Circumnavigating the Island of Mull: a canoe adventure on the sea.

Circumnavigating the Scottish Island of Mull in canoes over four and a half days in July 2018 with the renowned Colin Skeath. This has long been my favourite circumnavigation in sea kayak but this was an attempt in canoe. We needed favourable conditions or it would not have been possible in canoe. Day three was the big one when we covered over thirty miles when sailing and an addition 6 more paddling.
Total trip was just under 100 miles.
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Around Mull by Canoe: my trip with Colin Skeath is now in print. The article can be read on: joom.ag/Fjoa/p44 and paddlerezine.com/ray-goodwins...
My website: www.RayGoodwin.com
Collins: source-2-sea.co.uk
Sail, mast foot and sailing seat by www.endlessriver.co.uk
I have an instructional video on how to sail using these rigs: • Canoe Sailing: rig and...
My outfitting video also includes how I fitted the mast foot and sailing seat: • Outfitting a Canoe: Br...
Paddling the Prospector from www.venturekayaks.com
Paddles by freebirdpaddles.co.uk
Gear by www.nrs.com
My book, Canoeing, is available direct from myself or from Amazon.

[@adrianevans1510]

Thanks for this wonderful video of your Mull circumnavigation. My friend Paul and I attempted a Mull circumnavigation in my Solway Dory trimaran - the twin of the one you used to own, Colin also in July 2018! We left the Puffin Dive centre on 23/7,- a great spot to start a trip and leave vehicles safely. We had afternoon GnTs with friends who live at Achnaha, and then camped at Savary Bay. On the 24th we set off North up the Sound and then West along the North coast. Conditions picked up a bit beyond the forecast, and doing the mental calcs on the time window we had, and the forecast for the following couple of days - I didn't want to be caught out on the West Coast of Mull - I called it, and we camped in the same spot as you, looking out to Rum, Eigg, Muck, Skye, Coll, Tiree, Ardnamurchan. We might have had a nip or two as well! We had a roller coaster ride back along the North coast of the island - an old friend's skiing mantra 'faster! faster! until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death' comes to mind. It took us barely 2 hours to get to Loch na Droma Buidhe, where we holed up for the afternoon and the next day. solitude and bliss, and entertainment watching yotties trying to anchor. We headed out down the Sound on 27th, and the wind picked up and up till I took the masts out but even then we were at full stretch trying to paddle into it, so we beached, got the shelter and chairs up (yes, that is a carp fishing shelter!) had a brew and chilled till it dropped, and then had a civilised sail down to Craignure, where we inhaled mussels, steak, chips and beer. In the morning, wonderfully atmospheric gloom as we ghosted back across the Firth of Lorne. Here's a few pictures of our trip. Many thanks for the lovely reminder. www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturnip/sets/72157673977464988/

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Love your photos! Yep it is all down to conditions: Colin and I only did the trip as fast as we did because conditions dictated it, we wanted to make use of everything that was working in our favour. Thank you for commenting and I would recommend others to check out your photos. Kind regards, Ray

[@simonablokeinthewoods]

I enjoyed that on so many levels - thanks Ray!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

You are most welcome.

[@em-rg3xf]

That was one of the Best videos ive ever watched on youtube. Absolutely awesome. Just Wow. More please. Enjoy And safe sailing.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you for your kind comment. More to follow (slowly)

[@s.l669]

After watching this I'm ordering a venture prospector 155 today. Great video mate!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Have fun!

[@johnymingle]

Excellent....epic trip, well done chaps.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks.

[@susannewilliams]

What a super adventure. Like those sails very much. Learning so much just from watching you. Devil’s in the details. Love it! Thank you for filming and sharing. I know all too well that it is a big faff.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

I learnt a lot filming this. And a lot on editing since doing this. Keep well

[@gav7651]

What a wonderful travelogue. Watching this is seeing my childhood family holidays and adult canoeing aspirations coalesce into one. Wonderful. As a 'native' you remind us that we don't need to visit Canada or Scandanavia for an epic canoe trip - we have it right on our door-step, but sometimes we forget that fact. Thanks for the reminder!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Gavin. It was a wonderful trip

[@Captain_Bartolo]

Wow, amazing trip!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you

[@johnfox3495]

Stunning. One of my absolute favourite parts of the British Isles if not the world. Thank you for sharing the experience.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

It is absolutely stunning. Thank you

[@Voodoo_Ray]

Awesome !

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you

[@Mortonyoutubing]

Great trip thanks for posting, very inspiring

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you Hamish. Now working on next plans. All depends on weather and timing.

[@snozz]

Love it! Great use of the sails there

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thanks! It was a stunning run along the south coast. One of the dream days.

[@thepollenjock]

Fantastic! Looked like an epic trip.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

A belated thank you for your kind comment.

[@PaulKirtley]

Thanks for sharing Ray. Looks like you had a splendid trip.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

A belated thank you for your kind comment.

[@AdamAshFay]

Thats looks to have been an amazing trip.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Truly stunning and great company with Colin. One of my favourite Scottish Islands for paddling.

[@WoolysWorld]

looks great ray

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

A belated thank you for your kind comment.

[@costas_karpi]

Absolutely amazing Ray, you lead where others follow. You've certainly inspired me and many others

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

That is so kind of your to say that. Glad to provide just a little inspiration for folk.

[@DavidWillis]

A wonderfully inspiring adventure and wouldn't that be a fab escape at the moment!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Absolutely it would be. I think that is one of the reasons I reposted it. I needed to remind myself I will be back out there next year.

[@nenook1000]

Thank you fir sharing your adventure Ray , Jackie now wants a pink boat !

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

A women of taste.

[@stephenkemp4328]

Fantastic adventure Ray! You've inspired me to get a sail on my canoe and hopefully do a trip like yours. Mull is also one my favourite islands. Thanks for all the other videos as well - inspirational!

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad to have helped with the inspiration. Yep Mull is special

[@nightstormoutdoors6080]

Love this. What a wonderful journey. Awesome scenery, super sailing canoes, absolutely brilliant. Thank you for filming and sharing your adventure, Ray.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was an amazing trip.

[@grahamrowe6278]

Proper bit of journeying that Ray.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you. It was epic fun.

[@joemcdermott9824]

That looks amazing.. Mull is the other side of the sea from me, I'm in nw Donegal.. Many times on as clear day I've wondered about what it's like that side.. Beautiful little video.. And your sails really do look like the next step. Thank you for these vids again Ray..

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

joe mcdermott: yep the Hebrides are stunning. Glad you enjoyed the video

[@lth1072]

Fantastic. I know nothing about canoes or kyacks . I loved your video . Looks beautiful.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Awesome! Thank you! It is a stunning place. Lots you can do from the land and there are boat trips out to the bird islands hence all the folk we saw bird watching.

[@lth1072]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe nice. I'd love to go there at some point

[@RickTOutdoorAdventure1969]

Nice film Ray, I love Mull and ill definitely put that trip on the bucket list for a future canoe trip. Theres some amazing wildlife on the island and in the surrounding waters isnt there. Thanks for sharing fella. Atb Rick n Billydog

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

It is a stunning place. Not an easy trip in canoe in other than the easiest conditions. Have fun

[@Thebonesoftrees]

Subscribed

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you.

[@eddies5675]

Brilliant Ray, just about to pick up my first canoe and this got me excited for future potential! Don't know anything about sailing a canoe (or sailing anything) but looks like a lot of fun.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

It is a lot of fun but off the coast of Mull we needed to really know what we were doing.🙂 But you have so much fun coming yourself. Enjoy your new canoe.

[@paultaylor3856]

Awesome video. Very impressed with your sailing set up and skills. Good ole prospector canoes huh, so very versatile and seaworthy.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep a prospector is always the versatile design and it did well on this trip. There is a sailing tutorial on my channel:kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqC8ZYloeq2Em8k if you want to know more. Anyway the sailing on the south coast of Mull was amazing. Blew (yep ok blew) my socks off. Thanks for commenting

[@paultaylor3856]

Ray Goodwin thanks, I will check that out.

[@cliffjacobson2667]

Ray, it was fun watching your video. I'm guessing you guys had to carry water on this trip. Yes? And now, you're all set for a trip to Hudson Bay and a paddle to Churchill on the Bay--with a spray-cover, of course. Best to you, my friend. Cliff Jacobson

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Hi Cliff, no need to carry a lot of water as we could use streams on the main island of Mull. Mind we only had Puffins and the occasional dolphin to contend with rather than the Polar Bears of a trip on the Bay. I am more than happy to take on a Puffin.........Polar Bear well that is a bit different. And the very best to you my friend. Ray

[@rickyspecs]

Good to see your sailing rig. I think there may be a tweak to give better performance, you have what I think is called a hooked leach meaning that the back of the sail curves inwards instead of leading straight back. This means that part of the sail is actually pulling backwards instead of forwards! Easily cured I think by having a sheet horse - a stick with a roper runner along which the sheet block can slide further from the midline. I suppose it could have a couple of little floats in each end if you wanted to get really complicated??

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Wow! Thanks for that Richard. I do have another full sail rig that was made by a company that provided a properly cut sail (made by a sail maker). that performs much better and doesn't have the defect you note. However I like this rig because of complete simplicity and yes I would agree with your technical diagnosis. The beauty is its simplicity although it is not that efficient it does the job I want done. I can carry it with little increase in weight or gear for a trip. This video may interest you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqC8ZYloeq2Em8k Thank you so much for contributing and yeas you are right.

[@MrBeracah]

Hi ray thank you for sharing a wonderful adventure. I am only inti kayaking and was wondering which you would recommend for a trip like yours. Question if your canoe flips over due to a rogue wave will it not sink and you lose all your gear. Please forgive my ignorance. Thanks

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Hi, the trip around Mull is normally done in sea kayaks (I have guided it six times in kayak). You need to be able to be able to calculate not only tide times but when tidal currents start flowing and they go up to 4 knots in a couple of place. Combine these tides and stronger winds and the sea can become extremely rough in places around Mull. Both of us are extremely experience on the sea. So onto kit: we had buoyancy in either end of our canoes and all our equipment was in waterproof bags and then lashed down into the boat. This way the canoes had a massive amount of floatation and could support us when flooded. We had to plan for that worst case scenario. In addition to phones we had VHF radio each along with a Spot Tracker as well as flares. So our plan was to be able to sort ourselves out in an emergency but we had a lot of coverage should it become something we could not handle. Hope that helps. And thank you for your kind comment on our adventure.

[@user-ih3wj3re6b]

Without whiskey, the sea is dreary

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep good whisky is certainly a nice extra on a journey.

[@hzr2311]

Hi Ray, great video, your sail inspired us to look for a sail in Australia for our 4m Canadian canoe. What are the dimensions of your sail? Would it be suitable for our canoe? Do you think a very light boom would help to catch light wind? Thanks. We enjoy watching all of your videos.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Let me check later today. Rather than a boom a sail batten on the bottom edge works successfully for a friend of mine.

[@tomhughes5123]

brilliant . im being mithered to get another kayak , but i love canoes i used one on loch marree years ago ..going was great on a glass calm millpond coming back was put off for two days the chop was 7ft waves .. not good .. any reccomendations for what you would call an all rounder ?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Really hard question. Is it for solo use, tandem or with the family? Can you afford T-formex or will you do, like most of us, use the heavier polyethylene?

[@tomhughes5123]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe for me and my daughter but il use it solo too ,, ahh im not loaded i could save £1000 a month at a push

[@steve_d]

Ray - what a fanstic trip and a beautifully put together video. A real antidote to overhyped "extreme sports" videos! I have a question - what is your opinion of using a spray deck on a canoe in open water? It was a search for information on this that lead me to your video. I'm glad it did.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Glad you enjoyed it! I have used a spray deck on other trips that were on the sea. Getting the boat filled with buoyancy bags and kit that displaces water, is probably more important but when I have used a spray deck in big conditions it certainly helped.

[@steve_d]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe Thanks Ray. A spray deck is looking like it will be this winter's project. re. Bouyancy: 100% :) We've watched your video of the trip round Mull a few of times now... it's very relaxing! And inspirational. Thank you.

[@lenwhite8662]

What make are the boats I loved the sails in them Does anyone know where you can purchase these open canoes in the uk

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Hi Len, my pink canoe is a Prospector from www.venturekayaks.com. The red canoe, Colin's, is a Prospector from www.houcanoes.com. Both readily available from dealers or direct. Hope that helps. My video on how I have outfitted mine is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIW5cmyIhbpmg6s

[@Kiwionwing]

Where did you get the sail rigs from?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Sail, mast foot and sailing seat by www.endlessriver.co.uk My outfitting video also includes how I fitted the mast foot and sailing seat: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIW5cmyIhbpmg6s

[@seversever2858]

Nice vídeo. How much cost this type of canoe ? And what IS better a metal or plastic canoe ?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

I prefer plastic to metal. The canoe is a Venture Prospector: www.venturekayaks.com/canoes.php?model=prospector-155 Cost in UK is £1275. Sailing rig is extra.

[@segundaordem]

How long is you canoe ? 17? Or 15 ? Thank you I ll will buy one soon

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

15' 5'': This one is the Venture Prospector. www.venturekayaks.com/canoes.php

[@tuco2016]

Excuse me, isn't dangerous to go on the sea with canadian canoe ,for wind ?Isn't better kayak?Did you modify canoe to resist the wind and sea currents?Thank you

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Yep you are right that a canoe is very vulnerabledon'ttroubleThehope

[@Blackcat-fw4tl]

This has inspired me to buy a canoe ! Anyone got any good advice on a good all round canoe ! Sea ! River ! Lakes ! With enough space for gear / camping stuff ! ?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

The canoe I am using in the video is a Venture Prospector 15'5' Colin is using a Hou Prospector. Both would work as an allrounder. Glad to inspire.

[@Blackcat-fw4tl]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe cheers ! I've been looking at a few ! The nova craft blue steel keeps catching my attention ! Would you recommend that one or are they all much the same ?

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

@@Blackcat-fw4tl lots of differences between models and Blue Steel is a material Novacraft use rather than a design. They also do a prospector style boat for general purpose use in Blue Steel. I recommend going to a good dealer if possible and trying some different boats out. Have fun.

[@Blackcat-fw4tl]

@@RayGoodwinCanoe cheers ! Will do !

[@user-fu5mu9jx1h]

Μπράβο ..έχω καί γω ένα kayak to ειδειο..για θαλάσσια κάνει

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

When conditions get harder then a sea kayak would be far better. Mull is a wonderful island for sea kayaking but it was time to try in canoe. Google translate: Όταν οι συνθήκες γίνονται πιο δύσκολες τότε ένα θαλάσσιο καγιάκ θα ήταν πολύ καλύτερο. Το Mull είναι ένα υπέροχο νησί για θαλάσσιο καγιάκ, αλλά ήρθε η ώρα να δοκιμάσετε στο κανό.

[@TheOneCanoe]

Hey Ray, Great video. Some amazing scenic vistas there, that can only be appreciated from the water. Most of my my paddling is done in Canada and the US, but I'd really love to 'cross the pond' and check out some paddling in your neck of the woods someday. I've just subscribed to your channel. If you are interested in Canadian canoe destinations, please check out my KZbin channel.

[@RayGoodwinCanoe]

Thank you for your kind comments.😁