I have spent most of the weekend making frames for my series of Raku tile pictures, I also completed a raku firing late last night, five sets of tiles fired and no breakages! Then up at 0430 this morning for a drive through to Aberdeen where I'm doing some freelance design work. Its been a long tiring day.
I'm making landscape images from groups of five raku tiles, they need firing together and removing from the kiln in as short a period as possible so that they colours on all five tiles match each other, too big a gap and I get greens and blues instead of copper colours. Anyway they all turned out OK and are proving quite popular, a bit more contemporary than my usual output.
We will be in a bit of a panic on Wednesday night...... after I drive home from Aberdeen there will be lots to be done, assembling tiles into frames, packing things up and loading the discovery for the trip down to Scone Palace on Thursday ready for Potfest. Potfest is a weekend ceramics event with about 100 potters and ceramic artists from the UK and the rest of Europe. Its fantastic to see so many different ways to make something beautiful out of mud. Its open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday if you are close enough and fancy a brilliant day out. www.potfest.co.uk for more info.
Scone Palace will make a nice change from the rather smelly cattle marts of Perth and Stirling, the previous venues. I'm hoping to find time to do some sketching around the palace grounds while we are there.
I'm too tired to write more now.............its 'time for bed' said Zebedee of magic roundabout fame.
I will add a couple of pics of my raku tiles in my next entry....possibly wednesday evening if there is time between finding the camping gear and packing the car.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Monday 6 June 2011
Thursday 2 June 2011
Chainsaw Carved Benches
Before my sailing trip I said I would post a photo of my latest carved bench.
The bench was collected yesterday and is off to its new home in Edinburgh, I remembered I was supposed to post some pics so here they are.
The bench was collected yesterday and is off to its new home in Edinburgh, I remembered I was supposed to post some pics so here they are.
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 9
Monday 30th May 2011
Tobermory to Dunstaffnage
Reasonable day today, overcast but with sunny spells, getting better throughout the day.
Left Tobermory 0900, motoring, no wind.
Storm sail rigged as mainsail ripped and has been removed ready for repair. Looks a bit odd with it up and next to no wind.
Spent the morning sat on the foredeck sketching as Mull goes by. A few squalls with quite heavy rain and one with hailstones.
Sound of Mull
Thick soup with pasta for lunch. Wind picking up a bit so lovely sailing down the Sound of Mull now with plenty of sketching done. Once out into the Firth of Lorn the conditions became a bit more boistrous, very confused choppy sea.
Sound of Mull 2
Once across behind Kerrera it calmed down again and we practiced man overboard drill under sail for the Yachtmaster Fast-track candidates. A bit different with only a stormsail fitted and having to use the jib, you normally get rid of the jib straight away but wee needed it to help power the boat. The wind kept dying away then gusting which made things interesting. Anyway we eventually mananged to get 'Fred' back on board each time. The moral of the story is 'don't fall overboard'. By the way, Fred is a big fender with a coil of rope attached, not one of the crew.
It turned into a very nice sunny and breezy afternoon, a nice change from what we have experienced over the last 10 days and a fine end to our adventure sailing trip.
Tied up in Dunstaffnage at 1730 to the usual marina antics, cut up by another yachtsman who proceeded to tie up singlehanded with no fenders on the pontoon side and about 10 on the other side. He jumped off to tie up and bounced back on again once he realised what he had done. Ah well we all do these things from time to time its just better when nobody is watching.
We cleaned the boat this evening before dinner and pub as most of the crew need an early start tomorrow to get home.
Dunstaffnage
Crew Mugshot
Standing left to right.
Me, John (skipper), Roy (yachtmaster fast-track), Rod, Andrew (yachtmaster fast-track)
Sitting left to right.
Steven, Chris, Johnathon (yachmaster fast-track) and David.
Thanks for your company everyone and good luck to the yachtmaster fast-trackers for the rest of the course and the assesment.
Tuesday 31st May 2011
Heavy mist and a bit of drizzle this morning.
Im in no rush to get away today as I dont have too far to go to get home. Bus Dunbeg to Fort William, Bus Fort William to Inverness and a short train ride Inverness to Carrbridge then 400yds walk home.
Summary of trip.
Storm force winds to begin with F10 gusting F11, 69mph recorded on the instruments. Ripped mainsail twice. stormbound in Stromness for two days, and a couple of long wet passages, but good company, fantastic scenery including the Caledonian Canal and some interesting stops along the way.
Total mileage for the trip is 393 miles
All in all a good trip.
Once I get my sketches and sketchbooks in some sort of order I will scan a selection and make them available as a free download from my websites www.paintingwildscotland.co.uk and www.carrbridgestudios.com
In the next few weeks when I get some paintings done and prints produced you will be able to compare the field sketches with the finished work.
In a later blog post I will give some details of my travel sketching kit. It has been reduced to quite a compact kit which can be taken just about anywhere.
Tobermory to Dunstaffnage
Reasonable day today, overcast but with sunny spells, getting better throughout the day.
Left Tobermory 0900, motoring, no wind.
Storm sail rigged as mainsail ripped and has been removed ready for repair. Looks a bit odd with it up and next to no wind.
Spent the morning sat on the foredeck sketching as Mull goes by. A few squalls with quite heavy rain and one with hailstones.
Sound of Mull
Thick soup with pasta for lunch. Wind picking up a bit so lovely sailing down the Sound of Mull now with plenty of sketching done. Once out into the Firth of Lorn the conditions became a bit more boistrous, very confused choppy sea.
Sound of Mull 2
Once across behind Kerrera it calmed down again and we practiced man overboard drill under sail for the Yachtmaster Fast-track candidates. A bit different with only a stormsail fitted and having to use the jib, you normally get rid of the jib straight away but wee needed it to help power the boat. The wind kept dying away then gusting which made things interesting. Anyway we eventually mananged to get 'Fred' back on board each time. The moral of the story is 'don't fall overboard'. By the way, Fred is a big fender with a coil of rope attached, not one of the crew.
It turned into a very nice sunny and breezy afternoon, a nice change from what we have experienced over the last 10 days and a fine end to our adventure sailing trip.
Tied up in Dunstaffnage at 1730 to the usual marina antics, cut up by another yachtsman who proceeded to tie up singlehanded with no fenders on the pontoon side and about 10 on the other side. He jumped off to tie up and bounced back on again once he realised what he had done. Ah well we all do these things from time to time its just better when nobody is watching.
We cleaned the boat this evening before dinner and pub as most of the crew need an early start tomorrow to get home.
Dunstaffnage
Crew Mugshot
Standing left to right.
Me, John (skipper), Roy (yachtmaster fast-track), Rod, Andrew (yachtmaster fast-track)
Sitting left to right.
Steven, Chris, Johnathon (yachmaster fast-track) and David.
Thanks for your company everyone and good luck to the yachtmaster fast-trackers for the rest of the course and the assesment.
Tuesday 31st May 2011
Heavy mist and a bit of drizzle this morning.
Im in no rush to get away today as I dont have too far to go to get home. Bus Dunbeg to Fort William, Bus Fort William to Inverness and a short train ride Inverness to Carrbridge then 400yds walk home.
Summary of trip.
Storm force winds to begin with F10 gusting F11, 69mph recorded on the instruments. Ripped mainsail twice. stormbound in Stromness for two days, and a couple of long wet passages, but good company, fantastic scenery including the Caledonian Canal and some interesting stops along the way.
Total mileage for the trip is 393 miles
All in all a good trip.
Once I get my sketches and sketchbooks in some sort of order I will scan a selection and make them available as a free download from my websites www.paintingwildscotland.co.uk and www.carrbridgestudios.com
In the next few weeks when I get some paintings done and prints produced you will be able to compare the field sketches with the finished work.
In a later blog post I will give some details of my travel sketching kit. It has been reduced to quite a compact kit which can be taken just about anywhere.
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 8
Sunday 29th May 2011
Weather forecast is more of the same, F5 to 6 gusting F8
No mainsail to let us go out to play so we decided for a day of rest and maybe do a few running repairs.
It took four of us to take off the mainsail and get it bundled up ready for delivery to the sail makers for repair tomorrow. Got the storm sail rigged so we could get a bit of a sail back to Dunstaffnage tomorrow.
Heavy showers but with bright intervals so Im off sketching around the town. Got a lot of sketching done but mostly in the rain so they leave a lot to the imagination. Feeling a bit unsteady on my feet today, it good to be on dry land for a change.
Early night tonight as we are planning an early start in the morning.
The forecast is for much lighter winds tomorrow......we shall see.
Tobermory again
Weather forecast is more of the same, F5 to 6 gusting F8
No mainsail to let us go out to play so we decided for a day of rest and maybe do a few running repairs.
It took four of us to take off the mainsail and get it bundled up ready for delivery to the sail makers for repair tomorrow. Got the storm sail rigged so we could get a bit of a sail back to Dunstaffnage tomorrow.
Heavy showers but with bright intervals so Im off sketching around the town. Got a lot of sketching done but mostly in the rain so they leave a lot to the imagination. Feeling a bit unsteady on my feet today, it good to be on dry land for a change.
Early night tonight as we are planning an early start in the morning.
The forecast is for much lighter winds tomorrow......we shall see.
Tobermory again
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 7
Saturday 28th May 2011
Photo of 'The Ben" from Corpath sealock
Bits of blue sky poking through the greyness this morning, looks promising......forever the optimist!
We have two locks, a swing bridge and the sealock to get through this morning to get us out into Loch Linnhe. The weather forecast for today is F5 to 6 gusting F8 so no change there then.
Raining again......
Loch Linnhe started well - a stiff breeze, managed a quick sketch of 'The Ben' in the mist. Got the mainsail up with the third reef in, looks like we will be doing quite a bit of tacking up Loch Linnhe today...sailing at last. Getting bounced around a bit so stopped sketching before my tummy told me to!
Disaster! We've blown the mainsail again 'big time' several rips, the largest about 6 to 8 feet long. sail lashed down to prevent further damage and back on the engine again. Long wet run up to Tobermory in quite large seas.
Started to feel cold on deck and didnt want to spend too much time in the saloon in case I started to feel queasy so a quick lunch of thick soup with pasta and some bread and its off to my bunk for a snooze. Im right next to the engine but the motion of the boat soon rocks me to sleep. Suddenly awake, all quiet, not getting rolled about in my bunk. A quick look through the hatch, everyone up there looks rather wet but we are approaching Tobermory and the sea is calm. back into my oilies to help tie up. Not a bad run up the Sound of Mull....for me anyway!
Weather clearing, a bit of blue sky and the sun has made a welcome appearance. Got the boat safely tucked up and everything stowed. Out with my sketchbook for an hour before dinner.
Tobermory
Photo of 'The Ben" from Corpath sealock
Bits of blue sky poking through the greyness this morning, looks promising......forever the optimist!
We have two locks, a swing bridge and the sealock to get through this morning to get us out into Loch Linnhe. The weather forecast for today is F5 to 6 gusting F8 so no change there then.
Raining again......
Loch Linnhe started well - a stiff breeze, managed a quick sketch of 'The Ben' in the mist. Got the mainsail up with the third reef in, looks like we will be doing quite a bit of tacking up Loch Linnhe today...sailing at last. Getting bounced around a bit so stopped sketching before my tummy told me to!
Disaster! We've blown the mainsail again 'big time' several rips, the largest about 6 to 8 feet long. sail lashed down to prevent further damage and back on the engine again. Long wet run up to Tobermory in quite large seas.
Started to feel cold on deck and didnt want to spend too much time in the saloon in case I started to feel queasy so a quick lunch of thick soup with pasta and some bread and its off to my bunk for a snooze. Im right next to the engine but the motion of the boat soon rocks me to sleep. Suddenly awake, all quiet, not getting rolled about in my bunk. A quick look through the hatch, everyone up there looks rather wet but we are approaching Tobermory and the sea is calm. back into my oilies to help tie up. Not a bad run up the Sound of Mull....for me anyway!
Weather clearing, a bit of blue sky and the sun has made a welcome appearance. Got the boat safely tucked up and everything stowed. Out with my sketchbook for an hour before dinner.
Tobermory
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 6
Friday 27th May 2011
Photo of Fort Augustus looking towards Loch Ness
Slight drizzle this morning but looks like brightening up.
Got away at 0850, waiting for the Kytra lock to open. A good run through Lock Oich and Loch Lochy with plenty of sketching done. Started raining in Loch Lochy, looks set for the rest of the day. Raining heavily by the time we got to Banavie and Neptunes Staircase (a flight of seven locks). Moored up just before the sealock ready for a quick getaway tomorrow as the Sealock is not tide dependant so we should be able to get through quite early.
Went on a walkabout to find the 'facilities' and a shop, luckily there was a pub right next to the shop so we managed to dry out a bit, how convenient is that!
The skipper made dinner tonight, a belly busting sausage casserole with mash and veg, just what we needed after such a soggy afternoon. A few of the guys wandered off to the pub but as it was chucking it down I decided on an early night. Slept soundly, didn't hear anyone returning from the pub.
Photo of Fort Augustus looking towards Loch Ness
Slight drizzle this morning but looks like brightening up.
Got away at 0850, waiting for the Kytra lock to open. A good run through Lock Oich and Loch Lochy with plenty of sketching done. Started raining in Loch Lochy, looks set for the rest of the day. Raining heavily by the time we got to Banavie and Neptunes Staircase (a flight of seven locks). Moored up just before the sealock ready for a quick getaway tomorrow as the Sealock is not tide dependant so we should be able to get through quite early.
Went on a walkabout to find the 'facilities' and a shop, luckily there was a pub right next to the shop so we managed to dry out a bit, how convenient is that!
The skipper made dinner tonight, a belly busting sausage casserole with mash and veg, just what we needed after such a soggy afternoon. A few of the guys wandered off to the pub but as it was chucking it down I decided on an early night. Slept soundly, didn't hear anyone returning from the pub.
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 5
Hi Im a bit late with this entry, computer/internet access problems, but better late than never.
Here are a couple of photos from the trip so far.
The first two are sailing through the Pentland Firth after we ripped the mainsail, thats a soggy me in the second shot, and the third is from Stromness after we tied up. If I can get a copy I will add a video clip from the Pentland Firth to give a better idea of the conditions.
Anyway to continue.
Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th May 2011
The wind has temporarily abated but we have decided it will still be too rough to go around Cape Wrath to Harris/Lewis. The locals say it takes two tides for things to settle down after a storm. Our plan is to sail back the way we came and go to Inverness and through the Caledonian Canal. This should give us three days sailing once we get to the other side if we get through as quickly as possible.
We slipped our ropes at 1200. Quite light winds through the Orkney Isles, a massive change from three days ago. The seas started building quite considerably once out into the Pentland Firth again. Getting decidedly rough around Dunnet Head and John O'Groats making very little headway, engine on so now motorsailing to help us punch our way through. We are back onto three hourly watches again and its raining hard. Im on watch 1200-1500, 1800-2100, 0000-0300 and 0600-0900. Raining all night, cold, dark and wet !!! how much am I paying for this......not a good night.
Arrived at Clacknaharry Sealock, the entrance to the Caledonian Canal at 0830 just on opening time so we didnt have to hang around in the Beauly Firth for long before the gates opened to let us in.
As we are trying to get through the canal as quickly as possible we decided to press on straight away and try to get to Fort Augustus today, hopefully to the top of the flight of locks. We have a headwind so are motoring all the way. This lets us catch up with sleep when we are not on watch but its difficult to go below as we miss the fantastic scenery of Loch Ness. I got a few good sketches done going down Loch Ness and the sky is clearing so we get a few minutes between showers. The mist is hanging about in the trees, making great subjects for sketching. We have passed Urquarts Castle now, still motoring, Im feeling shattered now so off to my bunk for a nap.
I went out like a light, I awoke as we were tying up at the top of the flight of locks at Fort Augustus, I slept through all the clattering and banging as we went through the locks. The weather has cleared and its quite a nice evening, I did a couple of sketches of Fort Augustus, then shower and pub for a well deserved meal after being on the go for 28 hours (minus a couple of power naps!)
Here are a couple of photos from the trip so far.
The first two are sailing through the Pentland Firth after we ripped the mainsail, thats a soggy me in the second shot, and the third is from Stromness after we tied up. If I can get a copy I will add a video clip from the Pentland Firth to give a better idea of the conditions.
Anyway to continue.
Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th May 2011
The wind has temporarily abated but we have decided it will still be too rough to go around Cape Wrath to Harris/Lewis. The locals say it takes two tides for things to settle down after a storm. Our plan is to sail back the way we came and go to Inverness and through the Caledonian Canal. This should give us three days sailing once we get to the other side if we get through as quickly as possible.
We slipped our ropes at 1200. Quite light winds through the Orkney Isles, a massive change from three days ago. The seas started building quite considerably once out into the Pentland Firth again. Getting decidedly rough around Dunnet Head and John O'Groats making very little headway, engine on so now motorsailing to help us punch our way through. We are back onto three hourly watches again and its raining hard. Im on watch 1200-1500, 1800-2100, 0000-0300 and 0600-0900. Raining all night, cold, dark and wet !!! how much am I paying for this......not a good night.
Arrived at Clacknaharry Sealock, the entrance to the Caledonian Canal at 0830 just on opening time so we didnt have to hang around in the Beauly Firth for long before the gates opened to let us in.
As we are trying to get through the canal as quickly as possible we decided to press on straight away and try to get to Fort Augustus today, hopefully to the top of the flight of locks. We have a headwind so are motoring all the way. This lets us catch up with sleep when we are not on watch but its difficult to go below as we miss the fantastic scenery of Loch Ness. I got a few good sketches done going down Loch Ness and the sky is clearing so we get a few minutes between showers. The mist is hanging about in the trees, making great subjects for sketching. We have passed Urquarts Castle now, still motoring, Im feeling shattered now so off to my bunk for a nap.
I went out like a light, I awoke as we were tying up at the top of the flight of locks at Fort Augustus, I slept through all the clattering and banging as we went through the locks. The weather has cleared and its quite a nice evening, I did a couple of sketches of Fort Augustus, then shower and pub for a well deserved meal after being on the go for 28 hours (minus a couple of power naps!)
Tuesday 24 May 2011
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 4
Tuesday 24th May 2011
Still here! Still stormy.
4 of the guys have hired a car and are off on a tour of the Island. Im off sketching again, going to try to get a bit further around the headland an sketch Hoy.
Plenty of wildlife everywhere. Large group of seals dozing on the rocks, they don't seem bothered by the conditions. A group of Eider came in very close so I sketched them too. Its still blowing a gale so I've got full oilies on but its warm out of the wind, its a fine balancing act between being too warm or being windswept.
The mainsail is back from repair so we needed to spend an hour or so refitting it and renewing the broken reefing line.
We have a plan of action now. The forecast is improving so we are leaving at 1200 tomorrow for a long haul back to Inverness and a trip through the Caledonian Canal. We will get a couple of days on the other side before we need to head for Dunstaffnage.
I will try to post some photos in next post which will be on Thursday.
...........off to the pub
Still here! Still stormy.
4 of the guys have hired a car and are off on a tour of the Island. Im off sketching again, going to try to get a bit further around the headland an sketch Hoy.
Plenty of wildlife everywhere. Large group of seals dozing on the rocks, they don't seem bothered by the conditions. A group of Eider came in very close so I sketched them too. Its still blowing a gale so I've got full oilies on but its warm out of the wind, its a fine balancing act between being too warm or being windswept.
The mainsail is back from repair so we needed to spend an hour or so refitting it and renewing the broken reefing line.
We have a plan of action now. The forecast is improving so we are leaving at 1200 tomorrow for a long haul back to Inverness and a trip through the Caledonian Canal. We will get a couple of days on the other side before we need to head for Dunstaffnage.
I will try to post some photos in next post which will be on Thursday.
...........off to the pub
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 3
Monday 23rd May
Stormbound in Stromness. It looks like we are not going anywhere for a couple of days at least. Winds still storm force 10 to 11. Looks like the rest of Scotland is getting a taste of it as well.
Our mainsail has been collected for repair and hopefully we will get it back tomorrow. It took a group effort to get the sail off in the wind without going hang gliding across the bay. Other than the stormy winds its quite a nice day really, a couple of heavy showers but nice and sunny in between.
Ive spent most of the day sketching around Stromness so Im quite enjoying myself. Lots of birdlife about,
kittiwake, guillemots, razorbill, gannet, fulmar, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Common/Arctic Terns feeding in the harbour, eiders, cormorant etc. A very pleasant afternoon. Volunteered to cook dinner this evening, Chicken chuck it all in curry with rice. Seemed to work OK no complaints anyway.
Just learnt that the volcano in Iceland is playing up again so there is an ask cloud on the way.
Ah well ............ off to the pub
Stormbound in Stromness. It looks like we are not going anywhere for a couple of days at least. Winds still storm force 10 to 11. Looks like the rest of Scotland is getting a taste of it as well.
Our mainsail has been collected for repair and hopefully we will get it back tomorrow. It took a group effort to get the sail off in the wind without going hang gliding across the bay. Other than the stormy winds its quite a nice day really, a couple of heavy showers but nice and sunny in between.
Ive spent most of the day sketching around Stromness so Im quite enjoying myself. Lots of birdlife about,
kittiwake, guillemots, razorbill, gannet, fulmar, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Common/Arctic Terns feeding in the harbour, eiders, cormorant etc. A very pleasant afternoon. Volunteered to cook dinner this evening, Chicken chuck it all in curry with rice. Seemed to work OK no complaints anyway.
Just learnt that the volcano in Iceland is playing up again so there is an ask cloud on the way.
Ah well ............ off to the pub
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 2
Sunday 22nd May 2011
Up at 0500 ready to depart by 0600 whilst we still have enough water under the keel. Bright sunny morning, no wind.....we were not expecting this. motor sailing to keep to 6.0 knots so we achieve our correct time at John o Groats to meet the tide which will push us through to Pentland Firth. We split into two watches, Im on the second watch so its off back to my bunk for a nap. On watch 1000 till 1300, a bit of a chop building but quite uneventful. Back to my bunk after our watch, not too sure about seasickness so I took a pill to be on the safe side. Woke up an hour later being bounced around, it was like being in a washing machine! Didnt get any more sleep but not feeling sick which is a bonus....a big bonus. Sandwiches for lunch as its too rough to have hot stuff on the go. When we turned into the Pentland Firth it got really rough - we need to punch on until the tide turns, we will then get progress as the tide pushes us through. Wind speeds generally 50 to 55 knots with gusts showing on the instruments reaching 60 knots. Unbelievable seas, we are bobbing about like a cork, boat seems to be handling the conditions OK. We have a very experienced skipper so its more exhilarating than frightening. two reefs in the main, no jib and the motor on helping us. Disaster!!!!! we have blown out the main, reefing line has snapped, sail flapped then ripped. Sail tied in and we are now on engine only.
As we get into the Orkney Isles the seas are not as big but the wind strength is increasing, now 55 to 60 knots and gusts recorded at 69 knots which is storm force 11. Finally got into Stromness at 2030 a bit cold and very wet - one hell of a trip. 106 miles in 14.5 hours. Rigged the lines in preparation for the coming storm, doubling up on lines and springs as its due to get a bit worse. Facilities in Stromness are excellent, showers, washing machine and tumble dryer in the new terminal building. Put my clothes in the tumble dryer for 10 minutes so now Im warm and damp. A quick meal of chicken, pasta and pesto to warm us up and now off to the pub before it closes. The boat is bobbing up and down a bit even tied to the pontoon. I hope Im not seasick while still tied up! Slept well........
Up at 0500 ready to depart by 0600 whilst we still have enough water under the keel. Bright sunny morning, no wind.....we were not expecting this. motor sailing to keep to 6.0 knots so we achieve our correct time at John o Groats to meet the tide which will push us through to Pentland Firth. We split into two watches, Im on the second watch so its off back to my bunk for a nap. On watch 1000 till 1300, a bit of a chop building but quite uneventful. Back to my bunk after our watch, not too sure about seasickness so I took a pill to be on the safe side. Woke up an hour later being bounced around, it was like being in a washing machine! Didnt get any more sleep but not feeling sick which is a bonus....a big bonus. Sandwiches for lunch as its too rough to have hot stuff on the go. When we turned into the Pentland Firth it got really rough - we need to punch on until the tide turns, we will then get progress as the tide pushes us through. Wind speeds generally 50 to 55 knots with gusts showing on the instruments reaching 60 knots. Unbelievable seas, we are bobbing about like a cork, boat seems to be handling the conditions OK. We have a very experienced skipper so its more exhilarating than frightening. two reefs in the main, no jib and the motor on helping us. Disaster!!!!! we have blown out the main, reefing line has snapped, sail flapped then ripped. Sail tied in and we are now on engine only.
As we get into the Orkney Isles the seas are not as big but the wind strength is increasing, now 55 to 60 knots and gusts recorded at 69 knots which is storm force 11. Finally got into Stromness at 2030 a bit cold and very wet - one hell of a trip. 106 miles in 14.5 hours. Rigged the lines in preparation for the coming storm, doubling up on lines and springs as its due to get a bit worse. Facilities in Stromness are excellent, showers, washing machine and tumble dryer in the new terminal building. Put my clothes in the tumble dryer for 10 minutes so now Im warm and damp. A quick meal of chicken, pasta and pesto to warm us up and now off to the pub before it closes. The boat is bobbing up and down a bit even tied to the pontoon. I hope Im not seasick while still tied up! Slept well........
Lossiemouth to Oban Sailing Trip 1
Saturday 21st May 2011
I'm off to Lossiemouth to join 'Tonic' for a 10 day adventure sailing trip to Oban hopefully via Orkney, Fair Isle, Shetland, Cape Wrath, Harris & Lewis, Skye, Rum and Mull but the weather is looking decidedly iffy at the moment. The Met office has issued a yellow alert high wind warning for Monday afternoon and night. - I must remember to get some seasickness tablets in Elgin just in case.
I cant believe how nervous/excited I am, probably because of the weather forecast.
I found the yacht in the marina without any problems, just about the biggest boat in the marina and in a prominent position with a big yellow sail cover.
A full crew of 8 plus the skipper this trip, all guys.
Weather update... the Met office has force 10 for Tuesday..hmmm interesting.
Early decision is we wont be going to Fair Isle or Shetland, the wind strength and direction means we will be struggling to get there and get to Oban in the time available.
Our plan is to get a very early start in the morning and blast up to Stromness in Orkney before the big blow, it should be interesting in the Pentland Firth in the building seas.
We think we will be pinned down in Stromness for 2 days while the storm blows through. We amy have a weather window on Wednesday to get around Cape Wrath to Harris/Lewis but we will review the situation on Tuesday. Our alternative is to run back into the Moray Firth and go through the Caledonian Canal instead, this is probably the better option in these conditions. Anyway we are having our safety briefing then off to the pub.
I'm off to Lossiemouth to join 'Tonic' for a 10 day adventure sailing trip to Oban hopefully via Orkney, Fair Isle, Shetland, Cape Wrath, Harris & Lewis, Skye, Rum and Mull but the weather is looking decidedly iffy at the moment. The Met office has issued a yellow alert high wind warning for Monday afternoon and night. - I must remember to get some seasickness tablets in Elgin just in case.
I cant believe how nervous/excited I am, probably because of the weather forecast.
I found the yacht in the marina without any problems, just about the biggest boat in the marina and in a prominent position with a big yellow sail cover.
A full crew of 8 plus the skipper this trip, all guys.
Weather update... the Met office has force 10 for Tuesday..hmmm interesting.
Early decision is we wont be going to Fair Isle or Shetland, the wind strength and direction means we will be struggling to get there and get to Oban in the time available.
Our plan is to get a very early start in the morning and blast up to Stromness in Orkney before the big blow, it should be interesting in the Pentland Firth in the building seas.
We think we will be pinned down in Stromness for 2 days while the storm blows through. We amy have a weather window on Wednesday to get around Cape Wrath to Harris/Lewis but we will review the situation on Tuesday. Our alternative is to run back into the Moray Firth and go through the Caledonian Canal instead, this is probably the better option in these conditions. Anyway we are having our safety briefing then off to the pub.
Saturday 14 May 2011
My first blog entry
For my first posting I'd better bring you up to date with all thats happening around the place. Im busy getting our gallery fully stocked with work ready for summer, that way I don't have to spent all summer playing catch-up.
There are a couple of painting commissions to finish that have been hanging around for a while now. The first is a derelict cottage near Tomintoul for a couple whose family/ancestors used to farm there, it now has a tree growing through the roof, quite sad really. The second is a large pastel of a fantastic view from the shore of Loch Garten for a local guest house owner. I tried to paint it early one morning last summer but couldn't get into position due to a film crew setting up for a Chris Packham TV interview. I need to get back there in the next few weeks.
There are also a couple of chainsaw carved benches still to do, both based on "The owl and the pussycat" nursery rhyme. Im buy slicing up big logs this weekend to make the seats and backrests for these. I will post a pic "of one I did earlier" when I find it.
At the moment Im supposed to be catching up on paperwork before my big trip next week - Im off on a 10 day sailing/sketching/painting trip from Lossiemouth to Oban via Orkney, Fair Isle, Shetland, the Western Isles, Skye, Rum and Mull. The trip is organised by 'Elite Sailing' based at Chatham. I've done a few trips with them over the years and always have a fantastic time. They do a circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland every year split up into 7 to 10 day sailing trips, Im planning to do the full circumnavigation over the next 3 or 4 years. I will be sketching and painting enroute, maybe I will try to write and illustrate a book. Who knows? Anyway thats a long way off, I will see how this trip goes first as it may be a bit rough through the Pentland Firth and around Cape Wrath. Im hoping to do a couple of blog postings while Im away. Thats all for now I've got to get this paperwork finished.
There are a couple of painting commissions to finish that have been hanging around for a while now. The first is a derelict cottage near Tomintoul for a couple whose family/ancestors used to farm there, it now has a tree growing through the roof, quite sad really. The second is a large pastel of a fantastic view from the shore of Loch Garten for a local guest house owner. I tried to paint it early one morning last summer but couldn't get into position due to a film crew setting up for a Chris Packham TV interview. I need to get back there in the next few weeks.
There are also a couple of chainsaw carved benches still to do, both based on "The owl and the pussycat" nursery rhyme. Im buy slicing up big logs this weekend to make the seats and backrests for these. I will post a pic "of one I did earlier" when I find it.
At the moment Im supposed to be catching up on paperwork before my big trip next week - Im off on a 10 day sailing/sketching/painting trip from Lossiemouth to Oban via Orkney, Fair Isle, Shetland, the Western Isles, Skye, Rum and Mull. The trip is organised by 'Elite Sailing' based at Chatham. I've done a few trips with them over the years and always have a fantastic time. They do a circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland every year split up into 7 to 10 day sailing trips, Im planning to do the full circumnavigation over the next 3 or 4 years. I will be sketching and painting enroute, maybe I will try to write and illustrate a book. Who knows? Anyway thats a long way off, I will see how this trip goes first as it may be a bit rough through the Pentland Firth and around Cape Wrath. Im hoping to do a couple of blog postings while Im away. Thats all for now I've got to get this paperwork finished.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)