Day 52 and 53 – Days off In Scrabster

Its always a strange time when we are between legs, saying goodbye to our skipper and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the next and this time is no different.

We have had a lovely time sailing from Northern Ireland with Rick our skipper, and, although he is keen to get home to his family, we can see the wanderlust in his eyes as he looks out at the Orkney Islands which await us!  We are grateful to him for helping us with such wonderful sailing during this leg!

We are in Scrabster.  It is yet another commercial harbour, busy with the fishing industry, but very friendly.  In fact, I was very impressed with the greeting we got as we brought the boat into Scrabster.  There was a fishing vessel on its way out, and the 2 fishermen waved enthusiastically to me, and continued to do so.  I thought it was a bit overzealous when I realised one had raised his T shirt, and was tickling his nipples – I really don’t think they get many women visiting these parts!  I’m a friendly person, but it would have taken too long to have removed my lifejacket and oilskins to have reciprocated – so I hope they don’t think me rude!

Scrabster isnt set up for small craft, and we are only one of 2 craft who visit the harbour each week. However, the locals have treated us well, and even the taxi driver who took us to the local Tesco store in Thurso recognised that our boat had visited earlier this year!

We are moored against a wall right next to the harbour building and hear the drone of the generator.  We were told it got switched off at 10pm if you remember me saying in the previous blog, so 122.10 came, we thought it might just be late – but alas no, it stays on 24/7.  Our very own ice making facility right by us!  The trawlers come in regularly next to us, unload their catch and fill their holds with ice from our noisy neighbour!

Yet another photo of John relaxing in his bunk!

The local fishermans mission is a real find!  They serve cheap filling food, have shower facilities and we did all our washing there!  The Fishermans Mission is a Christian organisation set up to support fishermen who are currently working, those no longer working, and the families of those whose lives are lost.  We are very grateful to the services they provide and very happy to give them our custom.

I mentioned that the harbour master here is extremely helpful, as we have come to find in many of the places we visit.  I called in there earlier today and commented how this really was a “room with a view”!  The harbour master then showed me around the control room, including the many cameras at their disposal and how they can zoom.  Soon I found our boat in focus and couldn’t believe the views they had!  They waved me off with calls of “see you later”……….

Rick set on his way home this morning, and we took our time to provision the boat ready for our next leg.

We keep all our goodies under a bunk - we are well stocked!

I will shortly include a photo here that I have taken to show the wonderful skills he has taught me in how to tie a dinghy to a yacht………..watch this space and return in a few days….

I hope the RYA examiner will be impressed by my unique ways of securing the tender! Thanks for teaching me this way Rick!

Our new skipper has arrived.  His name is Tank!  His real name is Simon, but the name Tank seems to suit him far better!  Its a name given to him on the rugby pitch apparently, and nothing to do with his physique, (but we have asked for an increased budget to cater for him!!)  Only joking Tank!  Glad to have you on board.

A warm welcome too to Mick who is coming to keep me warm for a few nights as we head north to The Orkney and Shetland Islands!

Its useful to learn new skills from a range of people.  I speak to student midwives and tell them they wont practice just like me, but learn some skills from me, and from other midwives and work out their own ways of practicing.  Its the same with learning to sail, and we are learning different things from different skippers.  They bring their “tool boxes” of skills, and we take which tools we need and build up our own toolboxes.  So Tank, its time for us to check out your tools!

Meanwhile, we have fed our new skipper dinner – Chilli Con Carne cooked with no supervision by Mike – de, lish, ious!

Now contributing once more to the local economy in the local.  Rangers have just lost a match against a French team, so the atmosphere could get a little tense……..we might have to leave shortly!

Sailing to the Orkneys tomorrow!  Goodnight!