Reduce bedding drying in your cabin by remembering to check the forehatch is closed before setting sail!
Thursday 30 June 2011
Not the most productive of days
This morning started well. Sunshine & showers (of the gel & shampoo type) a leisurely departure with full tanks and one reef in the main, just in case. We left the very sheltered Kinlochbervie to find the reef wasn't needed so out it came. A couple of tacks and we had cleared the rocky entrance and we settled down on the port tack we then proceeded to 'bounce up & down in the same hole' as not for the first time this holiday the sea left over by the previous windy weather was confused and the wind too little to help us power through it. Some showers have provided dome respite, from the need to motorsail, but sadly only briefly. Even the Old Man of Stoer looked suitably dour as we went by! First Mate is now creating in the galley and our ETA in Isle Ristol is about 1900. Had the forecast conditions of a force 4 north westerly been accurate we should have had a cracking day. I only hope that the upcoming forecast of a southerly is equally so!
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Kinlochbervie
We decided at about 0600, when we were only making 2 knots in the wrong direction attempting to continue to Stornoway with a spaniel that was desperate for a pee, that we should tack and head for Kinlochbervie.
The day had consisted of an arrival beer, tidy up then SLEEP!
Now out for T's Official Birthday supper in local hotel.
Cheers!
Night passage from Orkney
<p>Well when I say night officially at 0015 it is but as the sun set an hour and forty five minutes ago and its due up at 0410 I think this is about as dark as it will become tonight. I wonder whether I shall see the 'green flash' again, as I did on our crossing to Orkney, at sunrise? We are 14 nm ENE of Cape Wrath lighthouse which we've been able to see for the last ten miles or so. Sadly we are currently motorsailing, which is an improvement on just motoring but is necessary in order that we make it around the corner before the tide turns against us at about 0500. So far we've used about a third of a tank since leaving Stromness so I'm glad I topped up. The sea has been pretty lumpy with a large swell at times so the engine has been working quite hard. The fact the tachometer packed up about ten days ago isn't too helpful. First Mate and unusually the ship's dog, I say that because he usually hates the possibility he might miss something, are both on crewrest. Destination? Not sure yet. If we can sail we might just continue and head over to Stornoway if not it will be back to Kinlochbervie to fill up! Trust you are all sleeping well!
Monday 27 June 2011
A good night's sleep in Stromness
We anticipate being at sea tomorrow night so a quiet one tonightand a lazy start tomorrow morning, seaweed depending!
My favourite start to the day......
First time for about a week we awoke to beautiful blue sky. Cup of tea then.........
The heads is blocked AGAIN! Thankfully about an hour of fault finding proved it to be the inlet not outlet! A long piece of seaweed attached to a pemble the exact same size as the pipe had been pumped in. My usual trick of blasting air down it with the dinghy pump didn't work so apart it came. 4 hours late we are on our way (code 41!).
Sunday 26 June 2011
Fair Isle
A much quieter/drier morning. We are just awaiting the useful tide as opposed to the very unhelpful one. The fact they keep their mail boat in its noust gives you an idea what the weather can be like here. Orkney next or maybe further depending on progress.....
Saturday 25 June 2011
Friday 24 June 2011
Out Skerries
After an 'interesting' arrival, through the gap between the lighthouse and the island, we had a very peaceful evening (if a little rolly) listening to the swell crashing on those rocks astern of us!
Now enroute to 'the smoke' in other words Lerwick the capital of Shetland. Our journey is scheduled to continue South as we make our way slowly back to Ardfern over the next ten days or so. We are hoping to spend tomorrow night in North Harbour Fair Isle. Looking at the forecast we are in for a text book slog into strong SW winds towards Cape Wrath and beyond!
Thursday 23 June 2011
The 1st Mate's Birthday Card!
Well its rain & showers, which is a considerable improvement on last year when we were in Castlebay, Barra. Bound today for Out Skerries and possibly also West Lunna Voe?
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Tuesday 21 June 2011
The Longest Day
In fact the timing of sunrise and sunset here is 0329/2240 for the 20th 22nd & 23rd.
We had quite a peaceful night and keeping the dinghy on deck works as a very handy blackout so hence we didn't stir until as late as 0830.
It's taken until 11 am for the sun to appear and we are thinking of popping around to Balta Sound to pick up some water and diesel, that heater has been earning its keep(5mins after I wrote this it was brought to my attention that it had gone out and it appears to have run out of fuel!).
We sort of have the feeling we are starting to head south again, though we are not intending to leave Shetland until the 26th. We therefore have a few more nights to explore etc. which is great. Everything is going well with Tiptoe and the wind generator and solar panel are keeping the cool box power consumption at bay! So far we have covered about 475 nautical miles.
The fair tide approaches so I shall sign off. My Blogger app appears to be the issue with photos so some more are on Facebook, if you can cope with the other nonsense!
Location : Shetland Islands,
Posted by Tiptoe!
Monday 20 June 2011
We ve now officially been to the most Northern part of the UK
Sorry for the lack of photos but struggling with Shetland's mobile signal!
Well we've been around Muckle Flugga and its outstack and it was great. Gannets, fulmars, great skuas and puffins everywhere. We were hoping to stay the night close by but the forecast of a moderate northerly breeze made it untenable. We ve therefore carried on to Harold's Wick which is just ten miles or so further and on the east coast of Unst.
Time for a beer!
Slightly brighter today
It was a dreich old day yesterday as we beat upwind from Papa Stour to Easter Wick, which is to be found right at the northern tip of Mainland Shetland. We had a very peaceful night anchored in the most beautiful coloured water and under a watchful 7 sets of eyes, those of the seals.
This morning is drier and the vis has improved. The wind has veered a tad and is now in the N/NE 5-6 and guess what our courses is?!
Anyway a visit to the far north of Unst is our goal, I'm not mentioning the name of the lighthouse until we ve circumnavigated it!
Saturday 18 June 2011
Friday 17 June 2011
Wednesday 15 June 2011
Sunset 4 hours before sunrise
We ve safely arrived in Pierowall Harbour on the island of Westray in Orkney. A somewhat full on sail after a ponderous start. Fantastic sunset followed by an equally food sunrise, separated by just over 4 hours and it never actually went close to dark. Bacon sarnies now then bed!
Monday 13 June 2011
It's brightened up!
Do the diesel heater was in bits over lunch, due water contamination of the thankfully separate tank. All going well now, apart from blowing out in the bigger squalls that is. Still the sun is sort of out!
Holed up in Loch Inchard!
We ve been quite fortunate with the weather up until now and we ve made reasonable progress from Ardfern (PA31 8QN) to Loch Inchard (IV27 4RN) postcodes included should you care to use Google maps/earth etc.!
Today the 'vigorous' low that the met office has been mentioning for days is making its presence felt here just south if Cape Wrath. As a result we must wait for a suitable improvement (maybe tomorrow lunchtime?) before we can continue northwards on to Orkney or possibly Shetland. Having seen the synoptic chart I suspect it may be the former before the next depression arrives soon after this current one. So today is to be filled with passage planning and dueling with my old friend the diesel heater!
Sunday 12 June 2011
Saturday 11 June 2011
A beautiful evening in the Summer Isles!
Not the best of sailing days as we motored for 5.5 hours or just over half of it. We did however have a ten minutes dolphin encounter so all was not lost. Sunset tonight 2222!
Safely through The Skye Bridge
At 1725 yesterday after a great sail including cheating, an admittedly neap tide through Kyle Rhea. We then sailed under the Skye bridge against a foul tide with a flukey breeze. Lovely peaceful night otter watching in the Crowlin Islands.
Friday 10 June 2011
A sunny start but a variable forecast
I had just started writing our forecast down when the latest came through at 0545 this morning. A pleasant S backing SE 4-5 has become SW 5-7!
Thursday 9 June 2011
Tobermory
Well 9 hours from Dorus Mor. Mainly on the wind, occasionally gusting 30+ knots. On the other hand we had to motor for half an hour or so due to lack of wind! Had some torrential downpours but now having a well deserved arrival beer in the sun!
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