Time to reflect

After the recent terrible happenings in Paris by the Idiot State, a sail in the harbour was just what was needed to lift the spirits.

Our thoughts are with the people..

Wee breeze coming in

Although it didn't look like it today on the island.

The year keeps giving

Whoa!

Glad we hadn't taken the boat out the water. Today was magnificent. The sun shone, the waves wobbled a bit and the breeze was just dandy. Took off across and out the harbour into The Minch before sailing back in to help Admiral Gerald raise his oversize matchstick on Ammonite to hang his bed sheets from with a few other good folks.

I mean, it might have been nicer if I'd remembered to take the flask of tea and the buns we'd bought. But all in all a lovely November days sail.

Eve wonders how big the bow waves would be from the temporary island freight ship.

Admiral Gerald wonders why his oversize matchstick is leaning to one side!

Out and about

Nothing quite like an afternoon sailette in the harbour with lovely views of the power station. The weather was nice - just a wee breeze to skip us along at a few pleasant knots while keeping the water calm. Was only out an hour or so but it did wonders for my head.

Oh look, lovely view and everything.
The thing I don't don't like to see are boats out there on moorings and clearly not used. There's a lovely Leisure 22 next to me and I don't think she's been out at all this year. Such a pity.

I wasn't out on my own though as the good yacht Lily took a breath of air out in the Minch.

Meanwhile back in the marina, this lovely old lady turned up for winter respite.

Days like today

The sun was out an 14c was the temp so a quick romp around in the water was in order. Only, the tide was out when I arrived at the boat in the blow-up, just a foot of the wet stuff underneath so I sat and waited. And Waited a bit more till there was at least 1' 2" below. At this point I got bored and set off.  I got stuck on the bottom soon after and the o/b cut out as I hadn't closed the choke!

Luck was on my side. The tide was coming in and with a little bit of help from a small anchor and the re-started o/b I was soon out into the raging seas.

Lovely light glistening up from the smooth water barely ruffled by the light breeze. But there was enough to fill the sails and propel me forth and back across the harbour.
I managed to avoid the leaving ferry and the arriving Norwegian fish carrier boat surfing their wakes as I went.

A lovely late October sail on my own in the sunshine

Freyja is staying in the water

Despite the deteriorating weather conditions up here, Freyja will be staying in the water over the winter - barring unforeseen circumstances. She's not fouled up too much and she's moored in a sheltered area. You never know, like last year we may get out sailing on Christmas Day - what else is there to do?

Earlier this year we had a fine sail on the Caledonian Canal on a hired wee boatee for a few days [despite the snow]. That boat was a plastic affair like Freyja - only bigger, faster and in better condition. Well next year we are hiring the oldest Hire boat in the UK - Zoe, on the Norfolk Broads. Built in 1897  !

Ooh, we are so looking forward to it. Not quite the boat my late parents hire for their honeymoon, but close!

No, we didn't sail

No wind at all again. So unusual up these parts. So, we took off to Stornoway to help Rear Admiral Gerald raise his mast on Ammonite - a Cornish  Crabber. When I say raise, I mean "try to raise". The mast had been off to repair the thing after it cracked during the Martime Festival dash round the harbour in blustery conditions. Plenty of bodies arrived to help including a passing back-packer [Ben ] who we moved on to the Sgoth sailing crew for a few hours afterwards. I think he had nothing to do :-)

One thing and another meant the mast was still not up when we left Stornoway this afternoon but we had a fine old time there - lugging the mast, knitting string and drinking coffee - as you do.

Ammonite with Rear Admiral Gerald aboard knitting string or something. Even the harbour master came to help today.

Afternoon coffee is served in the lovely if compact cabin.