Castor Sailing Stuff

Vessel Name: Safe Return
Vessel Make/Model: Westerly Vulcan
Hailing Port: Debbage in Ipswich
Crew: Andy Smith (McSmith) & Ian Sheldon (Shelly)
About: Andy & Ian have discussed Sailing round our independent Island since Andy retired from The Fire Service in 2011. Ian turned 65 last September and Bought Safe Return. The trip an begin
31 July 2017 | Off Wicklow
28 August 2016
28 August 2016 | Castor
27 August 2016 | Tobermory
25 August 2016 | Iona
23 August 2016
23 August 2016
19 August 2016 | Rutland Water
20 July 2016
20 July 2016
19 July 2016
04 July 2016 | Arbroath
04 July 2016
02 July 2016 | Anstruther
01 July 2016
29 June 2016 | Blyth RBSC
29 June 2016 | Seaham marina
Recent Blog Posts
31 July 2017 | Off Wicklow

The trip continues

Andy joined Safe Return on the Caledonian Canal while I was cruising up and down with Jane & Charlie. Eric Joyce a friend from my teen years joined us in Oban, with Andy we set sail for Tobermory to meet Leslie, John, Jack and Anne who were due to visit on a cruise ship, the weather was rough and they [...]

28 August 2016

Professor Plankton

In case you think I was joking.

28 August 2016 | Castor

Ed of another Adventure

Yesterday we knew we weren't leaving Tobermory until after lunch because of the tides to Oban. In the morning I spoke to Proff Plankton who I have seen before trawling a sample net off the pontoons. He explained that understanding the plankton enables the company he works with- Sea Life Surveys-to know [...]

27 August 2016 | Tobermory

Anchor problems and trip to Tobermory

Last night on Iona we returned to Safe Return to find my anchoring skills are dire. A large sight seeing vessel we anchored a respectable distance away from was a few meters off our bow after the tide had changed, also,our anchor was under her hull so no way of moving. I started cooking a spagbol then [...]

The end

04 July 2016 | Arbroath
This is the end of our first phase. We are returning to Castor tomorrow.
Today Ashley drove us to Dundee where we went round Discovery, very interesting.
We have travelled 471 miles since leaving Harwich 11 days ago, been asked by 3 fishermen to alter course, picked up a string of lobster pots in an anchorage in the Farne Isles and had to dodge high density of lobster pot buoys as we enter harbours up here.
We have seen a few Porpoises, loads of seals, up here they pop their heads out of the water and watch us as we sail by. When we anchored at the Farne island we were in a sheltered area and it was a seal swimming pool there were hundreds of them popping their heads up all round us.
The Bird life is very dynamic with Puffins flitting about and swimming underwater. Gannets are spectacular as we approached Anstruther there were thousands of them, some flying in squadrons of 10 - 20 gannets flying clos to surface as well as individuals going in all directions, as well as Guilimots, Terns & Razor Bills. You can see where there are fish near the surface as the birds are diving in and feeding.
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Safe Return's Photos - Main
Safe Return sailing
7 Photos
Created 20 June 2016

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