Stromness to Westray to Kirkwall

We left Stromness on Thursday 27th June 2013 at 0650.
we motored out of the marina, past a grounded boat attached by a line to the Stromness Lifeboat.
Apparently there had been much excitement, a "Mayday" even, but now all looked calm, if shallow. Easily done, running aground, that is.

Out through the terrors of Hoy Sound (against the end of the flood), a pleasant reach northwards along the west coast of Mainland.
On, past Rousay, into Westray Sound; little wind now, but 4 knots of tide behind us.
Port towards and through Weatherness Sound (having carefully avoided Point of Dogs Bones, which sounded ghastly and looked shallow).
Port again up the north east coast of Westray and eventually into Pieroport.  Berthed Pieroport 1300.

Pieroport Marina.  Water, electricity, showers at the ferry terminal, friendly neighbours. What more could we ask for?
We walked into the village.
The main shop sells almost everything. So does the post office.

Supper on board.
We opted for the healthy option (mainly because neither the main shop now the post office sold anything unhealthy).
After supper we were invited over "for drinks" by our lovely neighbours on "Longbow" and also met our other lovely neighbours from "Rebel".
Our healthy supper was hugely improved by good company and some Single Malt.

Friday.
We walked to the north beach. Lovely white sand.  Jean spotted a Ringed Plover. We explored the castle.  We like castles.  Noltland Castle was well worth visiting. Back to the boat via the village.

Saturday 29th June.
The weather up here is somewhat variable.  You get, for example, wind then rain, then wind and rain, and so on, and at times sunshine.
In order to sure of getting to Kirkwall this year we decide to go for the "weather window" that appeared to exist that day.  This worked fine and we made it all the way to Kirkwall, burning hardly an ounce of diesel on the way. This time we went east of the Point of Dogs Bones and exited Fersness Bay south of Faray unscathed. On down the west coat of Shapinsay, past Vasa Point (inside the Skerry of Vasa  ... "Skerry" comes apparently from the old Viking word "skerry", which means "quite generally worrying especially when foggy in a longboat when the GPS is down".

Safe arrival in Kirkway.
Fish and Chips for supper.

Sunday.
Windy and wet, then sunny, etc.  Sunday Newspapers. Write blog.
Tomorrow, perhaps Shapinsay.
It depends on the weather.