The Red Hot Chilli Pipers from an ear friendly distance!
The music was very good with a variety of bands watched by an audience of various ages with lots way older than us ...........honest. It is very worth a visit if you are up that way next year.
Jimmy and Alwyn left for their flight about 10.30 Sunday morning and we headed out in warm sunshine to cross the Minch. We motored all the way in calm conditions until rounding Cape Wrath where a stiff headwind came up against a strong flood tide. This made it very lumpy all the way to to Loch Erribol. The normal anchorage at Rispond was not good in an east wind so we motored into Ard Neackie north harbour. Twice we dropped the anchor without getting hold. As it was getting dark as we went round to the south harbour and secured in the mud there first time.
Approaching Cape Wrath
We left for Scrabster next morning with a stiff easterly slowing us down a bit but arrived about 3.30. I was disappointed after all the investment in the harbour with pontoons etc none were available to visiting boats as they were all taken up with workboats. Instead you have to tie alongside the sheet piling which requires a good board if you are being blown on. The harbour team though are fantastic being there to catch ropes and even John coming down from the control room at 5 am to let go ropes and give good advice on the mood of the firth!
South of Stroma
We left with light easterlies forecast but a very big tide. We timed it to arrive at Duncansby head before the full flood had come through. Despite this we still had over 10 knots approaching south of Stroma. A bit lumpy as we were spat out through the Boars of Duncansby but no problems.
A light south east wind did not let us head straight for Peterhead so we headed down to MacDuff arriving at 6pm. Nicely tied up we had a chinese aboard and planned to rendezvouz next night with Peter Sherlock who, helped by Jim Glass was bringing his new LM 32 back from the west through the canal.
Looking forward to an easy day we went to leave and no go from the starter. It had been a bit temperamental on one or two occasions. I stripped the solenoid and cleaned the terminals but no joy it had to come off. Susan gave me a hand and we soon had it removed. I enquired with the harbourmaster who directed me to a man in Turrif who was a starter expert. Inside it looked very sorry and a new one was ordered. It would not arrive till Friday afternoon so we settled ourselves for 2 days in MacDuff which were quite enjoyable. We watched the big fishing boats being hauled very effectively up the slip for repairs, walked to Banff and even went to the aquarium. The harbourmaster John and his assistant Alan were great giving me a lift to and from Turrif to get the starter. It was back and fitted in an hour on Friday and we left right away for home.
Awaiting our starter in the boat hospital!
Susan chatting to the fish
Friday evening was very pleasant with no wind and bright skies. I headed as close to Rattray Head as Ive ever been to escape the foul spring tide. It worked as we managed over 5 knots close in and 2.5 further out.
We carried on in flat calm doing 2 hour watches and arrived back in Granton at 4pm Saturday 23 hours from MacDuff.
So the big cruise of 2013 is over. It was a great proving sail after the "big repair". 1150 miles in 6 weeks with a mix of weather in the company of old friends and new ones made along the way. The west coast still has many places we have not visited but always good to leave an excuse to return.
Rattray Head as close as I dared!
We carried on in flat calm doing 2 hour watches and arrived back in Granton at 4pm Saturday 23 hours from MacDuff.
So the big cruise of 2013 is over. It was a great proving sail after the "big repair". 1150 miles in 6 weeks with a mix of weather in the company of old friends and new ones made along the way. The west coast still has many places we have not visited but always good to leave an excuse to return.
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