Summary of the Year

[bbg]

Well, I began the year as a non-boat owner, not really looking. By June I owned a new (to me) boat.
Managed to get out a few times, mostly alone but occasionally with someone else aboard. Just day sails, though.
I probably clocked up fewer than 200 miles, but I learned a lot (we always learn from our mistakes). Got to know the boat a bit, gained some confidence sailing on my own, and was humbled on a few occasions - a good reminder that I still have more to learn.
Highlights - hitting 12 knots while singlehanding, under perfect control.
Lowlights - (1) almost running aground while leaving harbour, without a working engine; (2) having the big kite up when hit by a wind shift and increase, leaving me on a lee shore. Not a big deal until, when dousing the kite I found myself hauling in the sheet, only to find it was no longer attached to the sail. Two very nervous, noisy and vibration filled minutes until I figured out how to get a 75 m2 flag back in the boat.

Objectives for 2010:
1. get the engine working, or get a new one that runs for more than 3 minutes at a time
2. sail overnight, solo
3. complete at least 2 races
4. ...

 

[webcraft]

Objective acheived, and in fantastic weather, for the summer cruise .......

The Shiants? We were there in 2003, anchored in the same spot. Fascinating place. In that weather last year I would bet you were there in June?

- W

 

[Trop Cher]

Beat me to it. I was at Shiants in early July in sunny weather also. Plan to go back as it was easily the highlight of last years sailing season.

 

[stav]

The Shiants look amazing, now that would be something to aim for! Where could you base yourself to visit these and would August be to late in the year and then where could you leave the boat for the winter?

 

[dunedin]

The Shiants? We were there in 2003, anchored in the same spot. Fascinating place. In that weather last year I would bet you were there in June?

- W

Yes the Shiants. Bought the book Sea Room and was inspired to go there.
In fact photo was taken on 16th July. The forecast was wet many days, but mostly the islands were clear even when the mainland and Skye were under rain / cloud

STAV - in terms of going there, and where to base the boat, very much depends on where you are coming from and how long you have to go cruising.
We pre-positioned the boat at Ardfern and did a two week cruise from there (Croabh, Dunstaffnage or Kerrera would be equally suitable). We were doing a relaxed short hop approach, visiting 13 islands in total - and just to encourage your trip, used here as the staging point to/from the Shaints

Re weather, who knows. Wasn't expecting a month under snow near a city. I gather August was very windy this year but weather is always a gamble in the UK

 

[Kelpie]

I trust all of you people eyeing up the Shiants in July will come the extra few miles up to Stornoway and join in with the Sail Hebrides festival this year

P.S. Simon- I trust you recognise my profile pic? Do I have to pay you any royalities though

 

[chubby]

Summary of the year

Still managed nearly 1000 miles on the log and 30 nights aboard but didnt seem to go as far as usual, the Easter shakedown cruise didnt get beyond Yarmouth IOW, the summer cruise has us stormbound in Yarmouth, again, Poole and Weymouth but not cross channel and the autumn cruise got us to Cherbourg but stuck for a week by strong NEs. Visited out favourite haunts like Newtown several times but some places even in the solent not visited, roll on the coming season!

 

[Trop Cher]

Hi Rob, yes I had noticed your profile picture. I'll have a pint next time I'm in Stornoway!

 

[Greenwichman]

Good year, not a vintage year

After 2008, which was (like SWMBO) fast-paced, long-legged and stimulating, we took it easier this year. Managed a great many weekend trips and day-sails; 100 days under way altogether.

The summer cruise to Belgium, The Netherlands and Northern France was overtaken by sheer laziness as we lingered first in Ramsgate for a week and then in Dover for 5 days, for no better reason than we were happy in a warm, sunny Kent. Cruised home to Tollesbury via Burnham on Crouch. Stress-free, or what?

Sort of seeing more of less.

And still afloat for another week or two before coming out for a month for a scrub. Not sure what 2010 will bring, but 2011 is earmarked for a three month sabbatical round England, Wales and part of Scotland.

 

[mike489]

North Wales to Orkney

After 5 years cruising Atlantic France, we decided to return to Scotland for 2009, eventually setting of from North Wales in Mid June.

Easy Irish Sea trip to Ardglass then ambled up the Irish Coast, Bangor & Glenarm across to Islay, West Loch Jura, Oronsay, Mull then up past Ardnamurchan point - Eigg, Loch Nevis, Plockton, Ullapool.

The weather so far has been wonderful warm and sunny. Then off to Lochinver, before a chance good weather forecast set us on our way to Orkney, called into Kyle of Tongue to await the tide in the Sound of Hoy

We got to Stromness and stayed for over a week , excellent marina, great town good fish and chips. We then sailed around scapa flow and the net day on up to Westray, again great place, white beaches etc etc.

Then basically retraced our steps, with a detour to the Outer Hebrides, Stornaway before a great sail down to Eriskay. Then with August approaching we got a lousy extended forecast, so a cut and run into LochAline sitting out some VILE weather, eventually left the boat for a few days in Ardfern before returning to our unfinshed business of Barra which we achieved quite easily with acouple of stops on the way Tobermory and Canna, 3 great days in Barra then back to Oban area.

Then home -through Crinan Canal in awful weather then lots of lovely??? strong Southerly winds on the way home. The last leg was from Ardglass to North Wales forecast was supposed to be in a SW5 moderating 3-4. Wrong!!! Force 6 all the way back, biggish waves, fast trip, no bother at all. Arived home 1st September having logged about 2k miles. Good season, Good Boat, Good Crew.