Day 17 - Kinlochbervie

Saturday 9^th July 2016 – Stromness to Kinlochbervie – Day 17

Awake at 01.00, prepared for sea and left the pontoon at 01.45, there were two other yachts left with us for the passage to the west and round Cape Wrath.

After leaving the harbour you enter a strait called the Mouth of Hoy, our calculation showed this was now slack water and off the Ness lighthouse, the sea became very rough and the three boats were tossed about like corks.  Riding and slamming into big seas not for the faint hearted, after half an hour of this bucking bronco stuff, we slowly made our way out of this turbulent piece of sea.

   

By 03.00 we had hoisted the main with one reef, engaged the auto-helm and while rocking and rolling in the swell watched a wonderful sunrise over the Orkneys.

Island of Hoy

The 07.30 Aberdeen coast guard inshore weather forecast for 12 miles offshore, gave east to south east winds 4 to 5 increasing to 6 in the north west, variable 3  or less; slight to moderate seas, occasional rain, fog patches, visibility moderate or good, occasionally very poor.  At least the wind was from the right direction.

The engine was turned off at 08.30 as we were settled into our watch system of 2 hours on and 2 hours off.  For a day like today rig of the day was, full oilskins, lifejackets, safety lines, woollen hat, neck warmers and gloves, yes it the middle of July.

We passed along the very rugged and mountainous coastline of northern Scotland, when we could see it.

Cape Wrath

   

Cape Wrath

 At 15.00 we were nearing the corner of the most north westerly point of mainland Scotland which also has very bad reputation for rough seas in this area.  The corner is marked by a lighthouse on the aptly named Cape Wrath, it was 2 miles away and we could not visually see it.

Half an hour later and we were round the corner (yippee!!!) and the rain cleared and we could see the high towering cliffs.

At 16.00 the wind died as we were under the shelter of the cliffs from the easterly wind.  Engine on, main sail taken down and genoa furled.

Puffin take-off

Plenty of sea birds around, who would take advantage of the cliffs for nesting purposes.

Not very often seen close by a puffing taking off, normally they dive just before the boat arrives.

Kinlochbervie

At 18.00 the gods let us know they were there and it rain hard as we passed Rubha Na Head the entrance of the loch into Kinlochbervie.

At 18.45 we were rafter up alongside the yacht ‘Valda’, who had left with us from Stromness.

The rain is persistent and while I am busy clearing the boat and catching up on correspondence. 

Syd shot ashore for a shower and headed for the only pub, he came back very disappointed, shower not good and he only got one drink in the pub, asked for a refill but he was ignored and never got another drink.

At least I stayed dry had a celebration whiskey for getting round Cape Wrath and in bed for 22.00.

It had been a long day 17 hours at sea and travelled 73 miles.