Forum member enjoys a forum member's company "at home".

[Robert Wilson]

I just thought I would post about a recent most enjoyable experience of the "camaraderie of the sea".

I was contacted this week by a forum member for information about anchorages in Gruinard Bay, where he and his charming SWMBO were intending to "stop-over" for a night.
I had never before met or communicated with them, but I was happy to help them and meet up for a natter. I don't get to talk much with visiting boat people up here, especially in my own little haven!

I provided three alternatives, one being in Mill Bay where I moor Khamsin; just yards from my home.

They arrived mid-morning in virtually no wind and glorious sunshine whereupon I rowed out to welcome them.
With anchor set, we sat in the cockpit with "refreshments", where we chatted, yarned, laughed and discussed various other forum member's posts and attitudes. All in good taste, of course.

Around five o'clock we repaired to the house for showers, pizzas and more chatting, laughing and "refreshing" then as the light faded to a night-long (two hours!!) bright twilight we wandered down to the shore, they to row back aboard and I to meander up to the house and bed.
They were away by seven o'clock next morning, motoring serenely out to The Minch and made Tianavaig Bay, Skye for the night.

Chris and Tracy, I thank you for visiting me "up here" and for being such great guests. I wish you fair winds, kind waters and peaceful anchorages on your way home to Crinan and in your future voyaging.

Haste ye back.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I'm hoping to be round there in a couple of weeks. Normally when heading north if going along the mainland coast from Rubha Reidh I aim for Lochinver, but if the weather's right I plan to turn east this time.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Keep in touch, then. The welcome will be there, but I can't promise the scorching sun, lack of rain or flat-calm sea!

 

[ctva]

Many thanks again Robert, a great afternoon and evening. Relieved that none of us turned out to be an axe murderer as everyone warns about when meeting ‘friends’ on the Internet!

I can confirm that no forumites reputations were besmirched during the evening...

Angus, good holding in about 5m W of the mooring.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Thank you both. I have to make a trip to Englandshire for a few days before I head north again which is why I'm lurking around Oban.

 

[Resolution]

Robert
In the spirit of refreshing our camararderie, do drop me a line if you are coming South again to visit family. The Dog & Pheasant is still in working order!
Peter

 

[sailaboutvic]

Over the years I met many of forum members , mostly liveaboard or some just taken a few years off .
Non so far have been axe murderers or I wouldn't be writing this ,
all have been very nice people quite a lot now have become very good friends and we met up when we can .
There been many BBQ on board and long night of laughing chatting and drinking .
Lots of ribbing on my posting because of my dyslexia all in good fun.
We may not all agree with each other at time but the thing we all have in common is the love of sailing .
I have spent many a hours in some boby engine compartment sorting out a problem and others have help me out too .
Like not long ago when I needed a cheap Chinese control to keep my fridge and mistroma came to the rescue .
Long may we agree to disagree, long may be found new friends to wine the hours away .

 

[Robert Wilson]

Robert
In the spirit of refreshing our camararderie, do drop me a line if you are coming South again to visit family. The Dog & Pheasant is still in working order!
Peter

The pressure on me from family and friends "south of the border" to re-locate south/visit more often is such that I shall no doubt be visiting the D&P sometime this year.
I shall get in touch as and when.
Please arrange for the lovely sunshine to remain so that the outside tables are available!

Good to hear from you Peter. I hope your sailing is going well.
Where to this year?

 

[KAL]

Sorry to butt into this thread, as I’ve never met any of you in person, but I wanted to say how excellent it is to see the forum being used in this way. Generosity, friendship and compassion (esp in another thread about a member who is unwell), instead of sniping and selfish pomposity. Long may it continue.

Fair winds, sparkling seas and a cool fridge to you all...

 

[Greg2]

We too have had very positive experiences meeting forumites.

Last weekend we travelled to the south coast to meet with Rotrax and his lovely wife as we are interested in Island Packet yachts. They offered to show us their boat ands to take us out for the day on Sunday. We met Saturday evening for dinner (bit like a blind date ) and we got on very well with, as it turned out, some other shared interests and loose connections. On Sunday we had a great day out on their Island packet SP41 Cruiser - what a great boat. Their generosity in sharing their boat with us was fantastic and typifies the best of the boating community

 

[Robert Wilson]

So neither of you were axe-murderers!
ctva will be relieved !!
The forum is a force for good:encouragement:

 

[Sybarite]

I have had several very enjoyable meetings with forum members visiting Brittany. However I have yet to see a forum burgee.

 

[Topcat47]

I have had several very enjoyable meetings with forum members visiting Brittany. However I have yet to see a forum burgee.

+1., although there are a few motorboatists in the Solent who fly them. Mine's been repaired a few times as I fly it most times I'm out. Never been accosted by a fellow scuttlebutiste except on meets but we are all generally a nice helpful bunch. This isn't the lounge you know!

 

[ctva]

Sorry to butt into this thread, as I’ve never met any of you in person, but I wanted to say how excellent it is to see the forum being used in this way. Generosity, friendship and compassion (esp in another thread about a member who is unwell), instead of sniping and selfish pomposity. Long may it continue.

Fair winds, sparkling seas and a cool fridge to you all...

Exactly. The pomposity and sniping make meeting more fun as you realise that we all are actually nice people in real life (mostly... ).

So neither of you were axe-murderers!
ctva will be relieved !!
The forum is a force for good:encouragement:

Very!

I have had several very enjoyable meetings with forum members visiting Brittany. However I have yet to see a forum burgee.

Robert can confirm that our forum burgee was flying from the cross trees. Still is, so keep a look out for the boat with a massive bath duck on the foredeck and burgee, that will be us for the next week.

 

[LittleSister]

I can confirm that no forumites reputations were besmirched during the evening...

Well that doesn't make for very entertaining reading, does it?

 

[Robert Wilson]

Well that doesn't make for very entertaining reading, does it?

Go and stand in the corner, you naughty sailor.

This thread is for praise and cheerfulness only

 

[Robert Wilson]

Robert can confirm that our forum burgee was flying from the cross trees. Still is, so keep a look out for the boat with a massive bath duck on the foredeck and burgee, that will be us for the next week.

Yes, I confirm it was there, albeit hanging rather limply in the still airs.
Chris put me to shame as my forum burgee is still ashore awaiting the seamstress's attention.
No excuse.

 

[Kelpie]

I've met a few forumites now and all very agreeable. I don't think it's possible to run out of things to talk about when you're with other boat people.

Robert- we're heading in your general direction tomorrow (currently at anchor at Duntulm). Would love to drop the hook off Mellon Udrigle beach, but the charting is pretty patchy and there are various skerries marked. Any local knowledge you could share?

 

[Sgeir]

Forum members that I've met have been great company, helpful and informative.

While we're on the subject, Kelpie helped me out a couple of weeks ago by putting me in touch with a really good local marine electrician when our alternator started misbehaving. Thanks Kelpie.

 

[Robert Wilson]

I've met a few forumites now and all very agreeable. I don't think it's possible to run out of things to talk about when you're with other boat people.

Robert- we're heading in your general direction tomorrow (currently at anchor at Duntulm). Would love to drop the hook off Mellon Udrigle beach, but the charting is pretty patchy and there are various skerries marked. Any local knowledge you could share?

Hello Kelpie,
Good to hear from you, and I look forward to possibly meeting you tomorrow.
I have never tried to approach Mellon Udrigle beach (from seaward) because, as you say, there are nasty toothy things in abundance :nightmare:

I was told that if you approach on a roughly 218° heading leaving Carrag Mor to starboard and Carrag Beag to port heading directly for the white house on shore then you should miss all the skerries.

BUT

Carrag Beag is not easy to spot.
Carrag Mor is easy to spot, except at very high springs. If there is any swell you would see breakers on it, even at high tide. At low tide it sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb!

Personally, I shall never try it...……………

The depth is really very shallow at low tides - what do you draw?

I'm just along the coast, so if you fancy repeating ctva's anchoring keep in touch and I'll meet you there.

Same offer applies for a shower, but the gin has run low...…..

Fair winds to you. (get the tides right at Greenstone Point, or stay a good way off).

Robert