This was to be just under 50 miles across the entrance to the Firth of Forth to Arbroath ( 56:33.13N, 002:35.0W), home of the Arbroath Smokie. We had a good trip across, with winds varying in direction and strength, but typically around F3 from the NW, until the last few hours when the wind dropped right off, and what there was came from the south.

This was basically a motorsailing trip, with not much to report since we were well off the coast for most of the time crossing the Forth. Lots of seabirds, particularly Gannets and Puffins. We had a definite window to get into Arbroath because of a combination of tide and the time the lock keeper went home in the evening, and we had built some slack into our schedule accordingly. As it happened, we made good time, so slowed down with a couple of hours ‘sailing’ in a variable F2 as we approached Arbroath, to avoid arriving before there was sufficient depth.

Arbroath is another of these harbours where you need to follow a precise line on approach to avoid rocks on both sides, all just covered by water. Initially we started to follow another yacht in, until it became clear that it had no idea where it was going as it started to sail over the shallows and rocks. He must have had a fright, because the next thing we saw was him sailing back out and following us. The leading marks were easy to follow, and provided you trusted them, and believed in the fact that there was a harbour  hidden there, it was easy, and all became clear in the last 100 metres.

Arbroath is an interesting town, with a good marina and small working harbour. Having sampled Arbroath Smokies for dinner it was not too difficult to decide to have a rest day here on Friday, before the trip up to Peterhead on Saturday.