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.

Stromness, St Mary, Longhope, Stromness.

The trip back to Stromess was a doddle.

Easyjet wasn’t difficult; The hotel in Inverness was “inexpensive”. The coach was comfortable. The ferry was excellent. Albatross was still floating.

The potatoes hadn't kept well.

I had a list of important maintenance tasks.  My beloved had her kindle.  We had a pleasant day together.

At last, I found the reason why the boat fills up with water when the engine runs  … it’s done this since birth.  The Engine exhaust elbow has a crack in its welding.

Doom.

What to do?

I consulted BHQ  (It’s very good to have a retired nuclear engineer available for advice 24/7). 

New elbows are just over £200 and are widely available in England.

The local garage recommended Hamnavoe Engineering “on the industrial estate” (in the big shed behind the primary school).

Hamnavoe Engineering (BSA too high to measure) is now and will always be my most favourite establishment.. anywhere in the world.

We wandered in, complete with leaking elbow. 

I explained to a nice man that my elbow was leaking. 

He looked at it  and said “the weld has a crack in it, see here and here.”

He wandered off with my elbow, returning after about 10 minutes.

“I’ve re-welded it, here you are”.

He should have said, “My name is Michael Angelo, welder from Heaven, Nobel Laureate in Stainless Welding, Philanthropist and Saint .. here is your  beautifully re-engineered elbow.”

I said, “Thank you, how much do we owe you?”

He said, “Nothing, that’s fine.”

My newly repaired elbow

We sped home, refitted the elbow. It no longer leaks when the engine runs.

Unfortunately, the bilges still fill up when the engine is running, but no longer from a leaking elbow. Such is life.

Anyway, time to go sailing.

Tuesday, off to explore Scapa Flow.

First stop, St Mary’s.

We anchored, flubbered ashore, went for a walk.

Back on board we had supper and watched The St Mary’s Sailing Club Tuesday Evening Snipe Racing Series. 

Tuesday evening at these latitudes is light till about 11.00 p.m.  This is a good thing as, in common with all evening racing series, the wind died as soon as the starting gun had been fired.

Snipe racing at St Mary's

We chatted to the sailors after the race.

“Where are you from in that big white thing?” (I think they meant “that boat”).

“Sussex.”

“How long did that take?”

“About a year and a half.”

I decided to give the Snipe sailors some tips.

“Don’t you know how to rock a boat in light airs?”

In a stroke the innocence and good sportsmanship of Snipe racing in Scapa Flow lay in ruins; never mind, next week they’ll be finished before the pub shuts.

Windless racing on Scapa Flow

It’s lovely sleeping at anchor, until the wind gets up and everything starts creaking and groaning  … and that’s just the skipper.

Today, pleasant sail to Longhope, the main village in Long Hope and the famous lifeboat station.

We anchored for lunch.

This evening, back in Stromness.

Tomorrow, Westray, so we’ll be out of communication for a few days.

Provisioning for northern climes.

Flapjacks

Flapjacks ... as made earlier

Ingredients:

100g/ 4oz butter/marge/oil  (but don’t use ‘light’ margerine or spreads that have extra water in them)

100g/ 4oz soft brown sugar

2  tablespoons of golden syrup

200g /8oz porridge oats

pinch of salt

Method:

Put butter, sugar and syrup into a large saucepan and heat until melted and mixed but do not boil.

Draw off the heat and stir in the oats and salt.

Grease thoroughly a baking tin/ roasting tin, add mixture.

Bake at 180C Gas Mark 4 for 10 - 15 mins. (ie a medium heat.  If in doubt, use a lower heat for longer; if you over cook it will go rock hard when cool)  The mixture should be bubbling slightly through to the centre, and  browning round the edges when you take it out of the oven.

Mark into squares while still hot (about 10 mins after you take it out) but leave in the tin until cold.

Should make 8 pieces.

Better in larger quantities.

Not recommended for dogs.

Something about sheds, dogs and rhododendrons

Sheds are important. It is important that you have a shed and also that it is nearly as big as your friend’s shed.

Sheds are where stuff is kept. It’s important that you have plenty of stuff and that your shed isn't too tidy. 

Boat owners and dog lovers need several sheds.

It important that a dog is not allowed to explore his master’s shed unsupervised.

My shed (note complete absence of dog).

As well as sheds we have rhododendrons. 

Here are our rhododendrons.  Bonzo helps them to grow vigorously.