SUMMER 2013 . 1. Leaving Orkney

I joined Sean at Stromness, in July and we decided to cruise Shetland this summer.

View of Orkney from Plane

We first sailed to Long Hope, then to Stronsay, Fair Isle and Grutness in Shetland.

Orkney Yole Association was competing in Long Hope regatta that weekend, so we towed one of the Yoles from Stromness to Long Hope.

We picked up the visitor mooring and ended up being a race mark for the Regatta :-)

From Long hope we sailed to Stronsay, actually there was not much wind so we had to motor nearly all the way. The wind picked up just south of Stronsay and we had a good hour sailing up to Whitehall harbour.We stayed in Stronsay for a few days. It was interesting to see the Island of Papa Stronsay where a group of Monks build a Monastry. Monks had a small boat to travel betwenn Whitehall and Papa Stronsay. On Sunday, they brought the Priest across for the Mass at the Chapel in Stronsay. I was able to catch them while going back to their Monastry.

Papa Stronsay and the Monastry

We enjoyed walking around the island

Inquisitive locals

Summer 2012. Back home in Stromness.

 Back at home in Stromness

We had a nice sail from Inverness to Kirkwall, and we arrived in Orkney on 31st of August. But , then we had to wait for a suitable weather to bring Escapade back to its berth in Stromness. This weekend was a good chance before the next gale force winds stating tomorrow. So we sailed from Kirkwall marina to Long Hope, spent the night there and then motored the next day to Stromness.

During this summer, I was able to handle the boat all the way in Caledonian Canal. In Some of the locks, Sean was ashore and I was on board all by myself while Sean was helping the Canal personel with the ropes, and it was exciting and lots of fun.
I have also made the passage plan and was the skipper for the first time while coming back home to Stromness from Long Hope. So, I gained some more confidence this year and it is more enjoyable when I am more involved. I am hoping to improve my sailing skills in the future.

Seaport Marina, Inverness.

Long Hope Visitor Moorings

Stromness view from Scorradale

Greamsay and Hoy behind it from Scorradale

Summer 2011. Sailing back home 8.Arrived, Back in Stromness,Orkney !

We arrived back in Stromness today , after sailing 1.717 miles this summer. 

We had a lovely day sail from Long Hope to Stromness today with strong winds , 25-30 knots from southeast, and just celebrated our arrival with my boat made fruit cake and our ginger beer !

Long Hope, Orkney

  

We first sailed from Kirkwall out to the east and around South Ronaldsay and into Scapa Flow and decided to spend a night at Long Hope.

Copinsay lighthouse and Horse of Copinsay

Pentland Skerries

We had a nice sunny afternoon in Long Hope and spent the night moored alongside the lifeboat.