updated

Jan      Feb    March  April   May     June     July     Aug     Sep   Oct       Nov     Dec

01 Jan       Lossiemouth. Wind W5. The traditional New Year’s Day sail. We reached back and fore for an hour on 1 mile legs with Krak-ATT regularly exceeding 8 knots. Then back to the marina for liquid sustenance in Krak-ATT, the Steamboat and my house for a BBQ (and more liquid - enough to float the new year)

14 Feb       Lossiemouth to Hopeman and back. Wind W5-6. We sailed for an hour in company with Itch then motored to Hopeman. The return was under sail till the last couple of miles when the wind dropped and we had to motor.

27 Mar       Lossiemouth to Portknockie in company with Itch and Moonshadow. Very little wind. Sea breeze (E) fighting the system wind (W). Returned Sunday with full sail to Buckie then motor alone to Lossie. Total 28 NM

April

04/04/04 Oh for the wings of a dove. 0830 All set to go. I went with Martine to see if Richard on Itch was ready. Not a chance “Change of plan. Not going till tomorrow. See you in Wick”. Like Aragorn I did not want to go to Helmsdale anyway. So we decided to wait till Monday too as our voltage controlled relay from Merlin arrived in Lossiemouth on Saturday morning while we were at Findhorn. Forecast looks good W 4-6 perhaps 7. A soldier’s breeze unless we get too far from the land and have to run to Norway

 5 April Lossiemouth to Wick 42 miles through the Beatrice field. Wind 3-5 W to NW took 7.5 hours. Tied up in the outer harbour near the showers and toilets. £11.75 a night or two.

6 April Set off from Wick for Longhope. Wind N 5 against the tide giving a lumpy sea. Decided to return to Wick as conditions were going to deteriorate. Forecast 35 knots for tomorrow. Better forecast for Thursday SW 3-4 veering W

8 April Forecast wind SW 4-5 occasionally 6 in North veering W and decreasing. Karen replaced the fuel filter as we were having a few problems with fuel flow. We left Wick at 1200 to reach Duncansby Head at slack water. We passed Duncansby Head at 1507 and Swona at 1600 doing 11+ knots over the ground. In Switha Sound I turned on the motor and got just a click. I thought the battery was low as I had just fitted a voltage sensitive relay the day before and it might have been wrongly connected. I called Itch for a tow and pulled out the service batteries. Both did the same thing - click -. Itch towed us into Longhope and we moored alongside the Guiding Light.

9 April I took the starter motor off. It was locked solid. I called Betamarine who said they could do nothing till Tuesday. When I took it apart I found that the insulation on the rotor had melted then solidified. The trusty mole wrench released the blockage and two little bits of insulation fell out. I was able to re assemble the motor, test it, and install it. It worked fine.

10 April 1430 Longhope to Stromness in a NW 3. We sailed happily through Scapa Flow till the wind veered a little to NNW and we had to beat past Graemsay. Itch got far ahead. 1745 We decided to enter the marina though no one was about. A wee man came and told us how to get in and out. We were the first visiting boats to tie up at the marina. The pipe band with pipers strutting proudly and drummers beating time and the cheering crowds were elsewhere. The tie up cost £10.50 a night and we stayed over Easter and got our photographs in Orkney Today.

13 April Set off for Burray through Scapa Flow. Visibility about 2 miles. We sailed past the Barrel of Butter and the red can on The Grinds entering Water Sound at 1730. We moored at a large red mooring and went to the pub.

15 April Sufiana with Itch tied alongside motored to St Margaret’s Hope and anchored in 3.5m in the centre of the bay. As we approached the shore in the dinghy one of the oars broke and the blade floated away. We went to the pub drank well, found a plank and paddled back to Sufiana.

16 April 1430 Itch left first and by the time Sufiana was leaving the bay Itch had run aground on Skua Flaes. After waiting for the ferry and a fishing boat to pass Sufiana towed Itch off the putty. We then set off together for Kirk Sound round South Ronaldsay. With a forecast of South 10-15 knots decreasing 5-10 and gusting 18 we expected at least to be able to sail up the East coast of the island. As it was we had to motor all the way and eventually anchored in Kirk sound at 1900, lit the charcoal fire and had our first taste of Grouse Liqueur after a meal of chicken cooked in lemon, lime, garlic and ginger. Nae bad.

18 April Weather forecast was poor for Saturday with gusts of 49 knots, so on Sunday we set off with one reef in the main and motored against the wind for half an hour till we passed Rose Head. Then it was motor off and a brisk sail West of Copinsay round Mull Head and into the String where we were doing 8 knots over the ground. Called Kirkwall Harbour and arranged to tie up in the inner harbour.

22 April S veering SW 15-20 knot increasing 20-25 gusting 20/27 increasing 27-35. Westray calls leaving at 1400 to have the tide with us all the way. ETA 1800 at Pierowall. In fact we left at 1340 and had a great sail North via Fersness Bay where we saw the Coastguard tug. We tied up at the pontoon and adjourned to the best fish and chips in the world at the Pierowall Hotel. Next morning we moved to the other end of the pontoon while the new pontoons and fingers were fitted. All done in a day with great efficiency. In the evening we all went to hear Ivan Drever in the school hall then returned to the hotel to sample Old Man of Hoy whisky.

25 April We put Sufiana on the slipway at 1330 after high water and when the water had receded we touched up the paint work. Sufiana floated off at 2350. We motored back to the pontoon

27 April 1330 Sailed out of Pierowall then put up the chute through Calf Sound across Eday Sound to look at Loth then back across to Backland on Eday where the pier was very good. Such a good place to stop that we decided to stay another night after a party at the other end of the island. Unfortunately the weather forecast for Thursday was N to NNE 20-25 knots increasing to 30 and gusting 42. We decided to press on to Stronsay.

28 April 1330 Motored out of Backland then up chute and across to Whitehall arriving at 1500 and in to the pub where we spent the rest of the evening and met Karen H. After discussion it was decided to take her to Kirkwall on Friday on Itch to catch up with laundry and revisit the Indian restaurant.

30 April 0600 Swan had arrived from Kettletoft where she had an unpleasant night breaking a head rope tossing about in an Easterly swell. We moved back along the pier so she could lay alongside. A Tornado fly past livened the afternoon and we set off under sail at 1715. The wind fell away and our speed dropped to below 2 knots NE of Shapinsay. The motor took us past the North and West coasts of Shapinsay and we arrived in Kirkwall at 2200 an hour after ETA to tie up alongside yacht Tystie painted black and red just like the birds. A meal at the  Eastern Spice and a drink in the St Ola finished a fine day. We remembered to say white rabbits for May 1. The May weekend was full of entertainment but we restricted ourselves to the Orkney Sailing Club bar and dancing in Fusion on Saturday, the rugby club on Sunday and the Sawdoctors concert in Fusion on Monday. Very good.

May

5 May  Kirkwall kept us for 4 days then we got a forecast of ESE 15 knots gusting 21 so we set off for Stromness through Eynhallow (7 knots at springs) leaving at 1230 half an hour after HW Dover. Eynhallow was a pain even when the wind was with the tide there were 2m waves in the middle. We went south of the rost and though we were tossed about only a little this broke the repaired mast head wind strength and direction unit. The rest of the sail was grand reaching 8 knots through the water 9.9 over the ground down the West Coast of Mainland Orkney. On the way we started to overtake the Stromness Lifeboat towing a creel boat which had a rope round its prop. We let them proceed before us as we were an hour ahead of schedule and hung about outside Hoy Mouth till the tide went slack then motored in for Stromness. Even so the tide with us was against the wind so we got quite a chop just before we entered the channel into the harbour. We tied up in the marina at 1845.

7 May 1230 We towed Ptolomy round the marina to the slip so he could replace his prop then set off at 1340 for Scrabster. As the wind was light we had to motor all the way. When we passed the Old Man of Hoy John called from diving boat Karin saying he had a photograph of us. We reached Scrabster at 1920.

 9 May Saturday was too foggy to set off and Sunday looked as bad but locals said the fog cleared after Dounreay so we set off at 1340 and motored in slowly clearing mist till the visibility was 2 miles by Strathay point followed by a local ex fishing boat Sunrise who left us when the mist cleared. At 1900 as we approached Eilan nan Ron the visibility dropped to half a mile so we slowly crept past Rabbit Island towards Talmine where the sun was shining. We anchored in 4m, drew alongside Itch and lit the BBQ.

10 May Decided to head for Kinlochbervie with Itch leaving at 1200 motoring against the tide to get slack water at Cape Wrath. The rounding at 1630 was a bit lumpy with 1 mile visibility at sea level and low clouds above 50m. Stornoway Coast guard did not reply on ch 16 when we called to report arrival at 1915 so we called them on the phone. Weather forecast crap for a week. SW 4,5,6,7 just the way we want to go and wind against tide. So we are stuck here at £ 15.27 for 48 hours…

20 May The wind has just swung round to North after being SW 4,5,6 for ten days. Although the strength would not be a problem, unfortunately we would have had wind against tide round Point of Stoer which is said to be no joke. Itch and Sufiana set off single handed at 1315 getting an hour of sailing before the dreaded point. Although the wind was light there was a confused sea West of the point so we motored on in brilliant sunshine to Lochinver arriving at 1815 and welcomed by Martin who was doing a survey of marina users.

21 May I phoned the assistant harbour master at Ullapool and got a very negative reply “ You cant tie up alongside. This is a busy fishing port. If you anchor you must leave space for the fishing boats to turn.” It seems that Loch Broom is the arsehole of the West and Ullapool is halfway up it. There was not much point in going to Ullapool with a welcome like that so Itch and Sufiana decided to go to Loch Kanaird. We set off at 1315 and motored out of Loch Inchard after a fly past by three Tornadoes (or one three times). We were only able to sail for 45 minutes past Rubha nan Coigach then the wind dropped. We motored past the Summer Isles to anchor in 10m off Ardmair at 1835. Richard moored Itch alongside Sufiana and we had a Mexican meal and a touch of Tamdhu.

22 May Sandy Watters came alongside to look over Sufiana as he had a catamaran fishing boat and a mono hull yacht which he had not sailed much. Later he brought his wife Barbara and daughter Charlotte for another look around and invited us for dinner. During a convivial evening Hugh and Karen arrived to complete the party which moved to Sufiana.

24 May Sandy left us a grand bag of prawns. We were able to eat one third of them in the evening and put the rest in the fridge.

25 May Motor was on at 1150 to go to Loch Ewe and Itch set off under sail but we took half an hour to get a chain off our anchor even with the tripping line. It was 1305 before we were sailing. Approaching Loch Ewe we put up the chute and as the wind was dead astern we took the main down and practiced gybing several times till we got the hang of it with our new 40m sheet. At 1650 we were anchored and holding in Aultbea and Itch came alongside. We went to the pub met Karen and Stefan and returned for a final feed of prawns at 2200

26 May We motored out of Altbea against the Nly wind till we passed Rudha Reidh. The chute went up at 1420 till the wind dropped and we were ghosting along at 2.5 knots we motored for 2 hours till Longa Island was abeam then the chute took us to Gairloch harbour which is well sheltered and so difficult to spot. Here we moored alongside the pontoon and paid for a 15 day mooring pass. A week of strong winds in the wrong direction kept us in Gairloch till June. Returning from the pub one evening with Karen we got a bag of prawns. We handed over 6 cans of lager in exchange.

June

6 June We left Gairloch at 1230 and motored all the way to Portree in occasional showers and 2 mile visibility arriving at 1840. Alastair was there in Sidaki and we had a chat when he left for Plocton on Sunday morning.

9 June Left Portree at 1145 with sails up but had to motor 5 miles against the wind till we passed through the Narrows of Raasay Then a great sail all the way to the Skye bridge over 8 knots when the wind reached the “force 6 locally”. We arrived at Kyle of Lochalsh at 1515. 21 miles of sailing in 3½ hours.

12 June We set off at 1520 for Isleornsay harbour through the Kylerhea narrows at slack water. By 1815 we were moored in the pleasant bay with Itch alongside. Sunday we went to the pub and swilled well.

14 June though the wind was SW 5-7 we motored down the Sound of Sleat to Mallaig arriving after taking 3 hours to cover just 10 miles. Karen was at Mallaig to cheer us up and help us moor alongside a red tug called Pushy Cat. The pub called where we met Grant whose band were playing for their supper in the Marine on the 15^th also Sooty who promised us a “fry”. This turned out to be scallops and prawns which we collected in the Marine the next day.

16 June Itch went South and we went North to Loch Harport setting off at 1050. A fine sail once we turned round Point of Sleat. We picked up a mooring off the Talisker distillery and went ashore to the pub.

20 June After a bit of indecision whether to call in on Canna we set off for Castlebay on Barra and had a great sail once we reached the mouth of Loch Harport. 44 miles in 7 hours between turning off the motor in Loch Harport and mooring at Castlebay. Vodaphone got no signal here.

22 June We set off at 0715 and motored against the wind to the South cardinal mark at the entrance to the channel into Castlebay. Here we turned off the motor and sailed at 3 knots trailing a fishing line. At 1000 just south of the Sound of Barra we caught 4 mackerel for our tea and bait for the lobster pot. We anchored in 6m at Haun near the new causeway between Eriskay and South Uist. The pot caught 3 green crabs which went back into the sea.

23 June As the NW wind was kicking up quite a sea we moved to the North end of the causeway and anchored in the lee of South Uist.

 24 June With a forecast of 6 to 8 later we motored to Loch Boisdale where we again picked up a visitors mooring and went ashore to see the scenery.

28 June 0925 tied up at the pier to fill with water as both tanks were low. Motored out of the loch and then had a fine sail to Loch Carnan where we tied up alongside a disused fish farm. “You can stay there for a year if you like.”

29 June 1330 We set off for Kallin in light winds so motored all the way. Tied up in a very full harbour.

30 June 1040 15 minutes of motor to get out of the harbour then sail tacking downwind towards Loch Eport. A large blue ketch motored past us with no sails set! By 1215 we were at the mouth of the loch and the wind was against us so we took the sails down and motored 5 miles to the head of the loch arriving at low water with 1m depth. As the tide rose we dragged the anchor so we reset it and towed it into the mud. No more problems.

July

1 July Forgot the white rabbits. 0700 Motor on and away with a light wind behind us we followed our incoming track on the plotter and avoided all the rocks we had seen on the way in. Once out of the loch we sailed to Lochmaddy arriving there in time to pick up the nearest mooring to the shore by 0955. For the next 3 days the wind was from the NW so we stayed visiting the Lochmaddy Hotel and the local shop. Various yachts arrived and left. At 0500 on Monday morning I was woken by a motor starting. Someone’s bright and early to get away. But it was a gentleman on the next mooring who ran his motor for two hours - selfish . Tanera II Largs RHYC.(we met him later in Westray and he seemed to be a sensible chap).

5 July We set off at 1425 to go to Poll Scrot, motored out of the loch and had a great sail NE in a westerly wind. The sun was shining and all was well so we continued to East Loch Tarbert arriving at 1925.

6 July Although other lochs called it had to be Stornoway. We sailed out of the port under posing chute but after ten minutes the wind headed us and on went the donk again. There were pauses for sailing till we got to the queen of the isles Stornoway. We paid for a week as Hugh had to go to Lossie for a quack. (interview with the doc)

14 July 1200 Wind was 4 to 5 occasionally 6 as we set of from Stornoway for Kirkwall. The sail went well. We passed Cape horn Wrath at 2100 one hour ahead of schedule. Then the dolphins came. At least six riding the waves in pairs. Magic. Arriving at Orkney we raised the posing chute through Eynhallow. Eventually we reduced to the foresail and arrived at the marina at 0915. 21 and a bit hours for 133 miles.

17 July the Orkney Challenge yachts started to arrive and we decided to move to the old harbour to be near the club, toilets, showers, pubs, shops. The entrants who remained on Monday 19^th sailed in a pursuit race for the Scargun Quaich which was won by a local boat White Magic followed by Krak-ATT and Saga from Lossiemouth.

20 July 1300 We  set off for Stronsay with Saga and Shoestring having a fine sail when the wind was in the right direction. We arrived at 1645 and tied up at the east pier. We got a good welcome from Jimmy Stout the harbour master, the black guilemots (tysties) on the pier and in the pub.

 21 July 1400 Off to Westray in a South wind that was sometimes 25 and sometimes 5 knots. We set off with one reef in the main but that soon came out and the posing chute went up. We carried this through Eday Sound and Calf Sound but took it down when the wind strengthened – and up again when it dropped. Eventually there was so little wind that our speed dropped to less than 1 knot. The motor took us in to Pierowall where Tom Randall was waiting on the pontoon.

23 July Saga and Shoestring left at 0830 for Kirkwall. We waited till 1000. After the forecast at 0915 SW 10-15 knots increasing 20–25 gusting 37 and the same for Saturday and decreasing Sunday. Saga decided to press on to Wick. We sailed out of Pierowall for an hour till the wind was on the nose and motored for 3 more hours into Kirkwall deciding to wait till Sunday before proceeding South.

24 July Saturday forecast SW veering W 20-25 knots gusting 35 Sunday NW 10-15 good call.

25 July NW 10-15 backing W and gusting 28 gave us a chance of a good sail to Wick. We set off two hours early with Shoestring at 1000 against the tide in the String (1.4 knots) as there were back eddies we could use in the bays. All went well and the tide turned as we reached Mull head at 1200. When we reached the Pentland Skerries at 1400 the autopilot gave up the ghost. All it would do was scream so we switched it off and steered by hand. We arrived in Wick at 1830 after a great sail.

26 July NW 5-10 backing through W to SW saw us out of Wick at 1100. We put up the cruising chute till the wind eventually died at 1400 then took Shoestring in tow alongside still 35 miles from Lossie. By 1700 the sea was oily calm and we swigged gin and tonic. We got into the marina to meet Nick and Martine at 2030 and rolled to the Steamboat to find Richard from Itch

 August

1-6 Aug The 18’ National Championships at Findhorn. Boats from Cork, Findhorn, Monkstown, Isle of Man, Thamesis and some single entries Hugh and I had a great time thanks to the competitors so we changed our plans and will now set off for Isle of Man and Cork in early September. Bought a new autopilot (Raymarine ST2000 which did not work either (see 25 July). It switched itself off so fast that the digital voltmeter did not register the voltage drop due to a faulty terminal block.  Replaced the connection and got it working. I expect the old one will work too once I rewire its plug.

7,8 Aug The Gael force series at Lossiemouth went well. One pursuit race and two port Olympics. All won by Gan Farr (Banff) with Elusive (Lossiemouth) second - both Laser 28,s.13 Aug Sufiana lifted out for Coppercoat antifouling and replacement of the masthead wind speed and direction unit. Plastimo autopilot now works too,

23 Aug It took us this long to clean all the old antifouling off and rub down the hulls. Then Amanda’s wedding took us South to Wells and Yeovilton.

 September

1 Sep Coppercoat applied and polythene sheeting fixed to hulls to keep rain off.

4 Sep Sufiana was lifted into the water without rudders as they need bushes. Reversed to moor using steerable drive leg.

13 Sep We were all set to go but the forecast is not all that grand. Better Tuesday.

14 Sep 1230 Karen saw us off from Lossie and we motorsailed as far as Nairn 1600 where the wind turned to N 20 knots. The motor went off and we sailed till we turned to enter Inverness Marina. Tied up at 1850. Unfortunately I had left the camera in Lossie so photographs are sparse.

15 Sep 0930 We phoned the canal office and were told all was ready. At the sea lock we paid £135 for an 8-day pass and waited till 1125 for the tide and a yacht descending. Once in, the canal was all ready and we arrived at Dochgarroch at 1430. In Loch Ness at 1500 the wind was light and SW so we kept the motor on and tied up at Fort Augustus at 1850.

16 Sep 1000 A lot of dithering in Fort Augustus saw the first convoy ready with us last in the lock. We must have done well as we were out of the top lock at 1140. In Loch Lochy we called ahead to Gairlochy saying we would stop there for the night arriving at 1620.

17 Sep A simple motor to Corpach where we decided to stay till Monday (Wind SW 4-5 increasing 6-7). In all this cool weather the Bengco charcoal heater was a boon though finding lumpwwod charcoal for it was not always easy as the BBQ season had come to an end

22 Sep Strong winds W-NW 6 decreasing noon till 1500 told us not to go to Islay. We decided on the Crinan Canal and shelter of the Mull of Kintyre. We left the Corpach sea lock at 0930 and sailed to Craobh Haven passing through Cuan Sound with the tide and arriving at 1700.

23 Sep 1100 We set off for Crinan, entered the canal (£81) reaching the summit reach and lock 8 at 1645. The handles were off the gates so we walked to the hotel bar at lock 5.

24 Sep 0900 into lock 8. Work was hard as we had to open and close each set of gates. We got into the sea lock at 1300. By 1350 we were provisioned and off to Tarbert (Loch Fyne) arriving at 1600.

25 Sep 1015 To Campbeltown with severe gales in Rockall Malin Bailey Hebrides NW 9. We were sheltered enough and arrived at 1530 deciding to stay 2 days as there was a forecast of SW gale later.

27 Sep 0745 Motor on and away on a misty morning with 2M visibility and not as much wind as forecast but 10 knot on the nose. We motored all the way to Bangor arriving at 1758. Here we waited for Itch. Richard arrived at 1200 on Tuesday 28 and the weather deteriorated. Daily - Irish Sea - SW severe gale force 9.

October

Oct 5 Gale Irish Sea SW force 8 continuing. But there is hope. By this time our diversions to Isle of Man and Cork begin to lose favour. Outlook W/NW 6-8….

7 Oct  1030 At last away from Bangor. A fine sail for two hours then dying wind and motor to Ardglass with Itch tied alongside. In the evening we met the crew of an Elan 36 from Carlingford Loch. Finished a bottle of Highland Park with Tina Park.

8 Oct 0910 Drove out of Ardglass and put up the sails. Sailed till 1440 when the wind had dropped and the motor went on. I called Howth Marina and found that it was full due to their Autumn Series. Malahide were welcoming so we went there through a channel which could be tricky and tied up at 1855. Forecast for the next two days was not good. We decided to stay at least till Karen arrived on Tuesday. Wednesday was SE 4-6 Thursday 14 looks good. NW 4-6.

14 Oct The wind and Karen held us for 6 days. She brought us the charts and canal books we had left in Lossie. Thanks Karen. 1015 We set off for Milford Haven and were going so well that we decided to change our destination to Penzance - then disaster. We were swept sideways on to a buoy by the tide. This made a hole in the middle of the starboard side – about the size of your forearm and 5 cm above the waterline. I patched up the hole from the inside with wood, screws and Simpsons Professional ISR 70 03 which stuck to the GRP and kept the water out. We were close enough to Arklow to go in there tying up at 1815.

15 – 17 Oct spent patching the hole. First with West epoxy resin, then glass tape on the inside held with 9 mm marine ply. Finally the ply was epoxied and taped on the inside and epoxy with high-density filler smoothed the outside which was so dense we could not make much impression on it with wet and dry.

 18 Oct 1230 Motored out of Arklow against the last of the tide which turned at 1421. The wind was not W or NW as forecast but SSW so we motorsailed South. We went really well till 2000 then the tide turned and we were making 3 knots over the ground. We had no more help from the tide till we reached Lands End. We did get several shows from the dolphins surfing on the waves and leaping from the water.

19 Oct By 1200 we had motored 23½ hours and the motor gave a great sigh and stopped. Due to the sea state air had been sucked into the fuel line. We put 40 litres in the tank and then bled the fuel lines. The engine started OK but occasionally faltered due perhaps to the filter being swamped. Sailing is so much easier. By this time our ETA for Penzance had slipped from 1800 to 0200 so we set waypoints for Falmouth so we could arrive in daylight. But this was not to be. At Lands End (0049) the wind turned to E and we had wind against the tide. Nasty lumpy sea with Sufiana bouncing up and down crashing into troughs – the motor faltered again. We found that by reducing speed to 3 knots the motion was less and the motor ran sweetly. 36 miles at 3 knots put Falmouth into infinity. We turned towards Penzance and the wind went NE. Oy Oy Oy who is in charge of de winds? 0455 saw us moored in the drying harbour. Hugh kept telling me that we were 2m from the buoy and I would give a burst of power – still 2m. We were aground in the mud but still able to moor to the buoys – so we did.

20 Oct 1000 woke up to see the lock was open to go into the ‘wet’ harbour. We called the harbour master and were invited in. We are still here 22 Oct. The forecast is SW Severe Gale Force 9. Oy Oy Oy again.

25 Oct There was a tiny gap in gales but we could not be sure of getting to France before the next lot. We put Sufiana on the slip and painted the boot topping. Also put bailers in the engine compartment – unfortunately the gum I used to seal them did not set in water and they leaked later.

26 Oct Went back into the wet harbour as the forecast was storm 10. Waves broke the sea wall between Penzance and Newlyn and put out the harbour lighthouse.  3 times Oy again. Fortunately the Penzance harbour master and his crew were a cheerful lot and made the stay enjoyable.

31 Oct –0510 With a break in the weather - NE to E force 3 to 5 we set off for L’Aber Wrac’h 98 miles meant we would arrive after nightfall so we headed as far East as we could to try for St Malo by morning. Before dawn broke there were still two planets together in the East, Venus and one other ? The trusty Plastimo autopilot gave up the ghost so we tried the Raymarine ST2000 again. It squealed and refused to steer. We had to steer the rest of the way. The log clocked up 5000 miles at 1337 and 5 seconds at 49º23.81 N 4º49.16 W. This (Corus) is the third and best instrument system in Sufiana (the NASA was totally shoddy – not worth half the price) and the total for all three is now 21500 miles since 1984 – nearly once round the world. Back to the sailing, as Cy told me, Hugh cannot see either the instruments or distance so I had to attach the Shetland flag to the shroud in front of him so he could keep the boat on course with the wind direction on that. At 2030 the moon came out and the sky cleared. I saw a shooting star and wished – (Leonids). We decided to head for Morlaix and anchor till dawn which we did after rounding the position of an East cardinal buoy Basse Ne du Pot de Fer which was not there. We anchored in the Rade de Morlaix at 0415 and Hugh went to bed. I stayed on anchor watch till the GPS stopped wandering. I woke to a cup of tea at 0800 and we set off up the river at 0830. We had put the clocks forward now we were in France. As we approached Morlaix we ran aground 500 m North of the lock but were able to reverse off the gooey mud. We tied up under the autoroute bridge at 1000. Here we arranged winter mooring for 5 months 389.

November

9 Nov 2230 We drove in a hired car to Charles de Gaulle airport (with two navigation errors which lost us only 5 minutes) there the security personnel were bright and cheerful at 0630. Easyjet flights to Luton, then Inverness, a taxi to Nairn then 2 buses got us back to Lossie by 1530 so we showered and went off to Charlie Chans to celebrate.

December

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