The day started off well, both cruising upwind at 11 knots, until I heard something over the VHF. It was muffled so couldn’t tell if it was Joe or not. Throughout the day we listen on channel 72, a ship-to-ship channel, used when two vessels want to talk to one Read more…
Offshore of Wick they’re building a new windfarm ‘Beatrice’, a number of the bright yellow bases are already in place. Without the main column and turbine on top they look like a modern version of the Red Sands Forts in the middle of the Thames. As we approached a fishing Read more…
Whoo! We’re around the corner and heading South. Today was probably the most difficult stretch of water we’ll have to navigate all trip, and I know it’s been lurking in the back of our minds for a while. So feels really good to now finally be around Pentland Firth, nicknamed Read more…
Tensions were high this morning. The wind looked good to go around Duncansby Head via the Pentland Firth to Wick. This stretch of water, know as Hell’s Mouth has some of the strongest tides in the world, flowing at 15knts. (Mentor’s top speed is only 15knts, and that can only Read more…
At the Caithness Smokehouse yesterday we were told that the county fair being held only a mile down the road from where we were moored in Scrabster was the biggest of the year, and definitely worth a visit. So after a yummy breakfast of Fire Engine with the grits Mummy Read more…
As we got on the ferry this morning the sea was like glass. Even from the top of deck 6 of the Northlink car ferry we could still see the wake of a guillemot on the surface of the water below us. It was perfect whale watching weather, and we Read more…
We weren’t sure if we’d get around today, as the forecast was light, but we were keen to give it a try anyway! My parents, exploring the local area by car, were hoping to wave at us from the Cape Wrath Lighthouse, the most north-westerly point of Great Britain. What Read more…
I need to get over my aversion to the 15m kite. I’ve developed this fear of the wind picking up beyond my comfort zone, and the feeling of being stretched like Mrs Incredible (without the super powers) into a human slingshot, every arm and back muscle being extended to their Read more…
Off to a slow start this morning as Stew’s lines were twisted, first time this has happened in a while. Usually from the time we get into the dinghy to actually getting going in the direction we want to travel it takes us about 20 minutes. Today it was an Read more…
We didn’t hear the howls of the wind outside when we woke up this morning like we had done yesterday, and the forecast had tamed since we’d gone to bed, so we stowed everything away properly and went out to have a look. Nervous the wind would pick up, we Read more…