Lossiemouth

Wednesday 9th august. Evening.

Sorry folks, long time no blog.

Back in Lossiemouth, after a (sort of) circumnavigation of Scotland. 41 days, 700 nautical miles. Sailing sometimes, motoring at others. Weather, variable, but better than it could have been apparently.

The trip from Wick today was rather special. Left at the top of the tide, with a gentle south-going current to help, and an increasing NW-ly wind to fill the gennaker and blast us along at grinning speed. Past the oil installations and enormous windmill being installed with gigantic cranes, in very good visibility, they all looked quite lego-like on the horizon, until black clouds and rainstorms chased us and showered us and changed the wind strength and direction and confused the seas. Much movement which kept on collapsing the sails and resulted in the inevitable motoring for the last couple of hours. A very variable day, but fast, and we tied up just in time for tea.

Since the last blog from Westray, we sailed and bounced (these currents certainly cause choppy seas), to North Ronaldsay, with the intention to experience “The Sheep Festival”, with local music, food and dance. But alas no. The harbour, on the south end of the island was inadequately protected from the wind and swell, the jetty was very boat-unfriendly (only for the ferry), and the mooring was a long way from a stony beach. After a serious evaluation and a cuppa, we decided to retreat un-festvalled, and seek anchorage on the way to Kirkwall. Against a goodly wind and the three knot current, progress was both wet and rough until we entered Calf Sound on Eday. There two “visiting yachts” moorings and the choice was ours. A bay very well sheltered from the wind and swell, but the current still swirled back and forth. A safe place.

Next morning, back to the tide and current info, to find the way to Kirkwall. Nice day. Clear skies and warm sun. Sailed south in a gentle westerly the first couple of hours until we turned west and had to motor. Tried the northern route round Shapinsay. Much stronger current against than we’d calculated. Try the southern route instead. Likewise, bother, but now the die was cast, and we crept past the interesting west, lots of bird-cliffs, and south, beaches, coastline of Shapinsay, and in to Kirkwall, with famous Christian Radich, magnificent and resplendent lording it on the outer pontoon, in time for lunch. Tied up between a large German motor cruiser and a large motor catamaran from Bergen. Looked a bit incongruous, but near the ramp, fuel and WiFi.

In the afternoon, with camera at the ready, out to view Christian Radich. Too big and too close to photograph really, and visitors were not welcome at the moment. Nice chat in Norwegian with one of the tee-shirted crew at the end of the end of the gangplank.

And then a gawp at a most unusual sight which arrived. A 1930’s vintage three-liter, six-cylinder open-topped Lagonda, in concours black and shining chrome condition, with proud owner answering questions and telling the story. I took pics of the engine.

We were greeted by our now-friend Hans, from Shetland, whom we had met in several places before, and whose company we had enjoyed. A convivial evening with him in the bar of the nearest hotel, the restaurant was full, but the menu was apparently the same and the food was good.

A plague in several places we had been were the boy racers. Loud-exhaust, hard-accelerating, tyre screeching cars circulating the town and the harbour walls until late. Kirkwall was the worst. But damped for a while by the presence of a police car. A short chat with the yellow-clad policewoman- “Yes, they do make a lot of noise, don’t they”, smile. Ah well. Earplugs to the rescue.

That’ll do for now. More tomorrow.

Alls well.