GS free Scotland west coast

[wully]

It's not really a ride report in that we didn't go on the bikes this time- although at times I wish we had.

Our transport was this

A 1884 Beneteau First 38 that I bought as a 'project' twelve years ago and managed to con Fruitcake into helping me sail her home from Falmouth and the poor girl has been unpaid slave labour on the boat ever since

First stop was Tobermory where we were stuck waiting of better weather for two days so we got to sample the beer in the Mishnish and watch the daily sea plane service from Glasgow land.

Once the wind was OK we headed out to the island of Coll where Fruitcake jumped ship.

And the captain got to check the new rigging to see if it was settling in.

A long day of motoring at the heady speed of 6 knots got us to Barra where we saw the first GS of the trip- a magnesium 2008 Adventure. Was it you? (And WTF was there to do on Barra on a GS?)

Fruitcake soaks up the culture in Kismul castle

While Wully contemplates nicking some firepower incase the native in the outer hebrides aren't friendly- note the high security red nylon string securing the guns.

On second thoughts, maybe theses guns don't work to well...

The captain of this boat sailed it single handed from the east coast of the USA on his own with no charts except a page from the National Geographic magazine and a GPS- he was heading for Norway and not surprisingly he got a bit lost and had to get towed in by the lifeboat...who were surprised by the coffin lashed to the deck.
He told them it contained his mother in law.

But the sad truth was that it is destined for his mates bar in Oslo....

So after all the high excitement of Barra we headed off north to the Uists and saw hundreds of basking sharks

And loads of seals, puffins,dolphins and a few pilot whales.


TBC

 

[Tartan Terror]

Brilliant trip and great pics. Nice to hear that there's still plenty sharks out there too. Would love to see some in the flesh.

 

[Deleted account rno]

What a crackin' report and pics, Wully.

I bet the children ca'd you "Bogie" when ye wur 20 years wi' the cooncil

 

[Uinneag]

A 1884 Beneteau First 38 that I bought as a 'project' twelve years ago and managed to con Fruitcake into helping me sail her home from Falmouth and the poor girl has been unpaid slave labour on the boat ever since

1884 it cannae be that auld did ye get it new

the finest vessel in the coastle trade by jove

Hurry up

 

[wully]

So, after leaving Barra for the second time- the first time the engine made a weird noise and we returned to the mooring to check it out but found nothing wrong, we set off up the hebrides.

It was a lovely day with a decent breeze and all was well.

Puffins were about in large numbers

They are rubbish at flying and can't swim very fast..

Supper was cooked under way

And the crew reconned it wasn't half bad

and enjoyed at Lochboisdale on South Uist where we spent the night.
We had planned to stay away from the more popular anchorages in the Hebrides but we'd forgotten the detailed chart for the area and the coastguards were working to rule and this coupled with the almost total lack of cell phone coverage for up to date forecasts and worry about the engine made us cautious.

Next morning we set off for Lochmaddy ahead of some strong winds although you wouldn't have suspected it from the sea state.Loads of dolphins about.

'S pose sticking them in ships makes a nice change from having the tourists cluttering up the roads in their buses?

We got to Lochmaddy on the Sunday evening where the proximity to the Free Church of Scotland was evident- there wasn't a single living thing out except the seagulls...
Monday morning wasn't much better but at least we had the guys shot blasting the ferry link span ramp to entertain us as the wind howled and the rain came down.
The weather held us there for three very long days, luckily one of the two hotels there- Taight Djherg- had wireless in the bar, great food and a sauna/stem room so we made the best of it...

The crew baked the captain a cake for his birthday

And the doddery auld git managed to blow all the candles out.

Then we sailed away to Lewis and the port of Stornoway where we were looking forward to a few days of rest and boat maintenance.
On the approach we saw a lot of yachts racing which was unusual, on entering the harbour we found out that there was a Celtic maritime festival in full swing and the Hebceltfest was about to start.

We went to get tickets and some supplies. Hope this catches on in the Oban pubs

clickylinky It is well worth a visit next year..

I think this was in one of the tents used for T in the Park?

Can't be too sure as things were going down hill fast due to the specially brewed event beer..

TBC...

 

[wully]

1884 it cannae be that auld did ye get it new

Feck...it just feels like an other hundred years I've had it.

Boats do that to you- don't they?

(make ye feel auld, no be shyte at spellin...)