Well, after the last passage I deserved a good one, and I sure got one!

I left Lossiemouth this morning at about 8am, my lines being helpfully cast off by Paul of yacht Juno, who's also given me the coordinates of his mooring on Loch Fyne - thank you Paul!

On leaving the harbour, the sky was split in half. To the east was a rather dramatic and threatening looking mass of cloud - but thankfully that was down wind and not where I was going! To the west, upwind, the sky was clear blue with a lovely view of Lossiemouth behind me.

I set full sail, and with 8-10kts on the beam was soon sailing happily along at a good pace very comfortable. Gradually the wind freshened, and backed slightly, putting me on a broad reach to a run. Eowyn was beginning to roll a lot, so I rigged a preventer - a line from the back of the boom to the front of the boat, that stops the boom swinging across in a gybe.

Later, having passed platforms for what I think was the Jacky field, the wind was up to 22-25kts. Too much for full rig. I rolled up the jib, put the engine on and came head to wind to drop the main. Somewhat uncomfortable as she was rolling a lot by now and I had to hold on tight while at the mast. Soon done, back on course, engine off again with just the jib set and going almost as fast as before.

On entering Wick Bay, I radioed up the Harbour Master, confirming I could berth where I liked. As I came in, he met me on the pontoon and took my lines: that's a really useful welcome!

Several very friendly other yacht crews on the visitors' pontoon, including one that followed me in and had seen me back in Lowestoft! Supper from the chippy, shower, and at 9:30pm it's still bright sunlight. This is what I was hoping for!

Log of this passage