Saturday 3 July Blyth to Whitby

The forecast for Sunday is F7-8 gales so we headed to Whitby to have Sunday as a lay day before our final 180 mile trip across the wash home.

The 50 miles was a quick motor sail starting at 5 :30 to enable us to have enough water to enter the harbour. We left in sun and arrived in sun , I think its the first day for a long while.

So hope fully we rest up and arrive home Tuesday or Wednesday depending whether we stop in Lowestoft or not.

Friday 2 July Eyemouth to Blyth

The weather forecast for the next week is aweful so its time to get as far south as possible.
We had intended to stop at Holy Island but the weather coditions did not make it possible so sailed as close to the island and passed inshore of the Farne islands on our way to Blyth.

Holy Island

The Farne islands

Blyth Harbour

The entrance to the harbour is easily spotted due to two giant wind turbines off the entrance and another few along the breakwater.
The harbur is home to the Royal Northumberland Yacht Club wose club house is an old wooden lightship.

Thursday 1 July Eyemouth

Following a good sleep (much needed) It was a tour or Eyemouth. The town is a busy fishing port with a maritime museum that is a work in progress following the closure of Exeter museum , many of the boats are stl in storage. A visit to Gunsgreen House , one of the districts smugglers is also worth a visit to explore all the hidden store holes in the house.

The museum building

Gunshill House




A word of warning we left it till 8:00 in the evening to eat and every thing had shut except the Indian, I hope they are busier in the tourist season.

Tuesday 29 June Stroomness(Orkney) to Wick

It was a 4:00 start to allow us to cross Scapa Flow and have time to spare to catch the tide across the Pentland Firth. It was an uneventful crossing in 5kn of wind so it was motor all the way. Looking out for killer whales that my brother hadspotted a few days previously. We arrived off Wick late morning and due to the easy passage continued onto Peterhead where wwe arrived late evening . Since we had both had some sleep on route and it was going to be a windless night we carried onto Eyemouth arrivig at 17:00 the following afternoon. 210 miles in 31 hours under engine, It will be good to sail the boat.

The Orkneys

We all ways intended to stay a few days in the Orkneys to visit all the historic sights so we hired a car for 2 days to do a whistle stop tour.

Stroomness has a new marina run as a trust by the Orkney Council , it will take around 20 visiting boats but was only a third full all the time we were there. The Marina master is very helpful with visits at 10:00 and 18:00 so he can fit his golf in.


View from the Tomb of the Eagles
Inside the Tomb

The Italian Chapel, Built out of scrap inside an old tin prision hut by Italian prisioners of war

Skara Brae Stone age village hidden under the dunes until exposed by a storm

The Bishops Palace

Pilots cottages at Stroomness

Pics to follow

Thursday 24 June Kinlovhbervie to Stromness Orkney.

The trip to the Orkneys need very careful planning for both tide and weather. The tides were correct but the wind was forecast to build , but we knew that if it was to rough we could stop in Loch Eriboll.
We left in 25 kns of wind which gave us a good trip round Cape Wrath but it was bitterly cold. So now another righthand corner completed. Later the cloud lifted from the sea but stayed over the land giving us a few hours of great downwind sailing.
We arrived at 17:30 after 75 miles sailing, we are now closer to Norway than home.

Wednesday 23 June Badachro to Kinlochbervie

The weather has been very cold for the last few days so are now using the favourable forecast to head North for the Orkneys. On this leg of the trip we finally got to see Puffins and had dolphins swimming all around the boat , but they always disappear when the camera is got out. At least for the sail to Kinlochbervie we had enough wind from behind us so the 40 + miles soon passed and we were glad to tie up in the old fishing port out of the wind. At one time Kinlochbervie had a very very large fishing fleet and still has a huge fish market but is in the middle of nowhere.

The very narrow entrance
Where are all the fishing boats

Tuesday 22 June Kyle Akin via Plockton to Portree

A gentle motor around the corner the next morning to look at Plockton giving the wind a chance to fillin. The plan was to stop at Portree but this was dead to windward so the secluded anchorage at Badachro in Loch Gairloch was chosen instead. The forcast changed to F6 so it was good to be in a very sheltered bay where we anchored for the night . It was just a short dinghy ride to the single pub that was very busy.

Monday 21 June Rum to kyle Akin Via Sound of Sleat

Another Day without any wind. The trip up the sound of Sleat passed through the high hills on the way to the Sky bridge. At the top of the sound the passage narows giving strong currents and whirlpools. A large seal was lurking in these turbulant waters as the area is teaming with wildlife.
We picked up a visitors buoy at opposite Kyle Akin opposite Loch Alsh and a few hundred yards from the Sky bridge in the otter pool. The tide is very strng under the bridge and the pool was full of fish with once again a seal in residance. That evening the fish were jumping all around the boat , Using a small spinner I managed to catch a few what they were I dont know yet but they were almost throwing themselves into the dinghy

Sky bridge

Dinner!!

Sunday 20 June Tobermory to Rum

The Isle of Rum provided a loverly quiet anchorage in the bay on the eastern side of the island. Until the peace was shattered by the generator on the sea cadets motor boat that arrived later that evening. Normally in the bay you can see otters , eagles and salmon .
There are only a few houses and a shop that opens from 5-7 pm . Most of the visitors to the island come for the walking and solitude . Every thing is on trust even the showers that are in a shed on the side of open ground that is called the campsite. The evening walk along the shore was pleasant since we went early enough to avoid the midges and they don’t come out over the warte as far as the anchorage.




Leavng in the morning in the drizzle

Tobermory

As we approached the own i was easily recognised by the brightly coloured buildings .
The town is very attractive with the multicoloured buildings , but the local butcher has closed due to last of customers but there are 2 chinese,1 Indian and various other restaurants.
The town has recently installed a pontoon to the east of the harbour which makes getting ashore easier. We moored up at lunch time after a gentle sail from Loch Drumbuie. During the afternoon the wind built from the north producing a severe swell through the bay , many boats left the pontoons for the visitors buoys but still had a rough night. The harbour master said she had not seen it that bad for this time of year , how do we pick them .
Above the town is Ados Park which provides a beautiful scenic walk along the bay towards an abandoned slipway to the south of the bay, a welcome chance to stretch my legs.



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