Round Britain Day 29

[Concerto]

Well today was the best sailing day so far on this trip. The sun was shining, the wind was good, and it felt warm.

Awake before I needed, but still got up. Went and had a shower and then went into town to buy some food. Then paid for the extra night (£24.50 per night). Back on board I stowed the extra stores and did the final tidying ready for sailing.

Spoke to Adam and Anna (Bristolfashion) and Alex, who came on board yesterday. Then I slipped the berth at 9.35 and stayed within the harbour whilst I put the fenders away. Motored outside and waited for a ferry to pass so I could do an almost 180 to get head to wind to raise the main. Squared off onto almost a dead run and unfurled the genoa, but only made 3¾ knots, so on went old faithful and rolled the genoa away again. This happened several times as I headed roughly NNE through the islands. As I entered Skea Skerries some wind filled in, but the rolling waves were massive, so motored with the sails pulled in tight to try and stop rolling around. Some of the rollers were between 4 and 5 metres, peak to trough.

Luckily the tide was with me, but I headed for the narrow gap between Westray at Rapness and Faray Island. Once through, the rollers stopped, and the wind filled in. I was close to thinking of a reef as I was doing about 7½ knots on a close reach. Wonderful point of sail. Ahead I saw a large ketch and fairly quickly overhauled it. As I approached the NW corner of Sanday, I had to harden up slightly as I wanted to pass North Ronaldsay to the south and east for clear wind. Then it was a long leg, sailing fast in bright sunshine.

Once I was about 9 miles from Fair Isle the rollers were coming back again, but were a gentle swell despite some being 4+ metres high. Then about 6 miles out, the wind started to ease as predicted and the speed kept dropping slowly. Eventually the speed dropped to 4½ knots at about 5 miles out and became uncomfortable as Concerto started to wallow. So decided to add some engine, but I found the genoa could no longer fill, so furled it away.

The southern coast of Fair Isle is very rocky and some of the rollers crashed on to them with lots of white water. Gradually I entered smoother water which felt much better. Close to the harbour I dropped the mainsail and fitted plenty of fenders to the port side. I was hoping I did not have to tie to the concrete wall, luckily there were 2 large yachts, and I chose to moor against one of them. All tied up at 19.20, so 7¾ hours to cover about 60 miles, an average speed over the ground of 7¾ knots.

After cooking a meal, I went and took some photographs and some drone footage. There is very poor mobile signal on Fair Isle, but only if you walk to the top of a nearby hill. Sent a couple of brief texts to family to let them know I had arrived.

Luckily I could check the shipping forecast and I shall be off to Shetland in the morning. Will write up todays sail later.


Fair Isle


Eastern shore of Fair Isle.


Entrance to the harbour.


All tied up and protected by cliffs on two sides.



For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1

 

[srm]

North Haven, Fair Isle, one of my favourite harbours. You are lucky to be blessed with such bright sunny weather.

My wife used to teach at the High School in Lerwick. She showed her class some photos we had taken looking down in to North Haven with a few yachts at anchor (before the new pier and breakwater) and bright sun showing the sandy bottom. Two pupils who lived on Fair Isle did not believe it was North Haven until various marks were pointed out.

One summer in the 70's I was lucky enough to spend about four weeks there while carrying out the initial hydrographic and land surveys for the current pier and breakwater. We had to spend a couple of days anchored on the south side of the ayre during northerlies. At that time the Good Shepherd was hauled out on the old slip on the beach with a cradle running on rails. Every man on the island used to come down to man a spiders web of ropes used to guide her onto the cradle. There was always a risk that a swell would lift boat and cradle off the rails, as did happen at times.

 

[Concerto]

One summer in the 70's I was lucky enough to spend about four weeks there while carrying out the initial hydrographic and land surveys for the current pier and breakwater. We had to spend a couple of days anchored on the south side of the ayre during northerlies. At that time the Good Shepherd was hauled out on the old slip on the beach with a cradle running on rails. Every man on the island used to come down to man a spiders web of ropes used to guide her onto the cradle. There was always a risk that a swell would lift boat and cradle off the rails, as did happen at times.

This was on the slipway yesterday.

 

[srm]

Yes, the new slipway beside the old pier is very simple to operate by the crew and is sheltered by the breakwater. All the area that is the new pier and slipway was cut out of a cliff face and bed rock removed to give the depth alongside.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Nice report and pics as usual.
This is a serious "Round the Top" circumnavigation . Perhaps it might end up being serialized by the yachting press
with perhaps a few quid to help offset the considerable costs incurred with a project such as this.

p.s. Nice cruising weather and winds this week in your home waters.

 

[Halo]

Excellent stuff ! Well done

 

[Blueboatman]

This is really great
Fabulous midsummer Fair~Isle photos !

 

[Concerto]

The next report is here.
Round Britain day 30