Thursday 9 June: Stromness to Wick
We left Stromness shortly after 0630 in a cold light breeze.
We crossed Scapa Flow on the next leg of what
sometimes seems the Blue Star GB Motor Cruise, so infrequently do the
conditions seem right for sailing. Tea was offered, but Roger thought he might
need anti-freeze, so cold was it! We motored out of Scapa Flow into the
Pentland Firth which has the strongest currents in the UK, over 9
knots. Since Blue Star motors at a maximum 7 knots this had to be timed right!
It was. We positioned ourselves part way between the Orkney
Islands and the mainland at slack water. The tide change was rapid
and it was soon sweeping us along (in the right direction) at 5 knots, on top
of our boat speed of 5 knots making 10 knots over the ground! Just after we
cleared Duncansby Head (the most north east headland) the wind enabled us to
sail with full main and genoa on a port tack close reach. 6 knots! Hooray! We
had almost forgotten what it felt like! An hour and a half later we were in
Wick. Wick is a fishing harbour that also has a nice marina. It its heyday the
port landed and processed 24 million herring in a single day! We walked into
town and found a restaurant for this evening’s meal, and on our return a very
kind gentleman called Willy Watt handed us a £20 note for the CF Trust! It is
so gratifying to come across such generous people!
Joke:
Why didn't the candle get any sleep?
Because there's no rest for the wicked! (WICKed)
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| Approaching Duncansby Head on the mainland |
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| Richard at the helm, under full sail at last! |
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