ruthhobson
Well-Known Member
For those of you who are interested here is a quick summary of our week out with Steve at Second Wind Sailing, Troon. For those of you not interested I can confirm the waters up north are devoid of sea life and overcrowded with other craft. ;o)
Monday – leave Troon and have a really good sail to Loch Ryan (watch out for the spit it seemed to have grown a little) anchored at The Wig ready for an early start. Wind was about F6-7 and there was no one else about. Saw a puffin and got a bit damp – but the grin factor made up for it! Steve has got a new main on Chewsy and she goes very well.
Tuesday – up at 6.00 ready to get over to Bangor. On the way into Belfast Lough saw porpoises. Also heard one half of a long conversation with the coast guard (who deserved a medal for patience) basically a yacht didn’t understand that the tide was stopping them getting where they wanted to go. The very nice coastguard spent about half an hour explaining that these conditions were usual in the area and they would continue to experience problems until the tide changed. Maybe the medal should have been for not using sarcasm under extreme provocation? Spent a lovely afternoon outside the pub in Bangor enjoying the sun wondering if the coast guard was still advising the same guy. I haven’t mentioned that name of the yacht – but could be tempted. Can also recommend Bangor Marina – close to the town seems to have good facilities, clean showers even a bathroom complete with bubble bath!
Wednesday – off to Campbeltown. Heard another yacht struggling with their tidal calculations and trying to come up with a plan B. Beautiful day very nice sail – nearly interrupted by HMS Tyne who wanted to fire live ammunition. Their exclusion zone was in our way but after a quick call on the VHF the problem was sorted out. The navy are very reasonable when you ask nicely.
Called at Sanda Island and dropped the anchor so we could cook the evening meal in comfort before carrying on. Just relaxing with a hot drink and watching some seals when someone starts shouting “Are you going to Campbeltown?”. After a bit of yelling we end up with a hitchhiker well actually 1,001 hitchhikers. The guy had been collecting ticks from the guillemot nests, they were going to Oxford as part of the big DNA projects, he told us much more about the project but how much do you want to know about a guillemot virus? He was very protective of his bin liner full of ticks, and we were pleased to hear they don’t bite humans. Got into Campeltown at about 10.30 waved good by to ALL the hitchhikers and opened the bottle of whisky …….perfect end to a brilliant day.
Thursday – called in at the Springbank Distillery but they don’t do the tour on a Thursday until the afternoon so settled with calling in a the whisky shop and buying a couple of bottles to take home. Noticed they are building a new swimming baths come leisure centre type place that will include “yachtsmans change”. No wind, hardly a breeze so motored to Brodick. A very uneventful day, if there hadn’t been seals and seabirds to watch I might have been annoyed by HWMBO snoring as he sunbathed.
Friday – Back to Troon. The wind arrived, sailed back to Troon well reefed and can say we have officially sailed in a gale. No body else to be seen apart from the ferry – we did a good job of keeping up !
So another brilliant week – so good HWMBO is talking about going back this weekend on his own! Hope he realises that he’ll owe me big time! We hardly saw anyboady out all week it was bliss or were we the only ones mad enough? My Dad and the S-in-L both got their Comp Crew and are both busy sounding like old hands at this sailing stuff telling tails of the huge waves, bossing about warships and giving a lift to a bag of ticks!
BTW Powerskipper - Steve says hello!
Ruth
PS For those of you worried about such things – and I know you do. You’ll be pleased to hear I didn’t break any nails.
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Monday – leave Troon and have a really good sail to Loch Ryan (watch out for the spit it seemed to have grown a little) anchored at The Wig ready for an early start. Wind was about F6-7 and there was no one else about. Saw a puffin and got a bit damp – but the grin factor made up for it! Steve has got a new main on Chewsy and she goes very well.
Tuesday – up at 6.00 ready to get over to Bangor. On the way into Belfast Lough saw porpoises. Also heard one half of a long conversation with the coast guard (who deserved a medal for patience) basically a yacht didn’t understand that the tide was stopping them getting where they wanted to go. The very nice coastguard spent about half an hour explaining that these conditions were usual in the area and they would continue to experience problems until the tide changed. Maybe the medal should have been for not using sarcasm under extreme provocation? Spent a lovely afternoon outside the pub in Bangor enjoying the sun wondering if the coast guard was still advising the same guy. I haven’t mentioned that name of the yacht – but could be tempted. Can also recommend Bangor Marina – close to the town seems to have good facilities, clean showers even a bathroom complete with bubble bath!
Wednesday – off to Campbeltown. Heard another yacht struggling with their tidal calculations and trying to come up with a plan B. Beautiful day very nice sail – nearly interrupted by HMS Tyne who wanted to fire live ammunition. Their exclusion zone was in our way but after a quick call on the VHF the problem was sorted out. The navy are very reasonable when you ask nicely.
Called at Sanda Island and dropped the anchor so we could cook the evening meal in comfort before carrying on. Just relaxing with a hot drink and watching some seals when someone starts shouting “Are you going to Campbeltown?”. After a bit of yelling we end up with a hitchhiker well actually 1,001 hitchhikers. The guy had been collecting ticks from the guillemot nests, they were going to Oxford as part of the big DNA projects, he told us much more about the project but how much do you want to know about a guillemot virus? He was very protective of his bin liner full of ticks, and we were pleased to hear they don’t bite humans. Got into Campeltown at about 10.30 waved good by to ALL the hitchhikers and opened the bottle of whisky …….perfect end to a brilliant day.
Thursday – called in at the Springbank Distillery but they don’t do the tour on a Thursday until the afternoon so settled with calling in a the whisky shop and buying a couple of bottles to take home. Noticed they are building a new swimming baths come leisure centre type place that will include “yachtsmans change”. No wind, hardly a breeze so motored to Brodick. A very uneventful day, if there hadn’t been seals and seabirds to watch I might have been annoyed by HWMBO snoring as he sunbathed.
Friday – Back to Troon. The wind arrived, sailed back to Troon well reefed and can say we have officially sailed in a gale. No body else to be seen apart from the ferry – we did a good job of keeping up !
So another brilliant week – so good HWMBO is talking about going back this weekend on his own! Hope he realises that he’ll owe me big time! We hardly saw anyboady out all week it was bliss or were we the only ones mad enough? My Dad and the S-in-L both got their Comp Crew and are both busy sounding like old hands at this sailing stuff telling tails of the huge waves, bossing about warships and giving a lift to a bag of ticks!
BTW Powerskipper - Steve says hello!
Ruth
PS For those of you worried about such things – and I know you do. You’ll be pleased to hear I didn’t break any nails.
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