Next Year

It is never too soon to think about next year.

(A bonxie, probably contemplating the future)

Much though we love Troon, we have decided that we need to end up somewhere warmer next year.

Our plan is to sail to Spain.

This epic will be undertaken in a series of legs. The first leg will be determined by my arduous responsibilities at Essex Polytechnic.

So, approximately:

Leg one      Troon to Shannon

Troon         15th March 2015

Campbeltown

Glenarm

Rathlin Isles

Portrush

Lough Foyle

Sheep Haven

Bloody Foreland

Inishkeel

Killybegs

Sligo

Killala

Broadhaven

Westport

Ballynakill

Aran Islands

eventually to Kilrush Marina in the Shannon Estuary, and  Ryan Air back home by about 10th April.

Sailing

Leg two     Shannon to Cornwall

Kilrush          12th June 2015 (Ryan Air)

thence:

around Ireland 

Milford Haven

Isles of Scilly

Newlyn

Plymouth

Sunset

Leg three     Cornwall to Spain

Plymouth             Mid July 2015

Brittany

L'Aberwrac'h

Audierne

Across the Bay of Biscay

Biscay

A Coruna

Explore Galicia

Ria De Vigo    Mid September

Fly home, feed dog, cut grass, plan 2016

Any takers?

August in Scotland, sailing with friends

The only place in Great Britain with worse internet access than our home in Essex has to be Scotland.
This makes blogging from Scotland almost impossible.
Anyway we are home now so I can try to blog from Essex again.

4th August 2014
We returned to Arisaig, flubbering out to the boat without significant drama.

Arisaig (again)

Next day to Mallaig. We like Mallaig, its marina, electrical sockets and Co-op. Richard and Gwen arrived. This was a very good thing.I don't think I have ever taught complete novices to sail before but they took to it like Guillemots to water. Being soundly grounded in camping and caravanning is a huge advantage. Add a mast, some random physics and the Northern Atlantic and you're there, pretty much.

I also taught Gwen all I know about ornithology and regretted it. Fortunately, I did know more about Swinhoe's Petrel than she did (see Swinhoe's Fortunate Petrel elsewhere in this blog etc.)

Ornithology tutorial in progress

We sailed to Rhum (aka Rum) where we anchored for the night and had a very nice walk and chicken for dinner.

Canna was our next stop. Richard and I made it to the church. Jean and Gwen didn't.

Canna.  Note church in distance.

Canna is very nice but we lost our anchor ball there .... so Dear Reader, if you happen to find a very nice unattached red anchor ball floating off the west coast of Scotland, please retrieve it because it is almost certainly ours.

This is very interesting

Next off, a beam reach in F4-6 to Loch Harport where we anchored at the 4th attempt.There is something about anchoring in Loch Harport.It rained.

9th August dawned warm sunny and breezy.We sailed all the way to Arisaig.We had a walk and I fell in a ditch.It rained a lot and very windy. I blame Mr Salmond.
11th August. A weather window appeared late that afternoon. Weather windows are ephemeral, quixotic and generally tenuous things, but we whizzed back to Mallaig anyway.We like Mallaig, its marina, electrical sockets and Co-op.

12 - 13th August
Richard and Gwen left for their B&B, apparently happy and with no obvious injuries.
I'm hopeful they will come again next year.
I had a riveting day marking exam papers from Essex Poly and helping Jean to unblock Albatross' alimentary tract.  We had dinner out. Jean left her handbag in the restaurant. A nice man telephoned Susan in Croatia to tell her about Jean's handbag and we all lived happily ever after. I wont bore you, Dear Reader with the details.

14th August.
To Tobermory. We set off early to be sure of a berth. It was almost empty when we arrived.
We had 4 nights in Tobermory and bad weather.

Martin arrived from Essex.This was good.
Martin helped me unblock our Albatross again.  Apparently ammonia, urea, seawater and silica form a complex that some desert-living Egyptians can carve into antiques. (Camel pee plus sand plus sunshine, is similar apparently to Albatross poo plus seawater without any sunshine at all).  However, we decided to forgo the opportunity of starting a local craft business in Tobermory (carving the concretions) and dumped it back in the sea (where ultimately it should have gone in the first place)*

Martin

From Tobermory, Troon beckoned. 
With strongish northwesterlies, we stonked down to
Loch Spelve

Lock Spelve

to West Loch Tarbert (Jura),  past the Paps of Jura

The Paps

 and to Port Ellen (Islay), around the Mull of  Kintyre to Campeltown and back to Troon.

Troon is and was much the same as ever. Probably the best marina we have ever staying in. Easy access, efficient friendly staff, good shelter .... I could go on.

We said "Goodbye" to Martin and hope he will join us again next year.

Car hire back to Essex.

Amazing what you can pack in VW Golf.

By the way, Bonzo is fine.

Next year, Portugal via the wrong side of Ireland and the Scillies.



*You know what I mean.

Portree, something about sheep, and beyond

Thursday 10th July etc.

We picked up Sara and Judith in Portree at the start of  what was to be a lovely week.

From our anchorage in Portree.  We like Portree. Note my new shirt (left).

Thence to  Loch Ewe (no connection with sheep) and a very pleasant walk around Inverewe Gardens.

Next stop, The Summer Isles.

We found a wonderful sheltered anchorage between the isles and researched the reason for the islands' name.   Well ... apparently the Summer Isles are great for grazing .. in the Summer .. (obviously). Indeed, King Hakon (of The Battle of Largs fame) used to moor his sheep here from early July.  

King Hakon was of course a great leader and navigator but, one must say, completely rubbish when it came to animal husbandry.

The Battle of Largs (2nd October 1263)

Thence to Loch Torridon and Loch Sheildaig where we had a very nice walk.

Off on a very nice walk.

Walking in Torridon  (note absence of mainland sheep in Summer)

Next stop Isleornsay. We had planned to stop at Kyleakin but kept going, this was a good thing and we enjoyed supper in the pub that evening.

Wednesday 16 July.

Sara and Judith caught the bus to Portree and subsequently ended up in Ullapool. There is apparently a perfectly sound and reasonable explanation for this which may (or may not) be discussed in depth in later postings.

Jean and I set off in earnest for Arisaig, the forecast then started talking of a possible F8, so we phoned Mallaig, but Mallaig was full. After much concern., discussion, deliberation and general dithering we eventually arrived in Arisaig without seeing  much over F5.

Sunset in Arisaig.

Our journey home to Essex involved a ride in the flubber, four buses, an aeroplane and a taxi.

Intrepid guests

Saturday 5th July 2014
We met Penny, Pat and John at Mallaig Railway Station.
They were tired. It is a long way from Australia to Mallaig, so we took them out to a BLT and tea at the Mallaig Fishermans' Mission (where traditionally, sailors go to play with their mobile phones).
Once fed, we all went for a nice walk up the hill outside Mallaig.

A family walk.

Sunday 6th July

We introduced our soon-to-be-rellies to sailing with a gentle reach to Loch Duich where we anchored opposite the castle.  There are lots of castles up here. We had roast chicken for supper.

Monday.

To Plocton.

Excellent supper at Plocton Hotel.

Tuesday.

Flubbered ashore. Said "Goodbye" to P, P and J.

Wednesday.

To Portree.

We like Portree. It was hot and sunny.

Two good things that happened today

1. My employment at Essex Polytechnic has been renewed for a further year.
This will of course be a huge relief for dogs everywhere.

2. It stopped raining (briefly).

The Outer Hebrides and beyond

Hello again Dear Reader(s).
We are now safely ensconced in the cafe at the Fisherman's Mission in Mallaig.
My regular reader will be aware that I haven't blogged much recently.
Sorry about this but The Sea of the Hebides is lacking in broadband presently.
Anyway,  since Loch Maddy we've been to ..........

North Harbour Scalpay  where we met Angela and Martin and their campervan.
They came with us to the Shiant Islands where we enjoyed the wonderful birds and failed to find any giant black rats.

Angela and Martin enjoying lunch in the Shiant Islands

Back to Scalpay, then up to Stornoway (where we met Angela, Martin and their campervan). Stornoway has a new marina which is excellent.

Next to Loch Claidh. Lovely quiet anchorage with 3 families of seals.

Seals in Loch Claidh.

Nect to Loch Harport, Skye. Water pump leaked all the way and sprayed black muck all over my nice clean engine.

Lovely peaceful night anchored outside the Talisker distillery.
Replaced the water pump next day.  Thank you Sara !

Arrived Mallaig 1st July, in good time to avoid the promised gale.

Mallaig has a newish marina.  Easy, friendly and good (but no loos, wifi or laundry ....well, basically a complete absence of basic facilities  .. but good shelter, pontoons and friendly staff and boaters).

We are having  good time and look forward to welcoming our guests soon.

June 2014

Arisaig in June is just like Arisaig in April except that it is warm, the village is busy, the everything is open and the bay is full of boats.
Graham gave us a lift out to the boat and I spent a joyous day installing my new fork handle.
The forkhandle is the product of many weeks of design and development, during which, an ordinary (and quite humble) broomstick was honed into the base of a high tech marine antenna system. Whilst not wishing to spill all the beans yet, I think I can already confidently tell you, Dear Reader(s), that forkhandle-based technology may quite possibly have a future role in yachting for the mildly deranged.

Fully fitted forkhandle

Next off, I installed my very nice new "YAPP Crew Watcher". This brilliant invention consists of a number of small plastic boxes which communicate with a central control unit. If a crew member should fall off the boat with one of these little gizmos in her / his pocket, the central controller not only makes a dreadful noise but also marks the GPS position where the unfortunate sailor went swimming on the boat's plotter. This not only enhances safety but also reduces anxiety when sailing with ones beloved. Indeed, only yesterday, Jean was able to have a pleasant snooze down below secure in the knowledge that should I fall off the boat, she would immediately be woken by this clever machine.

Anyway, after a very pleasant day playing with wires and forkhandles, we set off for the island of Canna, where we anchored in the harbour appoximately in line with the two churches (as advised in our pilot book).
Canna (population 10) is attached at low tide by a sand spit to Sanday (population 0).
Both Islands have churches (obviously, otherwise we would not have been able to anchor in between them).
Now for the silly bit. Assuming both churches open for prayer on Sunday mornings, and assuming that each church has its own vicar / priest / religious person, that leaves a remaining population of 8 to be divided between the two churches as congregations. If however, the tide is high (as it will inevitably be on some Sunday mornings .... assuming the complete absence of Divine Intervention), none of the congregation will be abe to get from Canna (pop 10) to Sanday (pop 0) to attend church anyway. Nor will the vicar.
To make matters even worse the church on Sanday (pop 0) is massive, whilst that on Canna is tiny.
Still, having two churches does mean you know where you should anchor.

The Church on Sanday  (Population  0)

Canna was very pretty, but the weather was good so moved on to Castlebay, Barra.

Barra is a beautiful island towards the south of the Outer Hebrides. Getting there involves crossing the Sea of the Hebrides (about 30 miles). The sea was flat. There was no wind. We motored. Jean went to sleep. I didn't fall in. We moored near the Castle. We made tea.

Castlebay has a castle in it.

Long ago (in 1838) Colonel Gordon Cluny bought Barra and offered it to the government as a penal colony, but the government wasn't interested. In 1851, claiming that he wasn't receiving enough rent, he employed policemen to clear the island of crofters and sent them all off to America.
We had two nights in Barra. I did some marking, we walked to the causeway (fortunately we didn't get lost, if we had, it might have been described as a "lost causeway"), we refuelled and watered and generally did responsible things.

Wednesday 18th June 2014.
We sailed to the island of Eriskay and anchored in the very pretty bay which is called "Acairsaig Mor". Fluent gaelic speakers will know that this means "big harbour". It was indeed lovely.
There is a pontoon with water on tap here. Had we known this we could have saved a lot of messing around in rubber dinghies with plastic cans in Castlebay, yesterday.

Thursday.
We sailed to Loch Boisdale. Anchored, because the moorings were full. Bus to the Co-op, walked the three miles home. Supper aboard.
Short walk. Nice ride, in the school bus back to the boat.

Friday.
Jean fancied a nice cup of coffee in a proper cafe. The nearest cafe to Loch Boisdale is on the next Island up from South Uist, namely Benbecula. We caught the bus to Benbecula (55 minutes), to find that the cafe was closed that day in preparation for a wedding. However, a helpful elderly lady at the post office said we might get a cup of coffee at the airport. So we did.
Short walk. Nice ride, in the school bus back to the boat.

Jean has now learned how to blow up and deflate the flubber. This is a good thing and gives me more time for blogging.

Saturday 21st June.
We sailed to Wizard Pool in Loch Skiport, South Uist.
Well, actually, we motored slowly using every available navigational aid including the Antares Chart.
Antares Charts are beautiful.  We anchored safely.
Wizard Pool was very pretty. We went ashore and walked up a hill.
I had a swim in a pond on the way back down the hill. It was very pleasant.

Wizard Pool

Sunday 22nd June.
Summer Solstice.
We sailed to Loch Maddy.
They've built a marina in Loch Maddy. We berthed and walked ashore, for the first time in 9 days. Jean didn't need to blow up the dinghy. Loch Maddy is bit like the Norfolk Broads and a bit like Baltimore in the Republic of Ireland. Lots of interlinking lochs and lakes. We had a nice walk.

Our Summer Voyage

Our plans so far:

please note that all dates are vague, approximate and liable to alteration, variation and obfuscation without prior or subsequent notice, apology, excuse or justification. This makes this blog pretty accurate by my standards.

13^th  June:

Leave dog and home (Essex) and travel to Arisaig (Scotland) where the boat awaits us.

15^th June – 4^th July

Leave Arisaig and explore Canna, Barra (Castlebay), South and North Uist, Harris and Lewis.  

Possibly meet Angela and Martin* in Stornoway, sail “around the back of Lewis” and explore the “best beaches in the world”. 

If weather completely perfect (which it will be) and if we can put a flotilla together (unlikely) consider quick trip to St Kilda.****

Return to Arisaig via assorted beautiful islands.

The Outer Hebrides is the bit between Butt of Lewis and Mingulay ***

5 July – 7^th July

Meet John, Penny and Pat in Arisaig. Sail northwards to Mallaig or Kyle of Lochalsh or Portree with them.

Possibly Mallaig

10^th July – 17th July

Sara and Judith hopefully join us to continue our exploration (I fancy a trip to the Shiant Islands).

The Shiant Islands

19^th July – 3^rd August

Leave boat in Arisaig

Home. Feed dog. Cut the grass. Family wedding.

4^th August – onwards

Return to Arisaig for more sailing

5^th August – 12^th August

Explore "the small isles” with Richard and Gwen

16^th  August – 23^rd August or so

Epic Sailing adventure with Martin **

Eventually, leave boat in Troon

Go home, feed dog, cut the grass, prepare for winter.

Martin*  and Martin** are entirely different people (but have similar names, obviously). I regret any confusion or distress this may cause.

*** map included for the convenience of anyone who is uncertain about the exact location of the Western Isles.

**** please leave a comment on this blog if you are planning to sail to St Kilda this Summer or call me on VHF MMSI 235072092  

Sailing with dogs

As a keen boater with an interest in canine psychopathology, my reader(s) will not be surprised to hear that I am frequently* asked about marine-related dog mental health problems.

There are many reasons why dog owners may send their loved one to sea:

• What better way of getting rid of the bloody hound quietly?  
• Yapping, barking, biting and other canine unpleasantries can become a thing of the past once your canine friend is safely embarked to warmer climes (actually, any climes will normally do).

What is more of a mystery is why dogs sometimes take their masters sailing.

The disadvantages of having a dog on board are obvious:

1.    You have a dog on the boat
2.    Dogs often generate methane while sailing
3.    Dogs, in general, are very poor helmsmen.

The advantages of having a dog afloat are more subtle:

     1.   Your dog will no longer be at home
     2.    Dogs may be used to sniff their way through the densest of fog

     3.   A dog’s bark may be used as an alternative to the fog horn if your own horn’s pressurised gas supply  is low.  “Dog horn training” however, may take several years and is not always entirely successful.

     4.    A dog at sea is unlikely to be distracted by canines of the opposite sex, and is therefore easier to train and to counsel whilst in the marine environment.  It is a generally unappreciated** fact that a dog is more likely to finish reading his (or her) first serious novel while sailing than when he is on land.

     5.     Dogs can be good at geography.

A dog life jacket.  (Please note the absence of a dog)

The mental health of dogs.

This is of course, a deeply challenging and controversial subject. 

How such a small-brained mammal can be expected to appreciate the complexity The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea is difficult to comprehend, even for us experts.

. 

Suffice it to say, dogs may be unhappy at sea and are much better left at home.

*may one day be asked

** and under-reported

Ardnamurchan, Arisaig and home

Rested and victualed in Tobermory, we set off  north again.

Ardnamuchan point was easy.
The forecast wasn't very good.
We went straight to Arisaig.

View from our mooring at Arisaig.

We had a nice trip home via family and friends, ready to face the dog again.

Onwards and northwards

Leaving the bustle of Oban, we headed north.
There are indeed strong tidal streams just south of the Sound of Mull.
Jean and I had a pleasant sail to Tobermory.

Tobermory

Tobermory is good.
We were welcomed by the Harbour Master. There is excellent shelter.  The loos and showers are luxurious. The pontoons are intact. The wifi works.  Electricity is included in the price   .....   and all this for £15.   And the sun shone.

Eat your heart out Oban.

On Friday we took the bus to Dervaig for lunch at the Ballachroy Hotel.

The Ballachroy Hotel in Dervaig on Mull (Scotland, Europe *).

Salmon and cream cheese sandwiches and a glass of beer. A walk around the beautiful village in warm spring sunshine. A chat with the hotel's new proprietors and a lift with them back to Tobermory.
What could be better?

There follows some important advice for sailors visiting Mull:

1.  Berth at Tobermory
2. Catch the bus to Dervaig
3. Have lunch at the Bellachroy Hotel
4. Go for a short walk around the village
5. Catch the 3 o'clock bus back the Tobermory.

You will not be disappointed.

Tomorrow ....... Ardnamurchan point.

* This blog has been edited to facilitate comprehension by US citizens.

Our Spring Cruise

Our Easter Cruise

Troon is. Little more can be said on the matter.
We rigged and readied Albatross and together we said "Farewell" to Footloose.

We had a day in hand before Professor Edwards was due so we wizzed up to Arisaig and left the trusty Skoda there.
The train trip back to Troon was long, cheap and very pretty.

The day before our planned departure for Campbeltown was,  as is traditional, spent mending water pumps.

27th March
We sailed to  Campbeltown.  Jib alone. F4 easterly.
Campbeltown marina pontoon had been fitted with special anti-gull netting.  Fortunately, my beloved spotted this before attempting to leap onto the pontoon and no injuries were sustained.
There was no sign of Mr Salmond in Campbeltown that day.

28th March
We sailed to Port Ellen.  It was windier than expected.  Albatross hit 11.5 knots rounding the Mull of Kintyre. Unfortunately the wind made much of our singing inaudible. This was disappointing.
We made it to Port Ellen in 5 hours. This was remarkable, possibly improbable, certainly unlikely, but in retrospect, comprehensible.

We like Port Ellen.The weather however,  was crap.
The marina wasn't open when we arrived.
Fortunately, my beloved spotted a cleverly concealed rope across the pontoons,  and yet again saved the day.

Port Ellen Marina, Islay

A very nice man from the volunteer marina committee switched on the electricity and water and informed us that there would be no charge for our visit because the marina wasn't open. We were however, allowed to leave a donation at the Spar Shop.

For the next 2 days the weather was unchanged.  Too windy for sailing.
Al took us to an excellent meal at The Islay Hotel. We went for walks (mainly to the Co-op), and generally complained about the weather (which was crap).
We even had an exciting taxi ride to the town of Bowmore, mainly so that Al could check out their whisky.

Eventually Monday, the last day of March,  broke and, armed with yet another inaccurate weather forecast (East or South East,  force 4 to 5 maybe 6), we set off in trepidation into a Northeasterly,  force 2 to 6 for Ardfern.
We motored much of the way,  arriving at 1730 in style, leaving a slightly bigger dent in our bow than in their pontoon.

Supper was fish and chips in the pub.  We liked the pub.

After considerable discussion and analysis we decided that the day's adventure did not quite constitute an epic but was otherwise entirely satisfactory.

April 1st dawned with the news that medical researchers were now recommending a daily intake of at least 7 pieces of fruit or veg and that, as a result,  some laxtive manufacturers faced bankruptcy.
We set off for Oban confident that the weather forecast would be wrong.

Al was confident about the weather. 

Our trip across Dorus Moor and up the Sound of Luing was remarkably sedate when one considers the precise meaning of the expression  " equinoctal spring tide".

Oban marina had changed little since our last visit.  The broken pontoon is perhaps rather more broken,  the broken washing machine has gone, the loos and showers are still, well  ..... loos and  showers. The wifi is somewhat frail but the shuttle boat to Oban is excellent.  There is still little shelter from an easterly.
The wind that night was a strong easterly.

We said goodbye to Al and went shopping. We bought a pair of trowsers, a long handled scrubbing brush and four fish cakes.

An alternative to building sheds

How to build a conservatory.  A guide for sailors and their pets.

There comes a time in life when some men have built almost enough sheds and should consider building a conservatory instead.

How to do it.

You need a house with a garden. 

A house

If you’ve already extended your house, you may need planning permission.  For this you get some forms from the very nice people at the Council and fill them in.  This is not very difficult.

Next you need to dig some big holes for the foundations.

A big hole

It rained a lot when we did this

A big hole full of water.

.

We barrowed the soil and clay from our holes down the garden and spread it out in a convenient hollow.  If you don’t have a convenient hollow, you may have to hire a skip.

A convenient hollow hole full mud

Cement, bricks, sand and building stuff came from Covers.  

Covers in Burgess Hill were very helpful.

The helpful man from Covers

My brother helped me mix the concrete

Mixing concrete

We filled the foundations and build a little wall

Filled inside with rubble

.Rubble "blinded with sand"

Damp roof course and floor insulation

Insulation

All snug for the winter frosts

Cousins of Horsham supplied the conservatory and were very good.

Mick installed it for Cousins. He was also very good.

Mick's labours

Next we laid a screed floor.  We did this is sections to make it easier.  This was a mistake.

David mixed the concrete for this. This was a good idea.

Floor screed

David is a superlative mixer of concrete.

Electricity should only be installed by a professional, so I did it.

Floor tiling is tedious.

All done.

All done.

Thanks to Jean, David, Mick and Cousins.

Two things "not to be missed" in January 2014

The first, and most important, thing not to be missed in January 2014, is Sainsbury's Basics Mince Pies.
18 pies for 25 pence * (or less than 1.4 pence "per unit").
For the less technically minded reader, each "unit" is a mince pie. And they taste good.

Not to be missed.

Next, and less important, pages 36 to 37 of this month's Practical Boat Owner ("this month" for some reason being February).  

Those of a nervous disposition are advised to concentrate on the pies.

*locally, conditions may apply.