We woke to rain in Bangor with a forecast Force 3 from the west which turned into hee haw from nowhere for the first few hours so we rode the tide and burned the diesel until a good breeze sprung up.

7-8 knots approaching Scotland in blazing sunshine and flat water. You can't imagine how good it is to be in flat water after weeks of Atlantic swell, not to mention the "big wind".

Last night, our ageing cooker, which had been showing signs of its age for some time finally gave us a Red Card as we cooked dinner in Bangor. We had noticed a small flame under the main ring where gas was obviously escaping. Meaning.... if it wasn't lit, there was gas escaping into the boat. Not great unless you fancy a rocket trip.

A about 9pm last night I emailed the manufacturers in California enquiring where we could get a replacement. Now, how spooky is this!

At 0815 I got an email from Sheila saying their company had just taken on the USA Seaward range and they had one in stock, just arrived from the USA yesterday, in their warehouse......in Bangor!

Less than two hours later we had a shiny new cooker in the boat albeit my flexible friend was cowering in the bilges.

We landed in Campbeltown at 7pm and are currently enjoying a pre-meal drink in the newly refurbished and quite stunning Royal Hotel. I might just book a room.