Day three is a short hop along the east coast of County Down, past Strangford Lough and toward the fishing town of Ardglass. After leaving the shelter of Bangor, our yachts had favourable winds all the way along their 23 mile journey, arriving in plenty of time to raft up, enjoy a good meal and head ashore for a relaxing pint before an early night ready for the next day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

Bright and early, our crews headed out under blue skies into the open water of the Irish sea, and had good wind to help them on their way. As our crews had got to know each other the day before, they were all eager to help each other in their endeavour to haul their vessels through the waves and head for the third country we are visiting on this trip. Located just outside the Northern Irish capital, Belfast, Bangor is a seaside town on the southern side of Belfast Lough, and has plenty to offer.

The splendid sight of the town of Bangor proved a welcome sight after an exhilarating sail across the sea, and the view of the Ferris Wheel illuminated against the night sky invokes many memories of childhood, even in some of our most hardened sailors!

All of those on board are helping us to raise much needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and, along with our sponsors, are all working hard to make sure the work that they do to help some of the most vulnerable people in the UK.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

The first day of leg 5 of Premier sailing's sail4macmillan round Britain cruise of 2019. As the boats had been serviced and resupplied, our new crews had arrived, introduced each other and set off on their way from Troon to Portpatrick. On a cloudy Wednesday morning, Ashanti and Clearlake II set off into the open water of the Firth of Clyde. With little wind, both boats fired up their Volvo engines to keep them on track and on time, heading past Loch Ryan on their way towards the Irish sea.

Portpatrick is the most western point in Scotland, and the last Scottish haven on our cruise this year. After their arrival, and a good meal on board, our crews rafted up and headed ashore for a final evening north of the border, before making a short hop across the Irish sea the following morning.

A new crew ready to head out across the Irish sea

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

 

 

 

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

 

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

On day five, Ashanti and Clearlake II set out again through the islands of western Scotland and the Firth of Clyde, not far from the isle of Bute.

Navigating the islands can be difficult, and detailed passage planning is essential to the success of any trip, let alone this one. As with any such endeavour, you need to adapt and be ready to change plans at a moment's notice, fortunately our skippers and crews all have the skills necessary for this to happen with ease.

Conditions were perfect for an exhilarating sail, both vessels leaning against the wind and cutting their way through the waves making for a wonderful sight. With good wind our crews made amazing progress, and with adrenaline pumping the hours and the miles flew by, with a steady supply of tea and biscuits keeping them going on their way.

On arrival at Largs, our crews moored up and tucked into a good meal, reminiscing over the amazing sailing they have had so far this week, and preparing themselves for the final stage of this leg, the short hop to Troon, that they will make the next day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

As our crews woke and readied themselves to leave the Crinan canal, they were greeted by a marvellous sight.

VIC 32 is one of the last two remaining steam-powered Clyde Puffers in operation. She was commissioned by the admiralty in 1939, she served throughout the Second World War as an inshore craft and, following the war, was used mainly in the coasting trade. As most of the Clyde Puffers have been converted to diesel, VIC 32 is quite the celebrity as one of the last remaining coal powered Puffers in operation.

On leaving the canal, the mist descended on our crews and, although visibility was still good, the eerie atmosphere it creates over the shoreline can be a little unsettling for some. Our crews are made of sterner stuff, and continued on, soon free of the mist and well on their way to Tarbet and their resting place for that night.

On reaching their destination, our crews settled in for the night and, fed and watered, readied themselves for the next day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

On  day three our crews took on the fifteen locks and seven bridges of the Crinan canal. Completed in 1801, the canal links the Firth of Clyde with the west coast of Scotland and is popular with many leisure cruises, not least ours, and provides another opportunity for navigating locks, as well as testing thre boat handling skills of our crews.

Originally populated mainly by Clyde Puffers, the Crinan canal is a much tighter fit than the Caledonian in places and required a steady hand on the helm at times, as well as good communication when entering the small locks that line the way.

After traversing the fourteen kilometers of the canal, Ashanti and Clearlake II moored near the village of Ardrishaig, ready to lock out in the morning and into the open sea once more.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

On day two, our crews set off early past the isle of Mull and into the sound of Jura. Their destination today was the entrance to the Crinan canal, taking in the stunning scenery of the islands, famous for their malt whiskies, and racing through the waves of the open water.

As the weather turned and the skies clouded over, our crews donned their wet weather gear and kept their course and maintained their speed, a little rain not deterring them from the task ahead, nad nothing can dampen their spirits!

As there is nowhere to moor up outside the Crinan sea lock, our convoy needed to arrive in time to lock in before 1600, and they made it with time to spare.  Soon they were safely moored, warming themselves with a good meal on board and getting some well deserved rest before the challenges of the next day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

As one leg ends, another begins. With new crews on board, Clearlake II and Ashanti leave the Caledonian canal and set off toward Kerrera, an island near the town of Oban, in beautiful sunshine and fair winds to send them on their way.

After leaving Fort William, there was a great few hours of sailing for our  crews to enjoy, and a complete change from the steady procession  through the canal. Our convoy raced through the water of Loch Linnie, heading south to Glencoe in the sunshine.

With the majestic Ben Nevis still towering in the background, our crews were shown some of the best sailing in the highlands and islands of western Scotland as they travelled to their overnight stop at Oban. With the boats resupplied and raring to go, everyone on board was able to enjoy their surroundings, the excitement building for the week ahead.

The sail4macmillan cruise offers not only some great sailing in British waters, but also a chance to support a great cause and provide some much needed help for those who really need it.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.