Great sail at last!
03 August 2011 • Kinlochbervie
We did cast off from the pontoon at Stromness at 5.30am, having got up at 4.30 and gloomily regarded the rainy mist shrouding the town. But we had done our homework on the weather conditions, so we went for it! The Stromness harbourmaster had given Ju some great tips about when to leave when heading west - ie 1 hour before the end of the ebb tide. So Hoy Sound was almost at slack water when we went through it, and we were soon clear of the entrance and heading west. The wind was barely there at all, so it was Vera the Volvo and Baron Otto von Helm, our trusty Raymarine Autopilot who did all the work for most of the day. Unlike the trip to Orkney, visibility was great this time and we had a clear view of the Scottish coast all day. As we were rolling a bit in the swell we hoisted the main and then had a smoother ride. Closer to Cape Wrath, about half-past three, the wind had strengthened and gone round to the south east, so we gave the crew (Vera and Otto) a rest, and started sailing. Well, it was awesome, a really pleasant breeze, and a great tidal current swept us round Cape Wrath at over 9 knots over the ground!! And for a considerable time afterwards, so we only dropped the sails on the entrance to Loch Inchard. The pontoon at Kinlochbervie was surprisingly empty, so we tied up and had dinner, and an early night! Thirteen hours and fifteen minutes under way, and 74 miles covered. Yo, we are on our way south!
Photo of Cape Wrath taken yesterday by Ju as we whizzed past!
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