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
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
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.
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