Carradale Bay to Port Bannatyne, then exploring Bute

Despite being sleep deprived, we managed to fire up the electronics, the main engine and to recover the 40 metres of chain or so that we had deployed and the anchor at the end of it. Amazingly the anchor was totally clean. No kelp, no mud and stones, A lovely sandy seabed to anchor on. As we headed off all was calm, sunny and good (even if the flybridge and wind deflector looks very distorted in this panorama picture):

The simple route to Port Bannatyne on Bute takes us up the western coast of Arran before heading over to Bute and  northwards. This image shows the full route all the way from Ardfern::

Towards the top of Arran there is a lovely spot, Lochranza. Our route was disturbed by one huge superyacht Aviva which had decided to anchor just off there, exactly where we wanted to go. As she looked rather expensive and probably had a few guns on board, together with people who know how to use them, we opted to head around her at an acceptable distance:

Luckily, taking pictures didn't seem to upset them:

The yacht looks almost like a computer generated model sitting anchored off Arran. Kind of incongruous too - the surroundings would better suit a classic old timber motor yacht built by Silvers or similar. According to the internet, the owner has a net worth of over £5 billion so we guess that the crew, maintenance and fuel costs are pretty insignificant for him. We are not even a teeny bit jealous, he would struggle getting into some of the places we love in our small Nordhavn. 

As you round the bottom of the Isle of Bute, you get to see the delightful little Glencallum bay and the resident teeny lighttower:

and further up the east coast, the amazing Mount Stuart house:

Once more a few porpoises about, one inquisitive seal but no dolphins. We are still convinced the dolphins here must all be SNP supporters and refuse to come and play when they see Fowey is the port of registration on our stern. We are too English, despite having lived in Edinburgh for a while.

The Bute shoreline has some impressive properties arranged along it. We (and Anne) fell in love with one that was up for sale a few years ago. Somehow buying it, persuading the Toddlers to move there, relying on the ferry to get to the mainland and the Coop for food put us off. Or was it because Anne promised to move into a spare room - mind you she did also plan to bring Izzy her dog which would soften the blow:

Some of the houses have an impressive backdrop of the mainland hills as you reach the NE corner of Bute:

Naturally, after a very relaxed time (on the flybridge again) we had to be disturbed by the Calmac ferry heading away from Rothesay:

A small course alteration was needed. 

We had pre-arranged the one berth in Port Bannatyne that we can realistically use. On this borrowed aerial view, it is the hammerhead (end berth) at the bottom right with a small yacht on it:

The pontoon length is way less than the length of our boat. If we align the stern with the end of it, we protrude so far towards the breakwater that nothing would get past us at low water. So, some shuffling and tinkering with mooring lines to get properly secured was needed. Always worth it though as the people here are just so friendly. Apart from one visiting yachtsman that is who made a mess of berthing, then uncoupled the hose we were using to fill our water tank, plugged in another and started filling his boat instead. Kind of ignorant people. We made him know that too. We realised the level of ignorance when they made departing from the berth the next morning a painful process with much shouting, confusion and drama. 

Taking the bikes (or should that be "being taken by the bikes"?) into Rothesay the main town we were forced to have an ice-cream as it was warm and sunny. Coffee and cake was saved for a gloomier day. A little Coop visit then back to enjoy the perfect evening. We do like this island.