Stornoway to Plockton

Jammy Dodger
Neil Martin
Mon 5 Jul 2010 21:44
57:20.41N 05:38.47W

Friday 25 June - Stornoway

Found a chandler and replaced the jib furling line that was badly chafed.
New devonian crew flew in from Exeter, via Manchester and Glasgow. Welcome
Jason, Mike and Scotty. Cousin Brendan followed later from Paris, via
Glasgow.


Saturday 26 June. (55 miles)

Early 5am start in cloud and rain to East Loch Tarbert on Harris to pick up
Rob GG who was arriving by ferry from Skye at 11.20. Motor sailing in light
winds. Amazing wildlife, whales, dolphins, seals, plus birds galore. Had
the spinnaker up as we headed up the loch and the ferry came past. With Rob
onboard we headed south for Loch Eport on North Uist, where we saw a golden
eagle being mobbed by gannets, whose nests he had been preying on, plus
stags and deer. Anchored in an enclosed bay and some of the crew headed
ashore to climb the nearby mountain, whilst Jason prepared supper. The pipe
cots really came into their own, allowing four people to sleep comfortably
in the main saloon.


Sunday 27 June. (63 miles)

Brendan dives in for a morning dip and comes straight back out looking
white. Measured water temp with a thermometer, 11 degrees C.
Off at 8am for a lovely fast broad reach around the top of Skye, heading for
Portree, hoping to get there in time to watch the England/Germany match.
Wind started dropping just as we were overhauling another yacht, quick
spinnaker hoist and we left them standing, what fun. Put Rob and Mike ashore
in a little bay on East Skye to get a taxi back to Rob's car. We were
running too late for the match, so instead we sailed through a narrow gap in
the Rassay islands and headed for Plockton on the mainland near the bridge
to Skye. Picked up a buoy and dinghied ashore to meet up with Rob and Mike
for a seafood supper in the Plockton Hotel. Rob then headed back to Glasgow
for a morning flight back to London.

Got a call from Neil, "had we seen the forecast?". Heavy southerly winds
coming in from Wednesday. With no internet access on the boat we were
relying mainly on coastguard VHF 48 hour forecasts, Scotland being a wifi
wilderness. We then discovered that Mike had an Iphone that could display
XC Weather, which confirmed Neil's concerns. New passage plan - Refuel and
head south as fast as possible.


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