Concerto
Well-known member
Today was so different from yesterday. I think summer must be over as the sun must have had enough yesterday. It was back into full oil skins and woolly hat today.
There was no rush to leave this morning due to the tides. So slipped the berth at 9.45 and slowly made my way out of the harbour for the 50 mile trip. Then turned into wind to raise the mainsail. When I left Fair Isle the top of the island was shrouded in grey mist and as I sailed away the visibility was about 2 miles. Yesterday I could see Shetland.
The sail started as a close reach with full canvas. The speed started at 6¼ knots and steadily increased to 7½ knots, almost making me reef the main. Slowly the tide pushed me to lee, and I only took steps to correct the course, not to go to windward of the course on the chart plotter. Big mistake. I was sailing faster than I planned and this caused me problems as I arrived off the tip of Shetland in the strongest tide pushing me westward and I was below the course on the chart plotter by about a mile. I had already altered course by 25 degrees, but I was being swept westward despite now being hard on the wind and hand steering.
The forecast last night was for SE winds, but this was E going to ENE and causing me problems. I was being forced into the bay beside Sumburgh Head. The waves were quite confused but coming from astern. The speed had dropped to under 5 knots, so the only option was to tack – the first of the trip so far. Unfortunately, the confused waves were almost on the bow and the speed dropped to 3½ knots and I could not get moving any faster. Then I looked at the chart plotter to see the angle of the tack – 170 degrees!!!! Almost the direction I had sailed from.
There was nothing else for it but to tack back, start old faithful and furl the genoa away, whilst I climbed to windward. The tide was running at about 2½ knots despite it being neaps, so progress was slow. Eventually I turned along the coast and the tide magically eased to just a knot. What a difference a mile makes.
With the genoa unrolled and engine off, I was back on a close reach doing 7 knots. The top of the cliffs were shrouded in mist, but I could hear the aircraft taking off and landing at the airport. Halfway to Lerwick, the visibility dropped to about 200 metres. The temperature dropped even further to about 10C. Brrrrr, it was cold for flaming June. Sailing in poor visibility is not fun, but luckily, I knew this was not a major ferry route where I was now sailing. I passed one island at 400 metres according to the chart plotter, but I never saw a thing. Then it started to rain.
As I approached the southern entrance to Lerwick, the visibility increased to about a mile and the rain almost stopped. After mooring up alongside another boat in Victoria harbour at 17.15, the heavens opened and since then heavy rain showers have continued regularly. What a welcome.
I have realised I have a new problem starting. Having reached the Shetlands and I will go pass Muckle Flugga - weather permitting, from here on I have to start the long haul home, mostly on the wind.
This was where I got a poor mobile connection above Fair Isle harbour.
The top of Fair Isle was shrouded in mist.
Sumburgh Head, not like a mill pond,
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
There was no rush to leave this morning due to the tides. So slipped the berth at 9.45 and slowly made my way out of the harbour for the 50 mile trip. Then turned into wind to raise the mainsail. When I left Fair Isle the top of the island was shrouded in grey mist and as I sailed away the visibility was about 2 miles. Yesterday I could see Shetland.
The sail started as a close reach with full canvas. The speed started at 6¼ knots and steadily increased to 7½ knots, almost making me reef the main. Slowly the tide pushed me to lee, and I only took steps to correct the course, not to go to windward of the course on the chart plotter. Big mistake. I was sailing faster than I planned and this caused me problems as I arrived off the tip of Shetland in the strongest tide pushing me westward and I was below the course on the chart plotter by about a mile. I had already altered course by 25 degrees, but I was being swept westward despite now being hard on the wind and hand steering.
The forecast last night was for SE winds, but this was E going to ENE and causing me problems. I was being forced into the bay beside Sumburgh Head. The waves were quite confused but coming from astern. The speed had dropped to under 5 knots, so the only option was to tack – the first of the trip so far. Unfortunately, the confused waves were almost on the bow and the speed dropped to 3½ knots and I could not get moving any faster. Then I looked at the chart plotter to see the angle of the tack – 170 degrees!!!! Almost the direction I had sailed from.
There was nothing else for it but to tack back, start old faithful and furl the genoa away, whilst I climbed to windward. The tide was running at about 2½ knots despite it being neaps, so progress was slow. Eventually I turned along the coast and the tide magically eased to just a knot. What a difference a mile makes.
With the genoa unrolled and engine off, I was back on a close reach doing 7 knots. The top of the cliffs were shrouded in mist, but I could hear the aircraft taking off and landing at the airport. Halfway to Lerwick, the visibility dropped to about 200 metres. The temperature dropped even further to about 10C. Brrrrr, it was cold for flaming June. Sailing in poor visibility is not fun, but luckily, I knew this was not a major ferry route where I was now sailing. I passed one island at 400 metres according to the chart plotter, but I never saw a thing. Then it started to rain.
As I approached the southern entrance to Lerwick, the visibility increased to about a mile and the rain almost stopped. After mooring up alongside another boat in Victoria harbour at 17.15, the heavens opened and since then heavy rain showers have continued regularly. What a welcome.
I have realised I have a new problem starting. Having reached the Shetlands and I will go pass Muckle Flugga - weather permitting, from here on I have to start the long haul home, mostly on the wind.
This was where I got a poor mobile connection above Fair Isle harbour.
The top of Fair Isle was shrouded in mist.
Sumburgh Head, not like a mill pond,
For anyone wanting to read the reports from the start, this is the link to first one.
Round Britian day 1
