Saturday 2nd July 2016 –
Banff to Wick – Day 10
It was a
sunny morning as we left Banff at 08.30 on a long passage to cross the Moray
Firth, heading north to the top of mainland Scotland.
With a
favourable, mainly westerly wind, we were quickly under full sail but alas the
auto-helm finally gave up the ghost, so we had to revert to hand steering,
taking the helm for each of us, one hour at a time.
I phoned
home and my local chandler to establish if they had any auto-helms in stock;
yes they did, but another model which was more substantial. One was ordered and would be picked up that
afternoon, arriving on board Monday, when the next crew member arrived. Happy with the outcome, I was very relieved,
as half an hour later we lost the phone signal, as we sailed away from the
coast.
 |
| Beatrice Oil Field Rigs |
 |
| STA01 Mast |
At 13.15,
the engine was engaged and genoa furled, as the wind dropped away and we were
on a flat blue sea; away to the west we could be see for a long time the rigs
of the Beatrice Oil Field. By 17.00 we
passed the towering STA01 communications mast.
 |
| Sea like glass |
It is not
very often you have the pleasure of going along on a smooth glassy flat sea, so
rich in colour, you have to enjoy every minute of it, while it lasts.
 |
| Pier entrance |
 |
| Wick |
At 20 .30 the main sail was dropped as we entered Wick Bay and carried on into the harbour protected by a large breakwater and lighthouse.
We were alongside the pontoon at 21.00, been at sea for twelve and a half hours and covered fifty five miles.
We stayed on
board having a celebration drink while outside the rain, heavy at times beat
upon the cabin roof. We were happy after
our crossing of the Moray Firth.
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