everyone enjoyed the few hours ashore. A rescue was carried out by the Captain and engineer in Tobermory Harbour to a Yacht in distress with genny sheet in water and wrapped around the prop. Rescue successful and back on board for lunch. On to Loch Spelve where skies cleared and some guests went ashore for an hour.
` The Bosun and Captain "made" some bagpipes from bits and pieces and in between dinner courses the Chef "dressed" in tartan rugs played the pipes to the music of the Red Hot Chillie Pipers on the roof of the boat flooded by light from the spotlights! Final night of Desert Island Disks with everyone and the crew singing along and finished off by some very stylish dancing!

Fri 6th. To Oban and disembarkation.