Well, here we are in Peterhead, Scotland. Its been a long day, so this blog will be brief, well, at least I intend it to be brief as I start it, but if you are a follower of this blog, you will know how unusual that is for me not to chatter on!
We slipped the lines at 5am and started our pilotage out of Wick. As you know from last nights blog, we had already prepped the boat so it was a smooth exit. Before we left, I took the rubbish up to the marina office along with the shower room keys and looked across to see flashing lights from a nearby house – it was a party, still going at 4.50 with booming music, disco lights and silhouettes at the window of people with drinks in their hand – I must be getting old, but should people still be partying at this hour??? I felt for the neighbours!
For the first time in the Round Britain Experience I felt sea sick! Not a nice feeling, but I realised it was because of a number of factors – 1. I didnt sleep very well 2. I couldn’t cope with food so early so hadn’t watch 3. I exerted myself sweating the halyard then winching the sheets with too much gear on and then 4. I then went, complete with full wet weather gear into the saloon to start the log for the day without removing anything and getting hot.
My stomach felt strange – but I realised I had broken some of the rules – not eating, over dressing when I need to do hard work, then not removing my gear when I returned to the safety of the boat…….breakfast put this right as did some fresh air to cool me down, and a lesson learned!
It has been a 97 nautical mile trip and we are all tired, but it has been a very interesting trip. We knew we would have the wind on our nose and that most of the trip would be motoring, which can get a little monotonous, but Tank ensured we kept ourselves busy by completing a continued and detailed log entering estimated positions along the way on the chart using traditional navigation (trad nav = using trigonometry, chart plotters and dividers and not relying on electronic gadgets!). This was a really good practice, but as the trip progressed and the wind blew stronger and the boat heeled we found it a challenge to sit at the chart table!!
- John well heeled as he charts our progress!
John had a lovely moment whilst he was on the helm whilst the rest of us were busy down below. A bird came along and flew right to him and landed right on the wheel right in front of his nose! It was a very special moment for him! He was alone, with no camera so we have no record of it I’m afraid, he couldn’t shout out for someone to come and bring their camera as it would have scared it off! He does tell us that he talked to it, then it flew off the helm and onto the table next to him and stared at him.
As you will know, John is our resident ornithologist, so this was a real treat. He had the best view an ornithologist can ever get of a bird, it was just a few inches away from his nose, but he couldn’t identify it! He does tell us it was a migratory bird and not resident in this country, otherwise he would have known……..but we wont spoil his special moment by teasing him (as if!)
Out of the 15 hours we travelled, we managed 2-3 hours of sailing, which was really beautiful, and Tank made it look very easy
- I think his bottom may be in the pond!
- He is looking a little serious – but then he does know a camera is focussed on him!
- Look at that swell!
- Can you see the horizon?
Peterhead loomed, but I was able to smell it before I could see it, and we were thankful the marina is downwind of the fish processing plant – phewwee!
This area is important for the fish industry, the oil industry, the supply lines for the gas terminal as well as the link for survey boats, so it is thriving place but not an oil painting
- OK, its not Peterhead, but the nearby gas terminal, but it gives you the general idea!
I know that I have mentioned in previous blogs that I brought the boat into the marina perfecty, but if you know me, you will know my tongue would have been firmly in my cheek! However, today, I’m glad to say I did bring the boat in well, without the skipper shouting instructions to me and me just responding to them. Out time in Wick playing future of eights is paying off! It was an easy berth I will admit, but all the same, I did it – it feels like real progression for me!
The lines secured, at 8pm, with us all hungry, I threw away my womens lib badge and ran to the galley to fix a tasty hot meal for us all – lets call this ”Petersausageheadstew”!
The meal was, as usual, well received and, with the tasy vanilla donut tank bought us all from the local garage eaten we are all so ready for a good nights sleep! Ive promised the boys a lovely Sunday morning cooked breakfast tomorrow so I think I had better get to sleep!
Do you think this blog been brief????
Goodnight!
