2014: Off again, leaving Plockton towards Iceland

Awelina of Sweden
James Collier
Mon 21 Jul 2014 10:28
57:20.35N , 005:38.46 W

This year we hope to sail to Iceland, aiming for the SW corner, and thence clock-wise around, returning via the Faeroes. Sunday 21st July finds us on our mooring in Plockton full of fuel, water and stores and charts and pilot books bought. The mooring is the same one we used in 2012, but since then we have had the anchors and ground chain replaced and also have a new riser assembly. Only the yellow buoy remains of the original mooring.

The boat was brought up in hops from Falmouth - Howth - Troon by Mike and Fiona and James. The time spent in Howth was accompanied by the wonderful sea-food Howth is famous for, and stuffed toy animal 'top-trumps': our polar bear was left out in the cockpit overnight and frightened the crew from Pretty Polly (a large local racing boat which was rafted alongside us) on their return from the restaurant. So next morning they showed us their boat mascots: a rat and a Bagpuss!

Two weeks later James and Peter drove back up to Troon and sailed on to Plockton , passing S of the Mull of Kintyre and through the Sound of Luing this time, thence via the Sound of Mull, round Ardnamurchan and the Sound of Sleat. A night spent in Isleornsay proved peaceful in the end but they were able to set the anchor only after 4 or 5 goes and moving considerably further out than is usual - the holding seems dreadful in very soft mud covered by weed.

Peter, Tom, James and Fiona had a pre-departure dinner in Plockton (of Haggis) on Sauturday night. We finally dropped the mooring at 16:50 on Sunday 21st heading N up the Inner Sound, not quite sure where bound but intending only a short sail this evening just to get under-way. Tomorrow we should make more serious plans and consult the long-range weather forecast.