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 2012. 12.2 Steam Train to Mallaig and back

Monday, 20th August :

Jacobite steam train trip from Fort William to Mallaig and back, including Glenfinnan Viaduct. This is the route used by the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films . We saw and heard this steam train when we were in Arisaig and Corpach 2 years ago while cruising, and decided to do the trip. So, we stayed in Banavie in Caledonian Canal this time and we were lucky to get the tickets early in the next morning. Hope you enjoy the images and video clips from our trip.
Video starts with the train crossing the Caledonian Canal bridge at Banavie.

Please Clik the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1LWc7PtEX0

Summer 2012. 12.1 Caledonian Canal Passage

At Banavie , Canal Loch opens to let the boats move :

Click the link below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQXzE5uukQQ

Summer 2012. 11Sailing to Loch Linnhe, Enterance to Caledonian Canal

Friday, August 17th :
From Loch Aline to Caledonian Canal enterance :

Just before we were planning to move towards Caledonian Canal, Corpach Sea Loch was closed due to some structural damage for several days and then there was some northerly winds against us, so we waited in Loch Aline more than a week.

When the conditions changed, we left Loch Aline and anchored for an overnight stay in Port Ramsay (Lismore Islands ), then sailed the next day in Loch Linnhe towards the Canal enterance.

Loch Linnhe

A view of PortRamsay

Approaching Corran Narrows in Loch Linnhe

Corran Narrows Light house

Saturday , August 18th :

Nice sailing along Loch Linnhe under reefed jib with force 5 southerly winds and heavy showers in the morning and tied along the wood pier in enterance of Corpach Sea Lock to wait for it to open. Then, Inci took the boat into the Sea Lock ! 

Caledonian Canal Enterance - Corpach Sea Lock

Tied alongside in Corpach basin in early evening and stayed overnight.

Summer 2012. 10 Loch Aline

Spinnaker run in Sound of Mull

Tuesday, 7th August:

 We had a good spinnaker run down the Sound of Mull to Loch Aline ( 18 miles ).

Youth Boat

 

Loch Aline enterance

Summer 2012. 9 Kilchoan

Isles of Muck, Rhum and Eigg

 Sunday 5th August : We left our anchorage in Eigg under staysail and then jib with light NE winds in the morning and set main sail and jib out on the pole, passed Ardnamurchan light house and anchored in Kilchoan Bay in the afternoon ( 17 miles).

Ardnamurchan Point

Kilchoan Bay

Kilchoan Village